Greenhouse gas (GHG) projects reduce the accumulation of GHGs in the atmosphere that can cause climate change. These actions are undertaken to create tradable credits to offset emissions from companies or countries (i.e., carbon credits). This course provides in-depth training on the process of GHG accounting at the project-level for forest and other land use activities, focusing on reforestation, forest management and avoided deforestation projects, as well as revegetation and agricultural soil carbon projects.

Throughout the course, illustrations and examples are provided from existing GHG programs that include forest and other land use projects. The course also provides a summary of the main GHG accounting standards and GHG programs that allow for land use projects, including:

• The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and Joint Implementation (JI)
• The New South Wales Greenhouse Gas Reduction Scheme
• The Verified Carbon Standard (formerly “Voluntary”)
• The Climate Action Reserve
• The Australian Carbon Farming Initiative (CFI)
• The New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme
• The Alberta-based Credit Offset System
• The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative
• The American Carbon Registry

As such, this course provides a universal platform for understanding the issues and potential accounting aspects relevant to emerging climate change mitigation programs, both regulatory and voluntary.

Key concepts covered include:

• Introduction to land use project accounting
• Defining the project
• Establishing the baseline scenario and selecting relevant GHGs
• Quantifying emissions and removals
• Monitoring, documenting and reporting
• GHG accounting standards and programs