What is a baseline?

The baseline for a LULUCF JI project activity is defined in 9/CMP.1, Annex, Appendix B, paragraph 1 as follows:

The baseline for an Article 6 project is the scenario that reasonably represents the anthropogenic emissions by sources or anthropogenic removals by sinks of greenhouse gases that would occur in the absence of the proposed project (9/CMP.1, Annex, Appendix B, paragraph 1).

In other words, a baseline for a LULUCF JI project activity is a hypothetical reference case, representing the volume of greenhouse gases that would have been sequestered if the project were not implemented.  Therefore, the baseline can be used to determine:

• whether a JI project activity is additional; and
• the volume of additional greenhouse gas emission removals achieved by a project activity.

Baselines for LULUCF projects must cover all anthropogenic removals by sinks that occur within the project boundary:

A baseline shall cover emissions from all gases, sectors and source categories listed in Annex A, and anthropogenic removals by sinks, within the project boundary (9/CMP.1, Annex, Appendix B, paragraph 1).