Each of the participants is responsible for different tasks involved in implementing and administering JI projects. The role of each of the participants is outlined below.

The four primary participants involved in the JI Second Track project cycle are:

• Project developer
• National government
• Accredited Independent Entity (AIE)
• Supervisory Committee

A wide range of bodies can develop JI-projects and acquire or transfer ERUs. Examples of possi-ble entities that could participate as project developer include government bodies or agencies, municipalities, foundations, financial institutions, companies and NGO’s.

The national government of the country in which the JI project is located must approve the project, and if applicable also the national government of an investor country. The country where the project is located is referred to as the Host Country. Every JI project includes the involvement of a Host Country. According to the JI guidelines a JI project has to have the approval of the Countries involved. Apart from the Host Country, other Annex I Parties could be involved. This could be the case when an Annex I Party is either buying the ERUs resulting from a JI project or facilitating the purchase of ERUs for companies participating in an emission trading system.

The Accredited Independent Entity is an entity that under the JI Second Track procedure is responsible for determining the eligibility of the proposed project and verifying the emission reductions accruing from the project. Independent Entities have to be accredited by the Supervisory Committee.

The validation by the Accredited Independent Entity prior to the project operation is referred to as determination. Determination refers to the fact that prior to the project implementation a third party independent organisation – the Accredited Independent Entity – needs to assess whether Project Design Document of the proposed JI project meets all the requirements for JI. Once a PDD has been submitted to the Accredited Independent Entity, the tasks of the Accredited Independent Entity are to:

• Make the PDD publicly available for 30 days through the Secretariat
• Receive comments from Parties, stakeholders, and UNFCCC accredited observers, on the PDD and any supporting documentation. Comments can be made for 30 days from the date from which the PDD is made publicly available
• Provide a summary of comments received and a report of how due account was taken of these.

The Accredited Independent Entity has to determine whether the proposed project has been approved by the relevant Annex I Parties involved, whether the project would result in a reduction of emissions that is additional to any that would otherwise occur, and whether the project has an appropriate baseline and monitoring plan in accordance with JI guidelines. The Accredited Independent Entity also has to determine whether the project developer has submitted documentation on the environmental impacts of the project activity, including transboundary impacts, in accordance with procedures determined by the host Country. If the impacts are significant the Accredited Independent Entity will have to determine whether an environmental impact assessment has been undertaken in accor-dance with the procedures required by the host Country.

Ex-post determination of the reductions in GHG emissions that have occurred as a result of the operation of the JI project is also the responsibility of the Accredited Independent Entity. In other words, ex-post determination can only be carried out once the project is operational. It serves to verify that the project results in real emission reductions. The Accredited Independent Entity will determine whether the project documentation provided is in accordance with the approved monitoring plan.

The JI Supervisory Committee will accredit the Independent Entities that will perform all functions related to the determination of JI projects and the subsequent verification of ERUs generated.

According to the JI guidelines projects starting from the year 2000 may be eligible JI projects if they meet the requirements stipulated.

A key criterion for operationalising Second Track JI is the establishment of the JI Supervisory Committee. The JI Supervisory Committee was established at the meeting of the first COP/MOP after the Kyoto Protocol entered into force.

The JI Supervisory Committee (JISC) officially launched the verification procedure of the CDM -like Track-2 of JI on 27 October, 2006. As of that date, Accredited Independent Entities (AIEs) acting as verifiers have been able to submit project design documents (PDDs) on projects for comments to the secretariat of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

The Supervisory Committee works under the authority of the COP/MOP and is reporting on its activities to each session of the COP/MOP. The task of the JISC include:

• Accredit Independent Entities.
• Review standards and procedures for the accreditation of Independent Entities.
• Review and revise reporting guidelines and criteria for baselines and monitoring, for consideration by the COP/MOP.
• Elaborate the Project Design Document (PDD) template, for consideration by the COP/MOP.
• Be responsible for the review procedures in connection with determination of JI Second Track projects and determination of emission reductions.
• Elaborate any rules or procedures additional to those already contained in the JI guidelines, for consideration by the COP/MOP.