Open Letter: HFC-23 Projects Undermining Credibility of UNFCCC Process

A coalition of NGOs argues that HFC-23 projects, which account for half of all CDM carbon credits, are based on a flawed methodology leading to the over-issuance of credits that do not represent real emission reductions. The letter criticizes the CDM Executive Board for resuming credit issuance despite these findings and calls for the rescission of credits issued since 26 November 2010, a total halt on further issuance until methodology is corrected, and the adoption of HFC phase-down measures under the Montreal Protocol.

• The UN's CDM Executive Board found that the approved crediting methodology for HFC-23 projects contains manifold flaws that may result in the over-issuance of carbon credits not reflecting real and additional emission reductions.
• HFC-23 projects are critical to the integrity of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) because they represent 50% of all CDM carbon credits.
• Despite the investigation's findings on methodology flaws, the CDM Executive Board lifted the suspension of credits and issued nearly 20 million credits starting 26 November 2010.
• The NGO coalition recommends that the UNFCCC Parties rescind credits issued since 26 November 2010, stop further issuance until flaws are corrected, and urgently revise the HFC-23 crediting methodology.
• The document suggests addressing HFC-23 emissions through the Montreal Protocol, noting that HFC-23 is a byproduct of HCFC-22 production, an ozone-depleting chemical being phased out by that treaty.

APA

Carbon Market Watch (2010). Open Letter: HFC-23 Projects Undermining Credibility of UNFCCC Process. https://carbonmarketwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Open_Letter_to_Patricia_Espinosa_from_Broad_Coalition_of_NGOs1.pdf

Chicago

Carbon Market Watch. Open Letter: HFC-23 Projects Undermining Credibility of UNFCCC Process. 2010. https://carbonmarketwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Open_Letter_to_Patricia_Espinosa_from_Broad_Coalition_of_NGOs1.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Carbon Market Watch |title=Open Letter: HFC-23 Projects Undermining Credibility of UNFCCC Process |date=8 December 2010 |url=https://carbonmarketwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Open_Letter_to_Patricia_Espinosa_from_Broad_Coalition_of_NGOs1.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{carbonmarketwatch2010open, author = {{Carbon Market Watch}}, title = {{Open Letter: HFC-23 Projects Undermining Credibility of UNFCCC Process}}, publisher = {Carbon Market Watch}, year = {2010}, month = dec, url = {https://carbonmarketwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Open_Letter_to_Patricia_Espinosa_from_Broad_Coalition_of_NGOs1.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }