StandardonAvoidanceofDoubleCountingV1.0-2022GlobalCarbonCouncilStandardonAvoidanceofDoubleCounting2of14GlobalCarbonCouncilStandardonAvoidanceofDoubleCounting3of14Contents1.INTRODUCTION52.SCOPEANDAPPLICABILITY63.REQUIREMENTS63.1.EXISTINGREQUIREMENTSINOTHERGCCPROGRAMDOCUMENTS63.2.ADDITIONALREQUIREMENTS83.2.1.HOSTCOUNTRYLETTEROFAUTHORIZATIONHCLOA83.3.TIMEOFSUBMISSIONOFHCLOA94.CONSEQUENCESANDLIABILITYOFDOUBLECLAIMING9APPENDIX:DRAFTTEMPLATE-HOSTCOUNTRYLETTEROFAUTHORIZATION(HCLOA)10GlobalCarbonCouncilStandardonAvoidanceofDoubleCounting4of14ACRONYMSACCApprovedCarbonCreditCDMCleanDevelopmentMechanismCORSIACarbonOffsetting&ReductionSchemeforInternationalAviationHCLOAHostCountryLetterofAuthorizationGCCGlobalCarbonCouncilUNFCCCUnitedNationsFrameworkConventiononClimateChangeC+MarketeligibilityflagdenotingthatcarboncreditiseligiblefortheusetowardsmeetingcarbonneutralgrowthtargetofinternationalairlinecommittedunderCORSIA.CA+Marketeligibilityflagdenotingthatthehostcountryoftheproject,forwhichcarboncreditisissued,hasofficiallycommunicatedthattheissuedcarboncreditwillbeincludedinthecorrespondingadjustmentstowardsNDCtarget.GlobalCarbonCouncilStandardonAvoidanceofDoubleCounting5of141.INTRODUCTION1.GCCProgramintroducesrequirementsforApprovedEmissionsReduction(ACC)unitstoconformtotherequirementsofDecision-/CMA.3,GuidanceoncooperativeapproachesreferredtoinArticle6,paragraph2,oftheParisAgreement(referredasArticle6.2ofParisAgreement)1aswellasgoodpracticeestablishedunderGuidelines2onAvoidingDoubleCountingandtherequirementsoftheInternationalCivilAviationOrganization(ICAO)’sCarbonOffsettingandReductionSchemeforInternationalAviation(CORSIA)scheme3.2.CORSIArequireseligibleoffsetcreditprograms,suchasGCCProgram,todevelopandimplementprocedurestodemonstrateeligibilitywithandconformitytoCORSIAEmissionsUnitEligibility(EUC)Criteria4.3.Oneoftheeligibilitycriteria(refertoparagraph7,page3ofEUC)requiresthattheoffsetprogram:“Mustputmeasuresinplacetoavoid:(a)doubleissuance-whichoccursifmorethanoneunitisissuedforthesameemissionsoremissionsreduction;(b)doubleuse-whichoccurswhenthesameissuedunitisusedtwice,forexample,ifaunitisduplicatedinregistries;and(c)doubleclaiming-Doubleclaiming,whichoccursifthesameemissionsreductioniscountedtwicebyboththebuyerandtheseller(i.e.,countedtowardstheclimatechangemitigationeffortofbothabuyerandthehostcountryoftheemissionsreductionactivity).Inordertopreventdoubleclaiming,eligibleprogramsshouldrequireanddemonstratethathostcountriesofemissionsreductionactivitiesagreetoaccountforanyoffsetunitsissuedasaresultofthoseactivitiessuchthatdoubleclaimingdoesnotoccurbetweenthebuyerandthehostcountryoftheemissionsreductionactivity.”4.Doubleissuanceasreferredinparagraph3(a)aboveandDoubleuseordoublesellasreferredinparagraph3(b)abovearealreadyaddressedinexistingGCCProgram’srequirementascontainedintheGCCProgramManual5(section10.2)6.1https://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/resource/cma3_auv_12a_PA_6.2.pdf2https://americancarbonregistry.org/carbon-accounting/guidance-tools-templates/guidelines-for-adc-with-corsia-june-2019.pdf3https://www.icao.int/environmental-protection/CORSIA/Pages/default.aspx4https://www.icao.int/environmental-protection/CORSIA/Documents/ICAO_Document_09.pdf5https://www.globalcarboncouncil.com/resources/GCC-Program-Manual-v3.pdf6InadditiontoProgramManualprovisions,itistheresponsibilityofprojectownertocheckfromIHSMarkitMetaregistrythatthereisnodoubleissuanceanddoubleuseofissuedcarboncreditsbyGCCProgram.GlobalCarbonCouncilStandardonAvoidanceofDoubleCounting6of145.Doubleclaimingasreferredinparagraph3(a)abovehasbeenpartiallydealtwithexistingGCCProgram’srequirementascontainedin:(a)ProjectStandard7(refertoparagraph25and14c,v);and(b)ProjectSubmissionForm8(PSF)template(refersectionA.6andtheinstructionsthereinonpage42).ThroughthisdocumentGCCProgramintroducesadditionalrequirementsandprocedureforGCCprojectstodemonstrateprojectregistrationandissuancelevelcompliancewithArticle6.2ofParisAgreementandCORSIAEmissionsUnitEligibilityCriteriaconcerningdoubleclaiming,asreferredinparagraph3(c)above.2.SCOPEANDAPPLICABILITY6.Thisdocumentaddressestheofavoidanceofdoubleclaimingasreferredinparagraph3(c)aboveinlinewiththerequirementsoftheCORSIAschemeaswellasthatofarticle6.2.ThisdocumentappliestoGCCprojectsthatvoluntarilyseeksC+orCA+marketeligibilityflagsofGCCatthetimeofregistrationand/oratthetimeofissuanceofApprovedCarbonCredits(ACCs)issuedbyGCC.7.C+isthemarketeligibilityflagdenotingthatcarboncreditiseligiblefortheusetowardsmeetingcarbonneutralgrowthtargetofaninternationalairlinecommittedunderCORSIA.CA+isthemarketeligibilityflagdenotingthatthecarboncreditiseligibletobeusedforotherpurposes(otherthaninternationalmitigationpurposesofCORSIAorrecipientcountry’sNDCtargetcompliance)suchasvoluntarycarbonmarketsoffsettingpurposes,wherethebuyerrequiresthattheissuedcarboncreditwillbeincludedinthecorrespondingadjustmentstowardshostcountryNDCtarget.8.ThisdocumentisintendedtobeusedbyallstakeholdersincludingProjectOwners,GCCVerifiers,theGCCOperationsTeamandtheGCCSteeringCommitteeandshallbereadinconjunctionwithProjectStandard,VerificationStandardandPSFtemplateandinstructionsthereinandotherapplicableGCCdocuments.3.REQUIREMENTS3.1.ExistingrequirementsinotherGCCProgramdocuments9.ProjectStandard(refertoparagraph14,c,v)requiresProjectsOwnerstocomplywiththeGCCRulesrelatedtosubmissionofHostCountryAttestation(HostCountryLetterofAuthorization(HCLOA))onDoubleCounting9asandwhenrequiredbyCORSIA(mandatoryrequirementforprojectsthatintendtouseACCsforoffsettingbyairlinesforCORSIAcompliance)10.10.ProjectStandard(refertoparagraph25)requiresprojectstousethelatestversionsoftheProjectSubmissionForm(PSF)templatetoprovideinformationondemonstrationoftheavoidanceofdoublecountingtoensurethattheoffsetsareonlycountedoncetowardsamitigationobligation(refersectionA.6ofPSFtemplateandsectionA.6.page42oftheinstructionstherein).GlobalCarbonCouncilStandardonAvoidanceofDoubleCounting7of1411.PSFtemplate(refersectionA.6)requirestodemonstratethecompliancewiththeCORSIArequirementsofavoidanceofdoublecountingonproject-to-projectbasisandrequiresProjectOwnerstoobtainandprovidetotheGCCProgramanditsRegistry(IHSMarkit),awrittenhostcountryattestation(orHCLOA)fromthehostcountry’snationalfocalpointorfocalpoint’sdesignee,asrequiredbyCORSIAEmissionsUnitCriteria(paragraph7(c)ofCarbonOffsetCreditIntegrityAssessmentCriteria)and‘ProgrammeApplicationForm–AppendixA–SupplementaryInformationForm’11(refersection3.7.8.withrespectto-Hostcountryattestationtotheavoidanceofdouble-claiming).ThisHCLOAshallbemadepubliclyavailablepriortotheuseofunitsfromthehostcountryintheCORSIA.Therefore,theonusliesontheProjectOwnertocomplywiththisrequirement.ThehandoverofHCLOAbyProjectOwnertoGCCProgramfortheavoidanceofdoubleclaimingisapre-requisiteforuseoftheemissionunitsforoffsettingunderCORSIA12.WithoutsuchHCLOA,GCCProgramwillnotflagtheemissionunitsgeneratedfromtheprojectsas‘CORSIAcompliant’intheregistry.ThiswillensurethatoffsetsfromGCCProjectsareonlycountedoncetowardsamitigationobligation.12.TheoverallGCCprocessforrequiringHCLOAforissuanceofmarketeligibilityflagsfortheavoidanceofdoubleaccountingofACCsintheglobalcontextofArticle6.2ofParisAgreementaredepictedinfigure-1below.Figure-1:Processofissuanceofmarketeligibilityflagsforavoidanceofdoubleaccounting11Availableathttps://www.icao.int/environmental-protection/CORSIA/Pages/TAB.aspx12BasedonCOP26decision-/CMA.3onArticle6.2,thispre-requisitewillbeapplicableforallunitsforwhichhostHCLOAisissued(andnotonlyCORSIAunits).GlobalCarbonCouncilStandardonAvoidanceofDoubleCounting8of143.2.AdditionalRequirements13.ProjectOwnersseekingGCCapprovalforeligiblilityofissuedACCsformarketeligibilityflagsshallprovidethefollowinginformation,inadditiontothatquotedinsection3.1above:3.2.1.HostCountryLetterofAuthorizationHCLOA14.Projectshallprovidea‘HCLOA13’fromthedesignatednationalauthorityordesignatedfocalpointofthehostcountryoftheprojectactivity(wheretheprojectislocated).ThetemplateforHCLOAisprovidedinAnnexure1and2ofAppendix.Atminimum,HCLOAshall:(a)IncludetheGCCprojectuniqueidentificationdetails–Submissionnumber(SXXX14),IHSMarkitProjectId15(ifavailable),Nameofthehostcountry(wheretheprojectislocated),andTitleoftheProjectActivity;(b)IncludetheweblinkofGCCProjectwebsiteandGCCpublicRegistry(onIHSMarkitpublicregistry)wheretheprojectispubliclyavailable;(c)ShallauthorisetheProjectOwner(s),withthecontactdetailsandtheauthorisedrepresentative,aspertheAnnex1oftheProjectSubmissionForm(PSF);(d)Acknowledgethattheprojectactivityislikelytoreduceemissionsinthehostcountry;(e)AcknowledgethattheGCCProgramtowhichtheletterisprovidedhasissued,orintendstoissue,offsetcreditsfortheemissionreductionsthatoccurwithinthecountry;(f)Authorizetheuseoftheemissionreductions,issuedasoffsetcreditstoproject,byuserinordertomeetoffsettingrequirementsofeitherCORSIAorarticle6.2orvoluntarybuyersrequiringthecorrespondingadjustmentstobeappliedbyhostcountry;(g)Declarethatthehostcountrywillnotusetheproject’semissionreductionstotrackprogresstowards,orfordemonstratingachievementofitsNDCandwillaccountfortheiruseforeitherinternationalmitigationpurposesorotherpurposes,byapplyingcorrespondingadjustmentsinsectionBofAnnex1ofCOP26decision-/CMA.3onArticle6.2.(h)Signatureandcontactdetailsofauthorisedsignatoryofdesignatednationalauthorityordesignatedfocalpointofthehostcountry.13ThedrafttemplateforLetterofAssuranceandAuthorization(LOAA)providedinAnnexure2,aimstoprovidehighlevelguidanceonsuchletterandthecountriesmaywishtousethis.14Referparagraph19ofProgramProcess15Referparagraph56ofProgramProcessGlobalCarbonCouncilStandardonAvoidanceofDoubleCounting9of143.3.TimeofSubmissionofHCLOA15.Paragraph33(d)ofProgramProcessesdocumentrequiresProjectOwnerstosubmittheHCLOA16togetherwiththeprojectdocumentationrequiredforsubmissionofrequestforregistration17oftheprojectwiththeGCCProgramtoallowGCCProjectVerifiertoconductverification18beforetheGCCprojectactivitycanbedisplayedashavingmarketeligibilityflag(C+orCA+)’ontheGCCProjectwebsite19andGCCregistry.16.Notwithstandingtothedocumentsubmissionrequirementmentionedinparagraph15,iftheabovedocumentscannotbesubmittedbytheProjectOwneraspartofrequestforregistration,then,HCLOAfortheprojectactivityshallbesubmittedtoGCCProgramtogetherwiththeprojectdocumentationrequiredforsubmissionofrequestforissuance20.IfProjectOwnercannotprovidenecessaryHCLOAatprojectregistrationstagehowevermakesadeclarationinProjectSubmissionFormthatsuchlettershallbesubmittedatthestageofrequestforissuance.GCCProgramcanissuemarketeligibilityflagattherequestforregistrationstagebasedondeclarationofProjectOwner,howeversuchmarketflagmerelyrepresenttheProjectOwner’sintentions.ForissuanceofanyofthesemarketeligibilityflagsattheACCissuancestage,theHCLOAmustbesubmittedbyProjectOwneratthetimeofsubmissionofrequestforissuance.IfthehostcountrygrantsHCLOAforentirecreditingperiodofprojectandcommitstoapplycorrespondingadjustmentsthroughout,thereisnoneedforissuancespecificHCLOA.However,countrymaychoosetoissuetheissuancespecificHCLOA.4.CONSEQUENCESANDLIABILITYOFDOUBLECLAIMING17.AsperCOP26decisiononArticle6.2,itisthehostcountry’sresponsibilitytoensurethatnodoubleclaimingisdoneunderNDCsfortheemissionreductionsfromtheGCCregisteredprojectsforwhichthehostcountryhasprovidedtheHCLOAtoGCC.IftheHCLOAisissuedatthestageofspecificissuance,thehostcountrymustensurethatnoemissionreductionsfromthecorrespondingmonitoringperiodofprojectareclaimedunderNDC.18.Allthereportingrequirements(annualandregular)aspersectionIV(B)andIV(D)ofAnnextoArticle6.2decision21areapplicabletothehostcountry.19.GCCProgramwilltransparentlyprovidetorelevantauthoritiesandregistriestheinformationonno.ofcreditsissuedfordifferentmonitoringperiodsfordifferentprojectsalongwiththemarketeligibilitylabels(C+,CA+)forwhichauthorizationlettersarereceivedfromhostcountries.However,GCCProgramshallhavenoliabilitytowardsensuringthathostcountryhasnotclaimedtheemissionreductionscorrespondingtoissuedACCsunderitsNDC.16HCLOAisalsocalledas‘HostCountryAttestationonDoubleCounting’asmentionedinparagraph33(d)ofProgramProcess(https://www.globalcarboncouncil.com/resources/GCC-Program-Processes-v3.pdf)17Referparagraph33ofProgramProcess18Referparagraph29ofProgramProcessGlobalCarbonCouncilStandardonAvoidanceofDoubleCounting10of14Appendix:DRAFTTEMPLATE-HOSTCOUNTRYLETTEROFAUTHORIZATION(HCLOA)ThedrafttemplatesforHostCountryLetterofAuthorization(HCLOA)includedinAnnexure1and2,aimstoprovideguidanceandthehostcountriesofGCCprojectmaywishtousethis.ProjectOwnersshallprovideHCLOApriortosubmissionofrequestforregistrationand/oreachrequestforIssuancetoGCCProgram.TheHostCountriesshouldprovidethedetails,eitherusingthetemplategivenbeloworintheirowntemplate,andgetitsignedofffromtheauthorizedsignatoryoftheHostCountry.19Referparagraph51ofProgramProcess20Referparagraph72ofProgramProcess21https://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/resource/cma3_auv_12a_PA_6.2.pdfGlobalCarbonCouncilStandardonAvoidanceofDoubleCounting11of14Annexure-1:TemplateforHCLOAtobesubmittedatthetimeofrequestforregistrationauthorizingthemitigationoutcomesoftheprojectoverentirecreditingperiodoftenyearsRef.[Date]Sub:HostCountryLetterofAuthorizationofProjectActivity[“TitleoftheProjectActivity”]andtheProgramtitled“GlobalCarbonCouncil(GCC)”Dear[“NameoftheProjectOwner(s)22”],Dear[“GlobalCarbonCouncil(GCC)Program”],OnbehalfoftheGovernmentof[NameofCountry],Ihavethepleasuretoinformyouthat[“TitleoftheProjectActivity”]withprojectID[serialnumberofProjectSubmissionnumber(SXXXX23),submittedto“[GLOBALCARBONCOUNCIL(GCC)]”isauthorizedasamitigationactivitywhosemitigationoutcomesovertheentirecreditingperiodoftenyearscanbeused,followingprovisionsofArticle6.2oftheParisAgreement,forthepurposeof[complianceofNationallyDeterminedContributionof[nameofcountry]][mitigationpurposesunderCORSIA][offsettingtheemissionsofvoluntarycarboncreditbuyers].TheGovernmentof[NameofCountry]confirmsthat:(a)[NameofCountry]hasratifiedtheParisAgreementon[Date]andsubmitteditslatest(nooftheNDC)NationallyDeterminedContribution(NDC)onDDMMYYYYtotheUNFCCC;(b)TheissuedMitigationOutcomesundertheProjectshallnotbeusedbytheGovernmentof[NameofCountry]todemonstrateachievementofitsownNDC;(c)TheProjectcontributestosustainabledevelopmentof[NameofCountry];and(d)TheGovernmentof[NameofCountry]shallfollowallrequirementsofCOP26Decision-/CMA.3,GuidanceoncooperativeapproachesreferredtoinArticle6,paragraph2,oftheParisAgreement,includingapplyingCorrespondingAdjustments,reporting,recordingandtrackingandmaintainingArticle6database.22AsperandconsistentwiththeAnnexure1ofProjectSubmissionForm(PSF)submittedtoGCCProgram23Referparagraph19ofProgramProcessGlobalCarbonCouncilStandardonAvoidanceofDoubleCounting12of14Annexure-2:TemplateforHCLOAtobesubmittedatthetimeofrequestforissuanceauthorizingthemitigationoutcomesresultedfromspecificissuanceRef.[Date]Sub:HostCountryLetterofAuthorizationofProjectActivity[“TitleoftheProjectActivity”]andtheProgramtitled“GlobalCarbonCouncil(GCC)”Dear[“NameoftheProjectOwner(s)24”],Dear[“GlobalCarbonCouncil(GCC)Program”],OnbehalfoftheGovernmentof[NameofCountry],IhavethepleasuretoinformyouthatthemitigationoutcomecorrespondingtoACCissuancesformonitoringperiod[datetodate]of[“TitleoftheProjectActivity”]withprojectID[serialnumberofProjectSubmissionnumber(SXXXX25),IHSMarkitProjectID26(ifavailable)]submittedto“[GLOBALCARBONCOUNCIL(GCC)]”isauthorizedtobeused,followingtheprovisionsofArticle6.2oftheParisAgreement,forthepurposeof[complianceofNationallyDeterminedContributionof[nameofcountry]][mitigationpurposesunderCORSIA][offsettingtheemissionsofvoluntarycarboncreditbuyers].TheGovernmentof[NameofCountry]confirmsthat:(a)[NameofCountry]hasratifiedtheParisAgreementon[Date]andsubmitteditsNationallyDeterminedContribution(NDC);(b)TheissuedMitigationOutcomesreferredaboveshallnotbeusedbytheGovernmentof[NameofCountry]todemonstrateachievementofitsownNDC;(c)TheProjectcontributestosustainabledevelopmentof[NameofCountry];and(d)TheGovernmentof[NameofCountry]shallfollowallrequirementsofCOP26Decision-/CMA.3,GuidanceoncooperativeapproachesreferredtoinArticle6,paragraph2,oftheParisAgreement,includingapplyingCorrespondingAdjustments,reporting,recordingandtrackingandmaintainingarticle6database.24AsperandconsistentwiththeAnnexure1ofProjectSubmissionForm(PSF)submittedtoGCCProgram25Referparagraph19ofProgramProcess26Referparagraph56ofProgramProcessGlobalCarbonCouncilStandardonAvoidanceofDoubleCounting13of14DOCUMENTHISTORYVersionDateCommentV1.009/03/2022▪InitialversionapprovedbyGCCSteeringCommittee.GlobalCarbonCouncilStandardonAvoidanceofDoubleCounting14of14