11 December 2008: The Year End Snapshot of the Kyoto Protocol’s Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), compiled by the UN Environment Programme’s (UNEP) Risø Centre, reveals that worldwide over 4,200 CDM projects have been developed or are in operation.

So far, these projects are primarily renewable energy projects,
from hydroelectric and wind to solar and geothermal. The report finds
that the numbers of projects in Latin America, the Caribbean and Asia
are growing, with Brazil, China, India and Mexico accounting for about
75% of the projects.
Achim Steiner, UNEP Executive Director, said
the number of projects is expected to exceed 8,000 by 2012, and to
account for over US$30 billion in financial flows. He called for more
projects in the building and forestry sectors, and emphasized that the
CDM is not only a creative instrument for combating climate change but
also “an important stimulus package to developing country economies.” [UNEP Press Release] [Year End Snapshot of the CDM]