Programme Guide

The Programme Guide is the principal document of Carbon Registry India. It sets out what the programme covers, the principles it follows, who does what, how it is governed, and how complaints and appeals are handled.

The rules projects must meet are in the standards; how each step is carried out is in the procedures.

Programme document v1.0

CR-I Programme Guide

Objectives, scope, document framework, principles, responsibilities, governance, validation and verification, methodologies, Registry IT system, fees, records, and complaints and appeals.

Published 16.09.2021 · Reviewed every two years

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Scope

What the programme covers

Activities

Validation, registration and verification of GHG emission reduction and removal projects, issuance of MCUs, and approval of methodologies.

Geography

Projects in India or elsewhere, provided they apply a methodology approved by the Registry.

Sectors

The 15 sectoral scopes of the UNFCCC Clean Development Mechanism (CDM).

Greenhouse gases

CO2, CH4, N2O, HFCs, PFCs and SF6.

Unit

1 MCU = one verified tonne of CO2e, using 100-year global warming potentials.

Objectives and principles

Why CR-I exists and how it works

Objectives

Promote domestic GHG emission reductions and removals enhancement
Create a scalable domestic carbon market
Provide a platform for new methodologies suited to India and other developing countries
Let project proponents monetise these benefits by trading MCUs
Reduce the overall cost of abatement
Promote holistic development: each project contributes to at least four SDGs
Raise general awareness of climate change

Working principles

Climate security
Legality
Confidentiality
Flexibility
Responsiveness
Cyber security

GHG accounting

From ISO 14064-2:

Relevance
Completeness
Consistency
Accuracy
Transparency
Conservativeness

Participants

Who does what

NCCF

Network for Certification and Conservation of Forests

Designs and manages the Registry, registers projects, and issues and transfers MCUs.

IPP

Independent Project Proponent

Designs, implements and monitors projects and appoints empanelled VVBs.

VVB

Validation and Verification Body

Independent third party that validates and verifies projects and assesses methodologies.

IMD

Independent Methodology Developer

Develops methodologies and tools and appoints the first VVB to assess them.

Transactional Organisation

Buyer, seller or broker; can hold and trade MCUs but not submit projects or methodologies.

Create a Registry account

Governance

How decisions are made

Apex body

Governing Council

Headed by the Chairman and Chief Coordinator. Gives final approval on registrations, issuances and methodologies.

Operations

Administrative structure

Day-to-day operations, completeness checks and evaluation of VVB performance.

Guidance

Advisory Board

Technical and strategic guidance to the programme.

Methodologies

Methodology Panel

Reviews and lists methodologies.

View governance and members

Integrity and recourse

Safeguards, complaints and appeals

Registry integrity

Every MCU has a unique serial number in an electronic registry, to avoid double counting
Credits already issued by other programmes are excluded
The Registry tracks each MCU issued, transferred, retired or cancelled; NCCF does not set prices
AFOLU projects deposit a buffer of MCUs that cannot be transferred or traded
Participants keep records for at least 10 years

Complaints and appeals

Complaints and appeals are made by email to NCCF. A complaint is the first documented disagreement; an appeal challenges the final decision on a complaint, and NCCF’s decision on an appeal is final. Complainants’ information stays confidential unless they agree or the law requires disclosure. Other disputes go to NCCF’s Dispute Resolution Committee.

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