Technical Workshop 12: Building Registries to Support the Next Generation of Carbon Markets (Sacramento)

This Technical Workshop brought together experts and policy-makers from various jurisdictions to discuss arrangements and options available to countries to build their registry infrastructure and related legal and institutional frameworks. Practical case studies were considered, in particular focusing on countries which are seeking to leverage existing international offset programs and their registry infrastructure in their own country programs.
Date:
Sep 23 - 25, 2015
Venue:
Sacramento, California, USA
Day 1: September 23, 2015 | ||
8:30 | Registration | |
I. Building Registires: Legal, Institutional, and Technical Considerations | ||
On this first day of the workshop, experts shared insights and lessons learned on the legal, institutional, and technical issues related to registry development – based on their existing experience. First representatives from the Secretariat and co-host opened the workshop and presented the agenda. Then there were three sessions, presenting the findings of three Workshop Background Papers for feedback and further discussion by participants. In each session overviews, expert presentations, and case studies enriched the conversation. |
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9:00 | ||
Adrien de Bassompierre, PMR Coordinator | ||
Edie Chang, Air Resources Board, California | ||
Pierre Guigon, PMR Secretariat | ||
1. Setting the Legal Framework for Transaction Registries | ||
9:30 | ||
Moderator: Adrien de Bassompierre, PMR Coordinator | ||
Peter Zaman, Reed Smith | ||
Setting the Legal Framework for Transaction Registries | ||
Background Paper No.1 | ||
10:15 | Break | |
10:45 | ||
Edie Chang, Air Resources Board, California | ||
California: Cap on Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Market-Based Compliance Mechanisms | ||
John Storey-Bishoff, Alberta Environment and Parks | ||
Alberta: Carbon Offset Registry | ||
Verena Seemann, Federal Environment Agency, Germany | ||
Germany: Building Registries to Support the Next Generation of Carbon Markets | ||
12:00 | Lunch | |
2. Setting the Institutional Framework for Transaction Registry Administration | ||
13:45 | Moderator: Pauline Kennedy, PMR Secretariat | |
Frederic Dinguirard, Registry Expert | ||
Overview Presentation on Registry Administration and Institutional Approaches | ||
Background Paper No.2 | ||
Zhang Xiaoguang, Sinocarbon | ||
China: Administration of Registry | ||
Charles Seidler, Air Resources Board, California | ||
California: Cap-and-Trade Program Registry Administration | ||
Jean-Francois Halleux, UNFCCC | ||
UNFCCC: Institutional Framework for Registries | ||
15:00 | Break | |
3. Developing the Technical Infrastructure for Transaction Registries | ||
15:30 | ||
Moderator: Pierre Guigon, PMR Secretariat | ||
Frederic Dinguirard, Registry Expert | ||
Overview Presentation on Registry Procurement and Specifications | ||
Background Paper No.3 | ||
Zhang Xiaoguang, Sinocarbon | ||
China: Experiences in Developing a Registry System | ||
Chessada Sakulku, GHG Management Organization, Thailand | ||
Thailand: TGO’s Registry Technical Infrastructure | ||
Dmitriy Kovalev, Ministry of Energy, Kazakhstan | ||
Kazakhstan: National Carbon Units Registry | ||
17:00 | ||
Group Discussions: Participants had the opportunity to hold bilateral and/or group exchanges with speakers and other participating experts (e.g. registry providers). | ||
19:00 | Reception | |
End of Day 1 | ||
Day 2: September 24, 2015 | ||
II. Aligning Registries with Specific Policy Needs | ||
The second day of the workshop focused on registry design and implementation in accordance with the supported policy approaches, in particular highlighting variability elements in emerging mechanisms. Based on the findings of the Technical Note Options to Use Existing International Offset Programs in a Domestic Context, participants discussed possible arrangements and implications for jurisdictions that are seeking to leverage existing international offset programs (i.e. CDM, VCS, CAR) and supporting registries in their own programs. | ||
4. One Size Does NOT Fit All: Adapting Registries to the Policy they Support | ||
9:00 | ||
Moderator: Adrien de Bassompierre, PMR Coordinator | ||
Pierre Guigon, PMR Secretariat | ||
Aligning Registries with Specific Policy Needs: Key Considerations | ||
Technical Note: Options to Use Existing International Offset Programs in a Domestic Context | ||
Zhang Zhiqiang, National Center for Climate Change Strategy and International Cooperation (NCSC), China | ||
China: Introduction of China’s Carbon Emission Trading Registry | ||
Charlie Parker, Climate Focus | ||
REDD+ Transaction Registries | ||
10:15 | Break | |
10:45 | ||
Group Exercise: What Registry Framework for What Mechanism? | ||
Group Exercise | ||
12:30 | Lunch | |
5. Leveraging Existing Registry Infrastructure: Application to Offset Programs | ||
The afternoon session had four parts. First, an overview from a registry expert and then two case studies from Mexico and South Africa. In the third part, three experts presented different offset registries and programs. A group exercise in which participants studied different case studies, defined potential registry options, and assessed the technical, administrative/operational, and legal implications of the proposed arrangements concluded the session. | ||
14:00 | ||
Moderator: Pauline Kennedy, PMR Secretariat | ||
Derik Broekhoff, Stockholm Environment Institute | ||
Leveraging the Registry Systems of International Offset Programs | ||
Soffia Alarcon Diaz, Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources, Mexico | ||
Mexico: National Emissions Register | ||
Memory Machingambi, National Treasury, South Africa | ||
South Africa: Carbon Offset Registry for the Proposed Carbon Tax | ||
15:15 | Break | |
15:45 | ||
Jean-Francois Halleux, UNFCCC | ||
Options to use Existing International Offset Programs in a Domestic Context | ||
John Holler, VCS | ||
Leveraging Existing Registry Infrastructure: Application to Offset Programs | ||
Rachel Tornek, CAR | ||
Registry to Support Voluntary and Compliance Offset Markets | ||
17:00 | ||
Group Exercise: Registry Implications of Using Existing International Programs | ||
Group Exercise | ||
18:30 | Wrap up | |
End of Day 2 | ||
Day 3: September 25, 2015 | ||
III. Connecting Carbon Markets through Registries | ||
The third day of the workshop discussed key components of robust registry frameworks, as well as options to connect them. In particular, participants were invited to exchange views on those issues in the context of international carbon markets. In the beginning, there was a presentation on options for registry connectivity. Then, the UNFCCC shared Data Exchange Standards (DES) and International Transaction Log (ITL) followed by two cases of connectivity from China and California. In the last session, participants discussed key characteristics that are needed for the development and implementation of robust registry frameworks, in particular to ensure the credibility, reliability, and cost-effectiveness of the markets they support. | ||
9:00 | ||
Moderator: Pierre Guigon, PMR Secretariat | ||
Frederic Dinguirard, Registry Expert | ||
Connecting Registries | ||
Jean-Francois Halleux, UNFCCC | ||
UNFCCC: Integrating Registry Systems | ||
Zhang Xiaoguang, Sinocarbon | ||
China: Connectivity Choices for Registry | ||
Jason Gray, Air Resources Board, California | ||
California: Connecting Carbon Markets through Registries | ||
10:30 | Break | |
11:00 | ||
General Discussion: Key Components of a Robust Registry Framework | ||
7. Conclusion and Closure | ||
12:30 | ||
Adrien de Bassompierre, PMR Coordinator | ||
Rajinder Sahota, Air Resources Board, California | ||
13:00 | Lunch | |
End of workshop | ||