An efficient offset system, consistent across WCI Partner jurisdictions, will help ensure an adequate supply of high-quality offsets.

The Western Climate Initiative (WCI) Offsets Committee today releases draft recommendations for the requirements and process of offset project review and approval and credit creation for the regional emissions trading program.

The WCI Design Recommendations (2008) recommended the establishment of a rigorous offset system to support the WCI cap-and-trade program. The Design for the WCI Regional Program (2010) recommended essential criteria for credible offsets and that standards and processes for approving offset projects be developed in an open and transparent manner in advance of the start of the cap-and-trade program. The draft recommendations in this paper support these objectives.

The draft recommendations identify the critical elements of offset project approval that WCI Partner jurisdictions believe will lead to high-quality offset credits that can be exchangeable across the region. Consistent, transparent processes are expected to lower project development costs and support learning and sharing of experience among Partner jurisdictions and offset project developers. Stakeholder engagement, third party involvement, and regulatory oversight combine to ensure the environmental integrity of the program.

The WCI Offsets Committee held a stakeholder conference call to present the draft recommendations on Wednesday, June 15, 2011.  The slides presented during this call are available here.  Written comments on the draft recommendations should be submitted here by Friday, July 8, 2011.