A standard process to review offset protocols and recommended them for adoption into WCI Partner jurisdictions’ rules and regulations will help ensure an adequate supply of high-quality offsets.

The Western Climate Initiative (WCI) Offsets Committee today releases a draft process to review and recommend offset protocols.

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 process to review and recommend offset protocols for adoption into WCI Partner jurisdictions support these objectives.

There are a number of offset protocols that have been developed and are in use in North America and across the globe. This draft process provides a step-by-step description of how WCI Partner jurisdictions will review existing offset protocols in regards to how they meet WCI offset criteria. WCI Partner jurisdictions believe this process is fair, efficient and 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 WCI Partner jurisdictions and offset protocol developers. Stakeholder engagement, third party involvement, and regulatory oversight combine to ensure the environmental integrity of the program.

The Draft Offset Protocol Review and Recommendation Process is available here. The WCI Offsets Committee will hold a stakeholder webinar to present the draft process on July 20, 2011 from 12:30 – 1:30 PDT. To join the call dial 1-800-868-1837 and enter participant code 753491#. The presentation for this call is available for download here.  Written comments on the Draft Offset Protocol Review and Recommendation Process should be submitted here by Friday August 19, 2011.