Lesson 1,
Topic 1
In Progress
SustainCERT Value Chain Intervention / Program Design Document (SC VC IDD / Program DD)
Inspired by the Value Change Guidance v1.1, SustainCERT can provide you with verification services for interventions aimed at creating GHG reductions and removals in their value chains.
SC offers two Value Chain verification pathways (“Levels”).
The SC VC Requirements are here to help you define, design, and enable the accounting of interventions, as well as accurately include them in your emissions reporting.
Two Value Chain verification pathways, also known as levels, are available. We go into more detail on these below. Don’t worry if it’s a bit of an overload of information – we are always on hand to help and explain what comes next every step of the way. By providing everything you could need to know, we ensure that every level of stakeholder has insight into our processes.
| Key differences | SC Verification – Level 1 (Narrative claim or non-transferable reporting claim) | SC Verification – Level 2 (Transferable reporting claim) |
|---|---|---|
| Eligibility | Must deliver emissions reductions or removals beyond business as usual (BAU) | Must deliver emissions reductions or removals beyond BAU. |
| Quantification Approach | Preferably Top-down validated quantification approaches. (approaches that have been approved, recognized, or published which may include approved methodologies and/or protocols from standard-setting organizations such as Gold Standard, CDM, CAR, Verra, etc.) | Preferably Top-down validated quantification approaches. |
| Data, Assumptions | Less evidence required to justify assumptions. Less reliance on specific data (primary data) and more on secondary data. | More evidence is required to justify assumptions. Greater reliance on specific (primary) data vs average data or default factors. |
| Uncertainty | Assessment, i.e. semi-quantitative and qualitative assessment. | Analysis, i.e. systematic and quantitative procedure to ascertain uncertainty. |
| Monitoring | Monitoring Plan typically simpler. | More comprehensive Monitoring Plan (GHG related) |
| Unicity | Narrative claim – N.A. Reporting – double-counting addressed (e.g. claimable once only at a given layer of the value chain, no carbon credits for the purchased amount of impacted goods, etc.) | Double-counting addressed (e.g. claimable once only at a given layer of the value chain, no carbon credits for the purchased amount of impacted goods, etc.) |
| Validation / Verification | Limited level of assurance (negative form of opinion) Less site visits required Lower frequency of verification | A reasonable level of assurance (Positive form of opinion) More site visits required Greater frequency of verification |
| Causality | Causality and Beyond BAU | Causality and Beyond BAU |
| Stakeholder consultation | Not mandatory (except for reporting on consultation happening anyway e.g. regulatory related or voluntary) | Not mandatory (except for reporting on consultation happening anyway e.g. regulatory related or voluntary) |
| Safeguarding principles, Risks Assessment | Optional and not validated/verified | Optional and not validated/verified |
SustainCERT Value Chain Intervention or Program Design Document
To undergo a SC VC validation or verification:
- The information must be submitted in an Intervention Design Document or Program Design Document (IDD/ Program DD) along with complementary documentation, e.g.:
- Detailed calculation worksheets
- Tool/model description
- Monitoring reports
- Supporting evidence, etc.
Key IDD Topics 1
| SC Requirements Sections | IDD Section | |
|---|---|---|
| What | 1-2. Principles | 3.1.1. Purpose |
| 3.1 | 3.1.2. Activities in the program (estimated start of program interventions) | |
| 3.1 & 6 | 3.1.3. Define activities & describe your causality | |
| 3.1.4 | 3.1.4. Yield & amount impacted | |
| 3.1.2 & 3.1.6 | 3.1.5. & 3.1.6 Start dates and activities duration | |
| 3.3 | 3.2-3. Location & Supply Shed | |
| How | 4.1 | 4.1 & 4.2. Baseline & scenario (SSRs) |
| 4.3 | 4.1 & 4.3. How you assess impact; Quantification approach | |
| Annex 4: non permanence risk assessment | 4.4. Accounting for permanence. Risk assessment table | |
| 4.5 | 4.5. Monitoring plan; which parameters & what sampling plan. | |
| 5 | 5. Data Quality & Quality management procedures | |
| 6 | 6. Causality & Funding | |
| 7 | Annex 1. Risks self-assessment & Safeguards | |
| 8 | 8 & 9. Stakeholder consultation; Risks assessment & safeguarding | |
| 10 | 10. Program inclusion criteria & sampling approach | |
| Checks | 9 | Annex 1. Risks self assessment & Safeguards |
| Annex 2 & 3: Model evaluation | Annex B. Model Evaluation & uncertainty |
Completing the IDD / Program DD
- Refer to the corresponding section in the SustainCERT Verification Requirements for Value Chain Interventions v0.9 for additional information and guidance
- Requirements in green MUST be followed
- Guidance on how to complete the sections is detailed in the grey boxes
- Guidance for tables <<appears like this>>
- Do not delete or modify any sections in the IDD / Program DD
- Clearly reference supporting documents and attachments
- If a section is not applicable, do not leave it blank – indicate and justify
- If something is unclear, ask during Discovery
SC VC Rules & Requirements & The Fundamental Principles
To ensure success, we’ve compiled the following advice and things to consider!
- Relevance – Considered sources, sinks and reservoirs, data, and quantification approaches are appropriate.
- Completeness – All relevant GHG emissions and removals are included, together with all relevant information to support criteria and procedures.
- Consistency – The approach considered enables meaningful comparisons in GHG-related information (uniform procedures over time, and for both baseline and intervention, functional/service equivalence, etc.).
- Accuracy – Bias and uncertainties are discussed and reduced as far as practical (where high cost makes accuracy difficult, conservativeness serves as a moderator to accuracy to maintain credibility).
- Transparency – Sufficient and appropriate GHG-related information is disclosed to allow intended users to make decisions.
- Conservativeness – Conservative assumptions, values, and procedures are used to ensure GHG emissions reductions or removal enhancements are not over-estimated.