UNFCCC Executive Secretary Christiana Figueres highlighted the success of the CDM, stating that it has been a success, “not only in the number of projects but also in its ability to attract private sector investment into bettering livelihoods and environments of people in the developing world.”
5 May 2011: The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) has registered its 3000th project, a wind power project in Inner Mongolia, China.
UNFCCC Executive Secretary Christiana Figueres highlighted the success of the CDM, stating that it has been a success, “not only in the number of projects but also in its ability to attract private sector investment into bettering livelihoods and environments of people in the developing world.”
There are now a total of over 3000 registered CDM projects in 71 countries, with about another 2600 in various stages of the registration process. To date, 1039 projects have earned a total of over 600 million certified emission reduction (CER) credits accounting for a total emission reduction of more than 600 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalents. Growth in the CDM also remains steady, with the number of projects beginning validation in the first three months of 2011 17% higher than in the same period in 2010.
The 3000th registered project will involve installation of 41 wind-powered turbines capable of producing up to 49.5 MW of electricity. The electricity produced will be fed into the power grid and displace electricity that otherwise would have been generated through the burning of high-carbon fossil fuel. The project is expected to reduce more than 101,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually. [UNFCCC Press Release]