Clean Development

Mechanisms
By Haleef Griffith ID-92724
& Jordan Charles ID -100601

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What are Clean Development Mechanism?
The Kyoto Protocol, established as an international treaty, focuses on
curbing global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions primarily from
industrialized nations (Tardi, 2024).).

The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), a pivotal component under

Article 12 of the Kyoto Protocol, facilitates emission reduction projects
in developing countries. This mechanism allows industrialized countries
(Annex B Parties) to invest in projects that reduce emissions in
developing countries, generating Certified Emission Reductions (CERs).
CERs are crucial as they contribute towards fulfilling Annex B Parties'
emission reduction targets and are traded on carbon markets(UN 2
How Does Clean Development Mechanism Aid in
Reducing Emissions

The Clean Development Mechanism, or CDM, plays a crucial role in global

emission reduction efforts by facilitating projects in developing countries.
These projects produce Certified Emission Reductions, or CERs, with each CER
representing the reduction of one tonne of CO₂.CERs are a type of emissions
units issued by the clean development mechanism executive board (UN
Environment Program, 2024). These CERs are then traded on carbon markets
and provide industrialized countries with a cost-effective way to meet their
Kyoto Protocol targets (Tardi,2024). They can also be used by annex 1 countries
and economies to comply with their emission-limitation targets.For the host
countries, CDM projects not only help in cutting down local greenhouse gas
emissions but also advance sustainable development by promoting economic
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How do Clean Development Mechanism work?
• Projects are funded by Developed countries who are signatories of the kyoto
agreement offset carbon emission they produce themselves by investing in
developing countries to implement carbon mitigation systems.
• It allows developed countries(& businesses) to meet their targets in a cost
effective and economically advantageous way(Joshi,2013).

PROS CONS
•Unequal Distribution of Projects
•Emission Reduction Projects
•Certification of Emission •Verification and Monitoring Challenges
•Reductions Development Benefits •Short-Term Focus:

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Continued…
• Project Security, investment, or intervention delivers benefits
that would not have occurred without it. It is commonly used in
environmental, financial, and development contexts, particularly in
carbon offset programs, public funding, and international
aid(Umweltwissenschaften, 2018).
• Additionalities; means that the emissions reductions from a
project are "additional" to what would have happened under normal
circumstances, meaning the project leads to lower emissions than
would have occurred otherwise(Umweltwissenschaften, 2018).
• In finance or development aid, additionalities can refer to the extra
economic or social benefits generated by an investment or aid
package that wouldn't have been achieved without the external
support(Umweltwissenschaften, 2018). 5
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Company A sells the carbon credits to Company B who has
produced Is it a month of emissions the credits sold I'll
subtracted from there overall emissions report do you to
the principle of the atmosphere being a global resource so
therefore whatever is taken out by Company A can
automatic transfer and cancel out the appropriate amount
of emissions from Company B.

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Clean Development Mechanisms have proven To be a very
profitable mitigation process that has a created markets and
public stakeholders involvement. Has also been attributed to
economic growth for participating developing States by way of job
creations ,entrepreneurial Outlets, infrastructure modification and
building and public sector engagement which can vary from state
to state due to their pre-existing proposal. However, much like a
lot of different things to do with business and the nature of
interactions in general they are Externalities with positive and
negative repercussions derived from Clean development
mechanisms(Lo & Cong, 2022).
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What are the challenges involving Clean Development
Mechanisms

Citation - (Lo & Cong, 2022)

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Two Active Clean Development
Mechanism
• Waste Management Project in Jamaica

In Jamaica, our Clean Development Mechanism project focuses on converting

organic waste into biogas for electricity generation. This initiative tackles two
critical issues simultaneously: waste management and greenhouse gas
emissions reduction. The project involves conducting thorough feasibility
studies to identify suitable locations with high organic waste generation.
Anaerobic digestion facilities are being constructed to process the organic
waste, where biogas purification systems and generators are installed to
produce electricity. The generated biogas can potentially be used not only for
electricity but also for cooking or heating, promoting energy efficiency and
sustainability in local communities (Ministry of
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• Activities:
• Feasibility Study and Site Selection
• Identify locations with high organic waste generation.
• Assess local waste management infrastructure.
• Biogas Plant Construction
• Build anaerobic digestion facilities.
• Install biogas purification systems and generators.
• Utilization of Biogas
• Connect biogas generators to the electricity grid.
• Explore biogas use in cooking or heating.
• Capacity Building and Training
• Train local operators on plant operation.
• Educate communities on biogas benefits.

• Expected Benefits:
• Annual reduction of 20,000 tons of CO2 equivalent emissions.
• Improved waste management and community sanitation. 14
• The Lambert Wind Farm Project
• In Barbados, Clean Development Mechanism project focuses
on installing wind turbines to generate renewable electricity,
reducing reliance on imported fossil fuels and diversifying the
energy mix. The project started with wind resource
assessments to optimize energy yield and involves procuring
and installing suitable turbines, along with required
infrastructure. The integration with the local grid supports
the island's energy supply, enhancing sustainability and

resilience.(Adamson, n.d.).

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• Activities(Barbados Government, 2024):
• Wind Resource Assessment
• Conduct detailed wind assessments.
• Analyse energy yield potential.
• Wind Turbine Installation
• Procure and install suitable wind turbines.
• Construct necessary infrastructure.
• Grid Integration
• Connect turbines to the local electricity grid.
• Ensure grid stability with renewable energy.
• Community Engagement
• Consult with stakeholders and communities.
• Raise awareness about renewable benefits.
• Expected Benefits:
• Annual reduction of 30,000 tons of CO2 equivalent emissions.
• Diversification of Barbados' energy mix.
• Job creation in renewable energy sector.
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Our Take on Clean Development Mechanisms

• Even though Clean Development Mechanisms (CDMs) were effective

in reducing emissions, we had some had mixed feelings still
present. Economically, they attracted investment, often favouring
large projects over local ones. Socially, they sometimes created
jobs but often lacked effective community engagement.
Environmentally, while they did cut emissions, problems like over-
crediting and a focus on simpler projects limited their impact.
Newer approaches, like those under the Paris Agreement, aim to
address these shortcomings and offer a more integrated strategy
for balancing economic, social, and environmental goals. 17
THE END
Thanks for your time and attention

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REFERENCES

• Barbados Government. (2024, June 27). Barbados Onshore Wind Project – Energy.gov.bb. Energy.gov.bb.

https://energy.gov.bb/barbados-onshore-wind-project/

• Fankhauser, S. (2024, August 19). The Clean Development Mechanism: too flexible to produce sustainable development

benefits? - Grantham Research Institute on climate change and the environment. Grantham Research Institute on Climate

Change and the Environment.

https://www.lse.ac.uk/granthaminstitute/publication/the-clean-development-mechanism-too-flexible-to-produce-sustainable-dev

elopment-benefits

• K. Millock. (2013). Clean Development Mechanism - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics. Www.sciencedirect.com.

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https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/clean-development-mechanism#:~:text=The%20Clean%20
• Lo, A. Y., & Cong, R. (2022). Emission reduction targets and outcomes of the Clean Development

Mechanism (2005–2020). PLOS Climate, 1(8), e0000046. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pclm.0000046

• Ministry of Science,Energy,Telecommunications and Transport. (2010). National Energy-from-Waste Policy

DRAFT - Proposed Strategic Framework National Energy-from-Waste Policy.

• Tardi, C. (2024, March 19). What Is The Kyoto Protocol? Definition, History, Timeline, and Status.

Investopedia. https://www.investopedia.com/terms/k/kyoto.asp#:~:

text=The%20Kyoto%20Protocol%20was%20an%20international%20agreement%20that%20called%20for

• Umweltwissenschaften. (2018, May 3). Prof. Peter Newell: The Clean Development Mechanism - The theory,

the practice, need for reform. Www.youtube.com. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCUX6r0CcTw

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• UNFCC. (2024, September 15). CDM: CDM Benefits. Cdm.unfccc.int. https://

cdm.unfccc.int/about/dev_ben/index.html

• United Nations Climate Change. (2020). The Clean Development Mechanism. Unfccc.int.

https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/the-kyoto-protocol/mechanisms-under-the-kyoto-pr

otocol/the-clean-development-mechanism#:~:

text=The%20Clean%20Development%20Mechanism%20(CDM

• Adamson, T. (n.d.). The Lambert’s Wind Project. https://

www.blpc.com.bb/index.php/company/our-projects/the-lambert-s-wind-project

• Joshi, F. (2013). The CDM -How it works? Gujarat Forum on CDM. 21