2 March 2012: At its 66th meeting, the Executive Board of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) adopted various guidelines and tools to ensure the CDM’s efficiency, including relating to standardized emissions baselines.

The meeting was held from 27 February-2 March 2012, in Bonn, Germany, and considered issues necessary for the operation of the CDM, including matters relating to: the performance management of Designated Operational Entities (DOEs); the Board and its support structure; accreditation of operational entities; the CDM programme of activities; the registration of CDM projects; issuance of certified emission reductions (CERs); regulatory matters; and relations with forums and other stakeholders.

On governance matters, the Board elected Maosheng Duan (China), and Martin Hession (the UK), respectively as Chair and Vice-Chair of the Board, for 2012. Regarding the Board’s strategic planning/direction, it agreed on its two-year business plan for 2012–2013, the CDM management plan (CDM-MAP) for 2012, and the CDM communication and outreach work-plan for 2012. On matters relating to the Board and its support structure, the Board took note that the Secretariat is making the final arrangements for the signing of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the chosen implementing agency of the loan scheme to finance CDM project development costs, which is intended to be launched in April 2012, at the Africa Carbon Forum. The chosen implementing agency is the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS), in conjunction with the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Risoe Centre on Energy, Climate and Sustainable Development (URC). [CDM Executive Board Report]