A-Person

							Minutes of the meeting of the Advisory Forum on the Quality Assurance Scheme for Carbon Offsetting Held on Monday 8 June at 2pm at 3 Whitehall Place, London SW1A 2HH Those present  James Hughes, DECC (Chairman)  John Buckley - Carbon Footprint  Bruce Elliott - Clear  Robert Rabinowitz - Pure, the Clean Planet Trust  Hugo Seymour - Greenstone Carbon Management  Tallat Hussain - White & Case LLP  Malcolm Hynd - United Kingdom Accreditation Service        Nick Blyth - Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA) Rob Gemmill - Environment Agency Ian Byrne - The National Energy Foundation Jackie Nyaoro - AEA Group plc Gareth Baynham-Hughes DECC Tom Slater – DECC Kathy Chislett - DECC

Apologies for absence: Benjamin Muir - Cleaner Climate Ltd Item 1 - Welcome and introductions. Members of the Forum introduced themselves and the agenda was adopted. Item 2 - Adoption of the agenda. An AOB item on the DECC consultation on carbon neutrality was added. Item 3 - Scheme purpose and update on the scheme. DECC gave a presentation on the background to the scheme and a brief summary of responsibilities. In discussion the following points were made: Certain emissions factors under the scheme were not the same as those used for the Carbon Trust Standard. It was agreed those operating under the scheme needed confidence that the emissions factors were the right ones. DECC agreed to examine the issue of using gross or net calorific values for emissions from gas. Action: DECC/AEA There had not been any press coverage at the launch of the scheme because delays to its launch meant that seeking high profile coverage was not appropriate given other important Government announcements at the time. DECC confirmed that Ministers had decided to postpone any examination of the credits that could be approved under the scheme until an appropriate time after the UNFCCC meeting in Copenhagen in December 2009.

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It was important to monitor offset providers’ consumer information provided at the time of application.

Item 4 - The role of the Forum and its governance In discussion the following points were made: Forum members would welcome additional representation from key environmental or other relevant NGOs as well as project developers or finance institutions and consumer bodies. DECC agreed to consider how to expand membership on the basis of any specific suggestions made by current members. Action: All members DECC should maintain a dialogue with offset providers not currently making use of the scheme, for example members of International Carbon Reduction and Offset Alliance (ICROA). In response to questions about the use of offsetting for the purpose of meeting carbon budgets, DECC confirmed that the Government aimed to meet the current level of the budgets through domestic action. However, it envisaged the purchase of credits to help meet tighter budgets that would be set following a new satisfactory international agreement. . Clarity on the length of appointment of members to the Forum was needed in the terms of reference, 18 months was suggested for the time being. Action: DECC A co-chairman was unnecessary so long as agendas for meetings were agreed in advance. DECC agreed to establish the rules of agenda setting in the terms of reference. Action: DECC Meetings should be held quarterly as set out in the draft terms of reference. Meetings would be held at DECC’s offices and DECC would provide the secretariat.

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Item 5 - The approval process for the scheme In discussion the following points were made: A checklist for the approval process including consumer information would be valuable, with the Approval Body sharing the checklist once completed with offset providers to offer reassurance that all scheme requirements have been checked for compliance. It was agreed that this would be developed. Action: DECC/AEA The fee structure mitigated against innovation in the development of offset products requiring non-standard emissions factors. It was explained that the current fee structure had been established on the basis of the outcome of a public consultation.

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There was concern that some standard conversion factors were not included in the scheme requirements. This meant additional costs to providers. It was agreed that DECC and the Approval Body would examine the case for expanding the standard factors available on the basis of suggestions from Forum members, together with possible amendments to the fee structure for approving individual emissions. However, care would need to be taken to ensure that consistent measurement of emissions remained central to the scheme. Action: All members

Item 6 - The impact of the scheme In discussion the following points were made: - Performance metrics and a clear vision for the scheme should be developed, even though measuring success would be difficult given the current state of knowledge of the market. DECC agreed to consider how to better communicate its vision for the scheme ahead of the next meeting. Action: DECC - The scheme’s profile was discussed as well as its main target audience. The link to ActOnCO2 was important. There were opportunities for promotion through social marketing and a stronger web presence. Members agreed to provide ideas on how to promote and raise awareness of the scheme. DECC would also reflect. Action: All members - There was a need to think about future strategy regarding the inclusion of VERs and domestic projects. - It was important to get the balance right between placing offsetting in its correct context (i.e after avoiding emissions) but not undermining the value of offsetting. Item 7 - The use of the Quality Mark In discussion, the possibility of using the quality mark on products whose footprint had been offset using approved offsets was raised. Members were concerned to ensure all opportunities to use the mark were explored; there should not be unnecessary restrictions on its use. DECC explained current usage guidelines had been developed by the Central Office of Information. It was agreed that DECC would consider these issues further. Members were invited to make suggestions on the use of the quality mark. Action: DECC Item 8 - AOB Carbon neutrality DECC explained that the 60 or so responses to the consultation were being considered. A full update would be provided at the next meeting.

Item 9 - Date of next meeting A date of 8 September was provisionally agreed but would be subject to confirmation. DECC 18 June 2009