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We will keep you up to date by providing you with information in a nutshell - three times a year (only in German).

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Overview of Carbon Offset Programs

, | April 2, 2014

This technical note for the Worldbank is a mapping exercise of key elements and design features of offset programs (e.g. CDM, JCM and GS) and highlights differences and similarities between them. It identifies main elements and design features of eight different offset programs and discusses how these programs address key issues such as efficiency, environmental integrity, applicability, and transaction costs. It elaborates on the program's principles and goals, their operationalized principles, the respective governance structure, registration procedures and MRV and credit issuance procedures. 

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Liechtenstein's 6th National Communication

, | Feb. 4, 2014

INFRAS supported the Office of the Environment in preparing its 6th National Communication under the UNFCCC and under the Kyoto Protocol. The report outlines the state of implementation of Liechtenstein's international commitments with regard to climate change. It describes the development of greenhouse gas emissions up to 2011 and presents expected trends up to 2030. INFRAS calculated the scenarios 2030 based on Liechtenstein's Energy Strategy 2020. Without any reduction measures the emissions were 0.26 mio. tons of CO2 equivalent, including the measures of the Energy Strategy, the emissions in 2020 are projected to reach a level of 0.16 mio. tons.

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Switzerland's 6th National Communication

, | Feb. 4, 2014

INFRAS supported the Federal Office for the Environment in developing the 6th National Communication to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The report outlines the state of implementation of Switzerland's international commitments with regard to climate change. It describes the development of greenhouse gas emissions up to 2011 and presents expected trends up to 2030. According to that, Switzerland will presumably achieve its international commitments 2008 until 2012. The report also highlights information about activities in the area of adaptation, international cooperation, climate research and public relations.

 

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Principles for crediting in New Market Mechanisms

, , | Jan. 30, 2014

Market based approaches are a key element in the international response to climate change. This study aims to contribute to the on-going discussions in various fora, including the Frameworks for Various Approaches (FVA) and New Market Mechanisms (NMM), on how market based mechanisms need to be designed to deliver cost-effective, real, measureable, additional and permanent emission reductions. The study focuses on crediting mechanisms.
Part I of the study discusses blueprints for baseline setting and additionality determination in the absence of any mitigation pledges in the host country, drawing upon key lessons learned from existing crediting mechanisms, in particular the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) . 
Part II lays out the novel aspects that come into play for countries with mitigation pledges. Here, the pledges inform baseline setting and additionality determination in order to maintain consistency and prevent double claiming.

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Emission caps for the Swiss Emission Trading System

, | Jan. 27, 2014

INFRAS supported the Swiss Government in the allocation process, where energy intensive industries receive a limited number of emission rights in the new Emission Trading Scheme (ETS). Following the new ETS rules, which for a large part copy the relevant provisions of the ETS of the European Union, INFRAS calculated for each installation the free allocation of emission rights and validated the allocation calcuation of others. In a related consulting mandate, INFRAS supported the government in complex questions related to the ETS and developed options for solutions.

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