20 November 2012: The UNFCCC has published a report evaluating achievements under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). The report, titled “Benefits of the Clean Development Mechanism 2012,” expands on a previous study, released in 2011, with an analysis of roughly 4,000 CDM projects in four areas: sustainable development, technology transfer, finance and regional distribution.

Citing investments in CDM projects exceeding US$215 billion, the report concludes that the mechanism has largely fulfilled its objectives to curb greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and promote sustainable development in developing countries. The report also identifies benefits that were not intended during the CDM’s design, such as job creation and increased economic activity for non-Annex I Parties.

The report highlights CDM achievements, including: US$3.6 billion in compliance savings to Annex I Parties under the Kyoto Protocol; 110 gigawatts of new renewable energy capacity from CDM projects; the design of effective indicators for reporting on sustainable development in host countries; and the CDM’s role in generating and supporting green growth programmes. The report identifies Germany, the US, Denmark, Japan and China as the top five technology and “know-how” suppliers for CDM projects. The report also provides new finance and cost estimates for different kinds of projects and revised savings and revenue estimates from certified emission reductions (CERs). [UNFCCC Press Release] [Publication: Benefits of the CDM 2012]