Frequently Asked Questions
1) How can I access the SD Tool?
2) How can I access the reports?
3) How do I find more information on a project (the project design document, validation report, verification report, etc.)?
4) How can I get help when accessing or using the SD Tool or publishing a Sustainable Development co-Benefits description report?
5) How do I know when my SDC description report has been published?
6) What types of co-benefits are there?
7) Is the SD Tool comparable to other sustainable development tools/guidelines used elsewhere in the world?
1) How can I access the SD Tool?
Access to the tool is only available to CDM project participants (PPs) and coordinating management entities (CMEs) and upon request. If you are a PP or CME and would like to use the SD Tool, please click on the "Request access" button on the SD Tool page of this website.
2) How can I access the reports?
You can find all published Sustainable Development co-Benefits description reports on the SDC reports page (click on the View Reports tab). The reports are available for anyone to view.
3) How do I find more information on a project (the project design document, validation report, verification report, etc.)?
- For more information on a project or programme of activity (PoA), click on the project/PoA name on the SDC reports page of this website
- Alternatively, or for more information on any project or PoA, use the following link to the CDM project cycle search:
https://cdm.unfccc.int/Projects/projsearch.html
4) How can I get help when accessing or using the SD Tool or publishing a Sustainable Development co-Benefits description report?
If you cannot find the answer you are looking for in the user guide here available then please contact us using the email account sdtool@unfccc.int. We are ready to answer your questions.
5) How do I know when my SDC report has been published?
You will receive a confirmation via email when your Sustainable Development co-Benefits description report has been published. It will also appear on the ”SDC Reports’’ page of this website and in the field “SDC description report” on your CDM project or programme webpage.
6) What types of co-benefits are there?
The tool covers social, economic and environment co-benefits. These are divided further into key indicators and criteria. The open text sections of the criteria allow for more detailed descriptions of co-benefits. It is important that where an overlap between two co-benefits is possible, that the claim is made and substantiated only once. For example, creating new jobs can fall under both social and economic; make a choice and report under just one to ensure accurate reporting.
7) Is the SD Tool comparable to other sustainable development tools/guidelines used elsewhere in the world?
The SD Tool was designed in the specific context of the clean development mechanism (CDM). Its aim is to highlight Sustainable Development co-Benefits arising from CDM project activities and programmes of activities. Developers of the SD Tool were guided by the following sources of information (listed in no particular order), inter alia:
CDM project documentation (all registered projects up to March 2012); IPCC AR5 WG III; Account Ability (AA1000) Stakeholder Engagement Standard; German International Climate Initiative (ICI); The Gold Standard; The Crown Standard; Forest Stewardship Council (FSC); Roundtable on Sustainable Biofuels (RSB); Climate Community and Biodiversity Alliance (CCBA); EU Compliance report for LoA template; World Commission on Dams (WCD); International Labour Organization (ILO); CDM Watch; World Bank Safeguard Policies; The International Finance Corporation Performance Standards; Hydropower Sustainability Assessment Protocol; Equator Principles; UN Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD); UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs); UN Global Compact; World Health Organization (WHO); Outcome of the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20); CDM EB public call for inputs (EB68); and peer reviewed literature.