Additionality standards

Project selection | Sustainability | Additionality

The UN Clean Development Mechanism has established sound ‘additionality’ tests.

A project will not qualify under the UN scheme if it would have happened without the need for finance available from the carbon market. However, PURE consciously exceeds the CDM standards

So far, PURE has rejected a number of projects for the following reasons:

• The primary decision to build the project was taken before participation in the CDM was considered; and;
• Additional revenue to the project from the sale of carbon credits was not sufficient to make a realistic difference to the financial attractiveness of the project.

PURE also supports British Public Services Institutions where to ensure additionality;

• Verification of the emission reductions generated by each project is provided by the National Energy Foundation, an educational charity encouraging the development of renewable energy and energy efficiency that manages the Energy Efficiency Accreditation Scheme on behalf of the Carbon Trust.
• Recipients also pledge to use offset revenue to finance additional projects to reduce emissions.