What is validation?

Validation is defined in 3/CMP.1, Annex, paragraph 35 as follows:

Validation is the process of independent evaluation of a project activity by a designated operational entity against the requirements of the CDM as set out in decision 17/CP.7, the present annex and relevant decisions of the COP/MOP, on the basis of the project design document, as outlined in appendix B below (3/CMP.1, Annex, paragraph 35).

Therefore, validation is the process of determining that the project is eligible to be registered as a CDM project, by confirming that the project meets the requirements of the CDM.

In some domestic offsets and emissions trading schemes, this validation or project approval process is carried out by a central scheme administrator or regulator.  For CDM projects, however, the process is outsourced to private entities (known as designated operational entities (DOEs), or 'validators').