The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) is a project-based mechanism under the Kyoto Protocol of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). It allows developed countries to invest in emission reduction projects in developing countries in order to earn Certified Emission Reductions (CERs), which can be used to meet their own emission reduction targets.
The CDM has been criticized for a number of reasons, including the potential for projects to be “additional” (i.e., they would not have happened without the CDM), the potential for leakage (i.e., emissions reductions in one area leading to increased emissions in another), and the potential for corruption.
Despite these criticisms, the CDM has been a successful mechanism for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. As of December 2017, over 8,000 CDM projects have been registered, resulting in the emission reductions of over 1.6 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent.
The following are the sub topics of Clean Development Mechanism:
- Additionality
- Baseline and monitoring
- Certified Emission Reductions (CERs)
- Eligibility criteria
- Emission reductions
- Financial mechanism
- Host country approval
- Implementation
- Joint implementation
- Kyoto Protocol
- Project cycle
- Safeguards
- Sustainable development
- Transparency
- Verification
The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) is a project-based mechanism under the Kyoto Protocol of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). It allows developed countries to invest in emission reduction projects in developing countries in order to earn Certified Emission Reductions (CERs), which can be used to meet their own emission reduction targets.
The CDM was established in 1997 as a way to promote sustainable development and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in developing countries. The CDM has been criticized for a number of reasons, including the potential for projects to be “additional” (i.e., they would not have happened without the CDM), the potential for leakage (i.e., emissions reductions in one area leading to increased emissions in another), and the potential for corruption.
Despite these criticisms, the CDM has been a successful mechanism for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. As of December 2017, over 8,000 CDM projects have been registered, resulting in the emission reductions of over 1.6 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent.
The following are the sub topics of Clean Development Mechanism:
- Additionality
- Baseline and monitoring
- Certified Emission Reductions (CERs)
- Eligibility criteria
- Emission reductions
- Financial mechanism
- Host country approval
- Implementation
- Joint implementation
- Kyoto Protocol
- Project cycle
- Safeguards
- Sustainable development
- Transparency
- Verification
Additionality
Additionality is the key principle of the CDM. It means that a project must be additional to what would have happened in the absence of the CDM. This means that the project must not only reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but it must also be a real, measurable, and long-term contribution to sustainable development.
Baseline and monitoring
The baseline and monitoring requirements for CDM projects are designed to ensure that the emission reductions are real and measurable. The baseline is the level of emissions that would have occurred in the absence of the project. The monitoring plan describes how the project’s emissions will be measured.
Certified Emission Reductions (CERs)
CERs are the units of emission reductions that are generated by CDM projects. Each CER represents one tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) of greenhouse gas emissions that have been reduced or avoided. CERs can be traded on the carbon market and used by developed countries to meet their emission reduction targets under the Kyoto Protocol.
Eligibility criteria
Not all projects are eligible for CDM funding. Projects must meet a number of eligibility criteria, including the following:
- The project must reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
- The project must be additional to what would have happened in the absence of the CDM.
- The project must be located in a developing country.
- The project must have a positive impact on sustainable development.
Emission reductions
The emission reductions generated by CDM projects must be real, measurable, and long-term. The project must also demonstrate that the emission reductions are additional to what would have happened in the absence of the CDM.
Financial mechanism
The CDM is funded by a number of sources, including the following:
- The World Bank
- The European Union
- The governments of developed countries
- Private investors
Host country approval
All CDM projects must be approved by the host country in which they are located. The host country must ensure that the project meets all of the eligibility criteria and that it will have a positive impact on sustainable development.
Implementation
CDM projects are implemented by a variety of actors, including the following:
- Project developers
- Financial institutions
- Governments
- Non-governmental organizations
Joint implementation
Joint implementation (JI) is a project-based mechanism under the Kyoto Protocol that allows developed countries to invest in emission reduction projects in other developed countries. JI is similar to the CDM, but it is not subject to the same additionality requirements.
Kyoto Protocol
The Kyoto Protocol is an international treaty that was adopted in 1997. The Kyoto Protocol sets binding emission reduction targets for developed countries. The CDM is one of the mechanisms that developed countries can use to meet their emission reduction targets under the Kyoto Protocol.
Project cycle
The project cycle for CDM projects is as follows:
- Project identification
- Project design
- Project approval
- Project implementation
- Project monitoring and verification
- CER issuance
Safeguards
The CDM has a number of safeguards in place to ensure that projects do not have negative impacts on sustainable development. These safeguards include the following:
- The no-harm principle
- The benefit-sharing principle
- The indigenous peoples’ rights principle
- The gender equality principle
Sustainable development
What is the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM)?
The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) is a project-based mechanism under the Kyoto Protocol of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). It allows developed countries to invest in emission reduction projects in developing countries in order to earn Certified Emission Reductions (CERs), which can be used to meet their own emission reduction targets.
What are the subtopics of the CDM?
The subtopics of the CDM are:
- Additionality
- Baseline and monitoring
- Certified Emission Reductions (CERs)
- Eligibility criteria
- Emission reductions
- Financial mechanism
- Host country approval
- Implementation
- Joint implementation
- Kyoto Protocol
- Project cycle
- Safeguards
- Sustainable development
- Transparency
- Verification
What are the benefits of the CDM?
The CDM has a number of benefits, including:
- It helps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
- It provides financial resources for developing countries.
- It promotes sustainable development.
- It helps to build capacity in developing countries.
- It helps to create jobs in developing countries.
- It helps to improve the environment in developing countries.
What are the criticisms of the CDM?
The CDM has been criticized for a number of reasons, including:
- The potential for projects to be “additional” (i.e., they would not have happened without the CDM).
- The potential for leakage (i.e., emissions reductions in one area leading to increased emissions in another).
- The potential for corruption.
- The potential for projects to have negative impacts on sustainable development.
What is the future of the CDM?
The future of the CDM is uncertain. The Kyoto Protocol is due to expire in 2020, and it is not yet clear whether it will be extended or replaced. If the Kyoto Protocol is not extended, the CDM will no longer be in operation. However, even if the Kyoto Protocol is extended, the CDM may face challenges, such as the potential for leakage and the potential for projects to have negative impacts on sustainable development.
What are some examples of CDM projects?
Some examples of CDM projects include:
- A project to install solar panels in a school in a developing country.
- A project to improve energy efficiency in a factory in a developing country.
- A project to plant trees in a developing country.
- A project to develop a new technology that reduces greenhouse gas emissions.
What are the challenges of implementing the CDM?
The CDM faces a number of challenges, including:
- The potential for projects to be “additional” (i.e., they would not have happened without the CDM).
- The potential for leakage (i.e., emissions reductions in one area leading to increased emissions in another).
- The potential for corruption.
- The potential for projects to have negative impacts on sustainable development.
What are the opportunities of implementing the CDM?
The CDM also offers a number of opportunities, including:
- The potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
- The potential to provide financial resources for developing countries.
- The potential to promote sustainable development.
- The potential to build capacity in developing countries.
- The potential to create jobs in developing countries.
- The potential to improve the environment in developing countries.
Question 1
The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) is a project-based mechanism under the Kyoto Protocol of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). It allows developed countries to invest in emission reduction projects in developing countries in order to earn Certified Emission Reductions (CERs), which can be used to meet their own emission reduction targets.
Which of the following is not a subtopic of the Clean Development Mechanism?
(A) Additionality
(B) Baseline and monitoring
(C) Certified Emission Reductions (CERs)
(D) Eligibility criteria
(E) Emission reductions
Answer
(E) Emission reductions is not a subtopic of the Clean Development Mechanism. The other four options are all subtopics of the Clean Development Mechanism.
Question 2
The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) has been criticized for a number of reasons, including the potential for projects to be “additional” (i.e., they would not have happened without the CDM), the potential for leakage (i.e., emissions reductions in one area leading to increased emissions in another), and the potential for corruption.
Which of the following is not a criticism of the Clean Development Mechanism?
(A) The potential for projects to be “additional”
(B) The potential for leakage
(C) The potential for corruption
(D) The potential for projects to not reduce emissions
(E) The potential for projects to not be sustainable
Answer
(D) The potential for projects to not reduce emissions is not a criticism of the Clean Development Mechanism. The other four options are all criticisms of the Clean Development Mechanism.
Question 3
Despite these criticisms, the CDM has been a successful mechanism for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. As of December 2017, over 8,000 CDM projects have been registered, resulting in the emission reductions of over 1.6 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent.
Which of the following is not a success of the Clean Development Mechanism?
(A) It has reduced greenhouse gas emissions
(B) It has provided financial resources to developing countries
(C) It has promoted sustainable development
(D) It has been transparent and accountable
(E) It has been free from corruption
Answer
(E) The Clean Development Mechanism has not been free from corruption. The other four options are all successes of the Clean Development Mechanism.