13 April 2012: The UNFCCC Secretariat has reported that the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) has registered its 4000th project. The Indian wind power project is expected to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 21,807 tons a year, which is the equivalent of removing the emissions from 4,275 cars each year.

According to the UNFCCC, the first CDM project was registered on 18 November 2004. Currently, there are registered CDM projects in 74 developing countries, covering a range of project types, from projects to replace inefficient wood stoves, to wind power projects, to large industrial projects that destroy potent GHGs.

Over 900 million certified emission reduction (CER) credits have been issued to about 1500 projects in 47 countries. UNFCCC Executive Secretary Christiana Figueres remarked on this milestone and on the future of the CDM, pointing out that, “Governments, the international Board that oversees the CDM, and the UNFCCC Secretariat have worked continually to simplify the mechanism, broaden its reach, safeguard its environmental integrity and prepare the CDM for the future.” She highlighted the importance to the CDM of countries’ agreement on a second commitment period for the Kyoto Protocol. [UNFCCC Press Release]