Administration and Transaction Cost Estimates for a Greenhouse Gas Offset System

The report "Administration and Transaction Cost Estimates For A Greenhouse Gas Offset System" was commissioned by the Government of Canada and undertaken by Marbek Resource Consultants in association with PricewaterhouseCoopers and the International Institute for Sustainable Development.

Table of Contents

Executive Summary

1. Introduction

• 1.1 Background
• 1.2 Objectives
• 1.3 Report Content and Organization

2. Methodology

• 2.1 Project Types
• 2.2 Cost Elements and General Assumptions
• 2.3 Design Options and Cost Drivers
• 2.4 Sources of Cost Information
• 2.5 Compilation and Confidence Levels

3. Transaction Costs

• 3.1 Introduction
• 3.2 Project Evaluation
• 3.3 Project Initiation
• 3.4 Project Proposal
• 3.5 Project Validation
• 3.6 Monitoring and Quantification
• 3.7 Verification
• 3.8 Required Replacement Transaction Costs
• 3.9 Total Transaction Costs

4. Administration Costs

• 4.1 Introduction
• 4.2 Set-up Program Authority and Legal Framework
• 4.3 Protocols and Guidance
• 4.4 Validation and Oversight
• 4.5 Offset Registry
• 4.6 Total Administration Costs

5. Conclusions

• 5.1 System Costs
• 5.2 Implications for the Design of the GHG Offset System

Appendices

• Appendix A: References
• Appendix B: List of Interviews
• Appendix C: Key Cost Drivers
• Appendix D: Explanation of Modeling Approach