Clean Development Mechanism (CDM)

Update: The number of projects that entered the CDM pipeline increased in the first two quarters of 2010 (See Fig. 1). The percent of registered projects that were involved in the review process (which includes projects that require corrections) has been growing over the years (see Fig. 4): 9.5% in 2005, 9.1% in 2006, 19.3% in 2007, 56.9% in 2008, 70.4% in 2009, 53.7% in 2010 (as of July 1, 2010). 50% of all hydro projects in the CDM pipeline have requested registration since 2004, while 44% of all hydro projects have actually been registered. Figs. 3 and 4 show the fate of projects reque

Could a decrease in offsets mean an increase in energy efficiency? www.gadgetking.com/trends/oligopoly+graph The latest Clean Development Mechanism Executive Board meeting ended right after a new World Bank report was published saying that investment in the CDM fell by 59% in 2009 (State and Trends of the Carbon Market). 2009 was the second year in a row that investment has declined (2008 experienced a 12.3% year-to-year drop). The current trend of decreasing demand and development of new projects is a partial product of the recession (less capital = lower emissions and less demand for offset

As regional and national climate change bills continue to ebb and flow in the US, environmental groups have often found themselves split down the middle depending on how much they are willing to compromise with industry. On the one hand, you have big green groups throwing their support behind the upcoming Kerry-Lieberman-Graham (KGL) bill (still unpublished), even though there are some glaring loopholes and red flags. These groups include Environment America, Alliance for Climate Protection, Environmental Defense Fund, National Wildlife Federation, and the Natural Resources Defense Council,

Update: The number of projects that entered the CDM pipeline stayed the same between the fourth quarter of 2009 and the first quarter or 2010 (See Fig. 1). The percent of hydropower projects entering the CDM pipeline relative to all CDM projects continues to be on a downward trend since 2007 (see Fig. 2). The percent of projects rejected out of the total number of projects requesting registration was 7.4% in 2007, 3.8% in 2008, and 2.0% in 2009 (this does not include withdrawn projects). 2009 saw an increase in rejections due to heightened scrutiny by the CDM Executive Board. Th

Mobilization for Climate Justice–West On August 15th of 2009, our friends at Mobilization for Climate Justice–West held a successful rally, march, and non-violent demonstrationat the Richmond Chevron refinery to call for a strong, binding and justagreement at the Copenhagen climate talks in December. Over 300 peopleshowed up to create "street heat" for climate justice. You can check out their photos here. The Mobilization for Climate Justice is a North America-based network of activists and organizations, including International Rivers, the Asian-Pacific Environment Networ

Downtown Tokyo at night. Tokyo, unlike the rest of Japan, will not accept fake offsets. Ian Muttoo According to Reuters, the Japanese government on Thursday announced that it has bought 95.8 of the 100 million tonnes of carbon offsets it plans to use during the 2008-2012 period to help the country meet its binding reduction target under the Kyoto Protocol. Japan's government and companies are the biggest buyers, outside of Europe, of Kyoto offsets (which include CERs from the controversial Clean Development Mechanism or the CDM, and AAUs from industrialized countries with excess emissi