Linking Directive

German Utility RWE Meets Climate Targets by Supporting Forced Evictions in China

Thursday, December 4, 2008
Report shows Germany failing to enforce EU law on hydro carbon creditsA report released today reveals that German power utility, RWE, plans to buy carbon credits from a dam in China that fails to meet World Commission on Dams (WCD) guidelines, a breach of EU law. RWE, one of the biggest CO2 emitters in Europe, is buying the credits to avoid having to reduce emissions from its coal plants in Germany. The report is based on a field visit by International Rivers' consultant Tina Lea, a Chinese-speaking researcher.* It finds that 7,500 people were forcibly evicted to make way for the Xiaoxi Dam, t

Xiaoxi and Xiaogushan CDM Hydropower Projects: Report from a Field Trip

Thursday, November 27, 2008
EU legislation known as the Linking Directive states that CDM credits from hydropower projects larger than 20MW can only be used in the European Emissions Trading System (ETS) if the projects comply with the recommendations of the World Commission on Dams (WCD). The German government has taken the lead on establishing a process for assessing WCD compliance of CDM hydropower projects. The government requires German companies that intend to buy CDM large hydro credits for use in the ETS to commission a third party to assess WCD compliance. German power utility RWE, one of the biggest CO2

International Rivers' Comments on Draft EU Rules for Assessing WCD Compliance

Large hydro projects (>20 MW) that generate Clean Development Mechanism credits that are used in the European Emissions Trading System (ETS), need to comply with the World Commission on Dams' recommendations, according to the EU's Linking Directive. The European Commission is currently drafting guidelines for EU member states on how to assess WCD compliance. In May 2008, the European Commission shared a draft paper and WCD compliance report with some stakeholders, including International Rivers, and requested comments. Please find below a link to International Rivers' comments on the draft

Critique of the WCD Compliance Report for Xiaoxi Large Hydro Dam, China

Sunday, June 1, 2008
The following assessment by International Rivers compares the compliance report for the 135 MW Xiaoxi Dam to the Strategic Priorities of the World Commission on Dams, and the requirements of the German Emissions Trading Authority. The report is of very low quality and does not provide a basis for the German government to accept the project as WCD compatible. Background: German-based power utility RWE is one of the biggest CO2 emitters in Europe, with emissions of more than 120 million tonnes of CO2 per year, mainly from coal plants. In place of reducing its emissions, RWE intends to buy CDM

Climate Action Network Submission on Developed Country Emission Reductions

Friday, February 15, 2008
A series of discussions are under way among the governments that ratified the Kyoto Protocol on what commitments developed countries (Annex I Parties, in the Protocol's jargon) should take on after the first phase of the Protocol expires in 2012. They are also discussing means to meet these commitments, including potentially redesigning the Clean Development Mechanism. The 5th session of this "Ad Hoc Working Group on Further Commitments for Annex 1 Parties under the Kyoto Protocol" will take place in Bangkok, 31 March to 4 April 2008. Climate Action Network International's submission to the Ad

UK Government Checklist on WCD Compliance

Monday, November 5, 2007
The UK's Department of Environment (DEFRA) has prepared a checklist which can be used to assess whether a large hydro project complies with the World Commission on Dams criteria. The checklist is Annex C in DEFRA's "guidance on approval and authorisation to participate in Clean Development Mechanism project activities" which can be downloaded below. The checklist was prepared in response to the requirement in the EU's Linking Directive that CDM credits from large hydros (>20MW) can only be used in the European Trading System if the projects comply with the WCD.

Letter to Buyers of CDM Credits from Chinese Hydros

Wednesday, December 19, 2007
(A similar letter has been sent to the following buyers of carbon credits from Chinese hydros: ENEL, EDF Trading Limited, ICECAP, CAMS AB Sweden, RWE Power AG, MGM Carbon Portfolio, Kommunalkredit, EcoSecurities, Energy Systems International, Eco Energia, Endesa Generacion SA, CDCF, Factor Consulting, IXIS, Int System Energy Corporation, Arreon Carbon, Sindicatum Carbon Capital International, KfW, Ecoinvest, ICF, ESI BV, WBCF, CCAN) Berkeley/BerlinMarco MonroyPresident & CEOMGM Carbon PortfolioLuxembourgVia e-mail: marcogmonroy@mgminter.comDear Marco Monroy:We note that you intend to obta

German Government Guidelines on WCD Compliance

The German Environment Ministry in October 2007 issued a "Guideline for Determination of Compliance with the Recommendations of the World Commission on Dams Regarding Hydroelectric Power Projects with a Capacity over 20MW, within the Context of Joint Implementation (JI) and Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) Projects." The document, which can be downloaded below, was prepared in response to the requirement in the EU's Linking Directive that CDM credits from large hydros (>20MW) can only be used in the European Trading System if the projects comply with the WCD. Please also find below for dow

Letter to Carbon Investors on Voluntary Offset Standards

Friday, August 31, 2007
Similar letters to the below were also sent to ECIS (now known as INCIS) members Barclays, Citibank, Fortis, MorganStanley, Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank, Dresdner Kleinworth and Climate Change Capital. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Frans CornelissenSenior Vice President Sustainable Development EuropeAndre AbadieHead Sustainable Business AdvisoryABN AMROVia E-mail: frans.cornelissen@nl.abnamro.com & andre.abadie@nl.abnamro.comRe: Voluntary Offset StandardDear Frans Cornelissen and Andre Abadie,We were very interested to learn of your c

The EU Linking Directive

Saturday, October 13, 2007
In November 2004, the European Union adopted legislation regulating the admission of CDM credits (CERs) into the EU’s greenhouse gas Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS). The legislation, known as the Linking Directive, states that CERs from large hydro projects can only be used in the ETS if the projects meet the standards of the World Commission on Dams (WCD). The section of the directive dealing with hydro projects states: "In the case of hydro–electric power production project activities with a generating capacity exceeding 20MW, Member States shall, when approving such project

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