DEVELOPING RENEWABLE ENERGY IN ARCTIC AND SUB-ARCTIC REGIONS AND COMMUNITIES

CURRENT EXAMPLES
While we do not aim to endorse any particular certification scheme in this report, we
would like to present an example of an existing certification and labeling scheme,
called Equitable Origin, which is using EO100TM Standard. The EO100TM Standard
is a voluntary certification scheme that utilizes six principles to assess individual
energy projects:
1. Corporate Governance, Accountability & Ethics
2. Human Rights, Social Impact & Community Development
3. Fair Labor & Working Conditions
4. Indigenous Peoples’ Rights
| DEVELOPING RENEWABLE ENERGY IN THE ARCTIC AND SUB-ARTIC
5. Climate Change, Biodiversity & Environment
6. Project Life Cycle Management
Upon assessment and audit by certified operators, individual energy projects are
provided a certification score, which demonstrates the extent to which they met the
Standard for good policy and performance. This standard was used for certification
of oil and gas companies; however, the new version was adjusted to meet the needs
and challenges in the renewable energy sector.
NEXT STEPS
There are already voluntary certification schemes related to energy in existence
and the goal of this document is not to endorse one over the others. Rather, we
would like to endorse principles that would be important for communities in the
Circumpolar North countries when considering renewable energy certification
schemes: These principles could include economic viability, social equity and
environmental performance. The standards based on these principles should be
performance based, taking into account both procedural and distributional issues
in benefit sharing, where appropriate, between the renewable energy operator and
communities. The scheme should contain a mechanism for third party auditing, in
conformity with ISEAL alliance sustainability standard e.g. be in compliance with
major international conventions. The scheme should involve relevant stakeholders
of different levels, but should avoid a one-size-fits-all approach and be adaptable
for different localities across the Arctic. The voluntary certification scheme should
not be limited to minimal compliance with laws and regulations, but also address
benefits for local communities and indigenous peoples and, where possible, provide
enhanced opportunities to renewable energy projects.
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