The Project Developer Forum (PD Forum) is a collaborative association and collective voice of companies and practitioners that are developing and financing greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction projects in all regions of our globe.
The accumulation of in-depth technical knowledge and broad experience that our members have with global instruments such as the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), Voluntary Standards and Climate Finance, as well as with country specific initiatives, make PD Forum a unique platform and stakeholder for discussions around the reform of existing, and the creation of new policies and mechanisms to mitigate climate change. Based on our long term experience we are analysing the development of the rules and procedures arising from the Paris Agreement for new Sustainable Development Mechanisms under Article 6 and we are informing how these regulations may fit to Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) and Voluntary Carbon Markets (VCM).
With COP30 starting imminently in Belém, the Project Developer Forum (PD Forum) has issued its key priorities for advancing international carbon markets under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.
Application of PACM baseline rules – an Improved Cookstoves case study submitted to The Article 6.4 Supervisory Body and Methodology Expert Panel on October 3rd 2025 in a joint letter with IETA. This case study includes the findings from the first in a planned series of analyses undertaken by the Project Developer Forum applying the methodological requirements under the Paris Agreement Crediting Mechanism (PACM).
Background
To better understand the practical implications of PACM requirements, the Project Developer Forum members applied the PACM baseline rules to an improved cookstove project.
Our analysis shows that newer cookstove methodologies already apply conservative parameters (including, for example, fNRB, stove efficiency, and emission factors). The PACM rules impose further structural adjustments to ensure conservativeness. In our test case, applying PACM adjustments on top of already conservative parameters reduces credit volumes by approximately 27% compared to conservative market practice.
Recommendations for consideration
Based on the Project Developer Forum analysis, we respectfully request that the PACM Supervisory Body and Methodology Expert Panel consider the following approaches to ensure methodological accuracy:
1. Over-correction risk analysis: Assess the cumulative impact of all adjustments towards a conservative baseline setting, to consider the risk of over-correction.
2. Accuracy over conservativeness: Allow well-justified deviations from the baseline standard’s stepwise baseline determination and default adjustments - to ensure credits reflect actual project performance.
3. Sector and regional specificity: Recognise and facilitate the development of robust sectoral or national values or defaults, where such data is available.
4. Proportionate flexibility: Incorporate proportionate flexibility for small-scale activities or data-constrained contexts, including developing countries that require the flexibility, Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States, while maintaining environmental integrity.
The Project Developer Forum has published a media statement on the draft Article 6.4 Permanence Standard, warning that the current approach risks undermining the entire market for nature-based climate solutions.
The Project Developer Forum has formally called attention to a critical issue affecting the voluntary carbon market: the exclusion of multi-methodology projects from Core Carbon Principles (CCP) eligibility. In our recent letter to the ICVCM, we urge the adoption of a more flexible approach that allows CCP-labelled credits for eligible components of innovative projects—such as hybrid renewables and landfill methane capture—that are vital to climate progress, especially in developing regions.
We hold weekly calls on Wednesdays at 1 pm GMT. Call-in details and agenda are distributed before the call. Minutes are sent out shortly after the call.
We have a flexible working group structure, depending on the current regulatory and market issues.
