Code REDD Empowering People, Preserving Forests, and Protecting Wildlife

 
Collage of REDD+ Projects around the world: Let's Do Something REDD

Code of Conduct

CODE REDD Membership Criteria and Guiding Principles

Summary Overview

To join the Code REDD Platform as a REDD+ project or developer, we require that the highest available standards in the market be achieved, which today we believe include:

  1. Agree to and ultimately achieve VCS Validation and Verification
  2. Agree to and ultimately achieve CCB Validation and Verification at Gold level
  3. Obtain FSC or another valid form of SFM Certification for any Low Impact, Sustainable Timber Harvesting and ensure the BSM (Benefits Sharing Mechanism) was agreed to via a formal FPIC process
  4. Document overall FPIC and Grievance Processes for Communities and other Stakeholders
  5. Adhere to the Code REDD Code of Conduct and all applicable national and host-country laws

In addition to the above, more details, our Code of Conduct, and initial developer / corporate checklist(s) to initiate the membership application process are outlined below.

CODE REDD Code of Conduct

  1. Overview

    The Code REDD Campaign’s Code of Conduct for Project Developers and Corporate Champions articulates the Campaign’s commitment to REDD+ project development of the highest standards, and builds upon the ethical principles established by existing bodies such as the International Finance Corporation, World Wildlife Fund, Eneco, and the Climate, Community and Biodiversity Alliance, among others.

  2. Scope

    To join the Code REDD Platform as a REDD+ project or developer, Code REDD requires that the projects achieve the highest available standards in the market which are currently Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) and Climate, Community and Biodiversity Standards (CCBS) which will need to be complemented by FSC or SFM Certification in case of projects that include Low Impact and Sustainable Timber Harvesting.The Code of Conduct applies to all the Corporate Champions and Project Developers that become part of the Campaign and enlist on the Code REDD website and as such is applicable to all the REDD+ projects and credits associated with the Campaign. It aims to provide all stakeholders including Strategic Partners of the Campaign with an objective and transparent criteria regarding the Campaign’s operations.Throughout the life of a REDD+ investment/participation, Code REDD Project Developers and Corporate Champions are to meet the standards outlined in section 4 below.

    Code REDD’s main focus is protecting the threatened forests of the world by avoiding the destructive use of forests completely, but in certain circumstances, limited, sustainable use of the forest resources will be welcomed into the campaign, when it is supported by and brings benefits to local indigenous groups or traditional forest communities.

  3. Objective

    Code REDD is a call-to-action action campaign designed to:

    1. Motivate corporate leaders to save the threatened forests of the world, by dramatically increasing the demand for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) emission reductions.
    2. Bring together in an open initiative corporate emissions reductions buyers, REDD+ project developers, indigenous forest owners, local and national governments from forest countries, NGOs, verification organizations, standards bodies, market platforms and other concerned entities to develop and finance high quality, high-impact REDD+ projects.
    3. Link those corporate leaders with high-quality, high-impact projects with good governance that reduce carbon emissions, protect biodiversity, respect the rights of indigenous people, create sustainable development jobs, empower forest communities, and simultaneously contribute to national level REDD+ programs.
    4. Support the establishment of an effective, efficient and equitable international REDD+ mechanism as an important tool within the international climate mitigation hierarchy.

  4. Principles and Membership Criteria

    The Code REDD Campaign adheres to the safeguards adopted by the UNFCCC in Cancun and to the 5 guiding principles for REDD+; as later adapted by Eneco for corporate level engagements, and is summarized/further defined in the below 20 criteria that define Code REDD’s Code of Conduct for its members.

    Principle 1: CLIMATE

    REDD+ demonstrably contributes to greenhouse gas emission reductions. Corporate Champions and Project Developers support for REDD+ results in real emission reductions or removals.

    1. Corporate Champions adhere to the “supplementarity” principle when using REDD+ credits for offsetting.
    2. Corporate Champions demonstrably retire offset credits that were used to reach voluntary targets.
    3. Code REDD listed Projects are independently validated and verified, have agreed to become independently validated and verified, or are in the process of becoming validated and verified against the highest available standards which are currently VCS and Gold level CCB; standards which are publicly available.
    4. Code REDD listed Projects comply with all REDD+ related host country regulation and aim for recognition under the host country’s national REDD+ strategy.
    Principle 2: BIODIVERSITY

    REDD+ maintains and/or enhances forest biodiversity and ecosystem services as defined by UN CBD.

    1. Corporate Champions prioritize REDD+ projects/credits that enhance biodiversity.
    2. Code REDD listed Projects do not involve native forest conversion and/or unsustainable logging; promote conservation of natural forests as well as their ecosystem services and biological diversity.
    3. Project developers execute a biodiversity and an environmental impact assessment in the project design phase informed by the guidelines in the SBIA Manual.
    Principle 3: LIVELIHOODS

    REDD+ contributes to sustainable and equitable development by strengthening the livelihoods of forest-dependent communities.

    1. Corporate Champions prioritize REDD+ projects/credits that enhance the livelihoods of forest-dependent communities.
    2. Project developers execute a social impact assessment in the project design phase informed by the guidelines in the SBIA Manual.
    3. Project Developers cooperate with local organizations such as NGOs, community based organizations etc. if available on the ground to ensure community involvement, full participation of civil society and achievement of appropriate non-carbon related goals as well in their REDD+ Projects.
    Principle 4: RIGHTS

    REDD+ recognizes and respects the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities as recognized by UNDRIP and UNHRC.

    1. In the Code REDD listed Projects land tenure/use rights must be clear, ideally legally defined, and in all cases not in dispute between stakeholders.
    2. Code REDD listed projects endeavor to avoid eviction/resettlements in all cases, and do not involve eviction/resettlements that are involuntary or uncompensated, except for certain cases of lawful removal of illegal occupiers.
    3. Project Developers ensure the proper execution of stakeholder consultation according to Free Prior Informed Consent principles and makes sure that there is a functional, accessible and transparent grievance procedure.
    Principle 5: FAIR & EFFECTIVE FUNDING

    REDD+ mobilizes immediate, adequate and predictable resources for action in priority forest areas in an equitable, transparent, participatory and coordinated manner.

    1. Revenues flow through to benefit the affected forest communities in an equitable and transparent way such that forest communities are compensated fairly for their involvement in the project and stewardship and / or ownership of underlying forest resources.
    Principle 6: APPLICABLE LAWS, RULES & REGULATIONS

    REDD+ Projects are carried out respecting international anti-corruption laws, ethical employment and business practices guidelines.

    1. Project Developers and Corporate Champions agree to comply with all applicable regulations of their host country.
    2. Project Developers and Corporate Champions agree not to directly or indirectly pay, or authorize the payment of, monies or other things of value to any officer or employee of local, national, and international governments; public international organizations; political parties or candidates for political office; or any other person to obtain influence or preference for the above-described activities.
    3. Members of the Code REDD shall not engage in other acts or transactions that are in violation with the anti-bribery or anti-money laundering legislation of any government, including the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, the UK Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001, the Money Laundering Regulation 1993 and the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, and the applicable country legislation implementing the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions.
    4. The Project Developer should comply with international and national employment and labor laws in the host country of the Projects, and to the greatest extent practicable, employ local personnel and provide training with a view to improving skill levels.
    Principle 7: MONITORING, REPORTING & EVALUATION
    1. The Code of Conduct is publicly available and is intended to be a living and evolving document, based on self-reflection and evaluation. Code REDD will continually review it to adopt/incorporate new and improved standards as they become accepted. Code REDD welcomes continuous feedback on the content of the Code from its stakeholders.
    2. Project developers wishing to join the Code REDD Campaign will be required to fill out the detailed Checklist and keep the checklist updated throughout the life of their projects in order to ensure full compliance with the Principles and membership criteria.