1,000 CDM projects

Some 1,000 projects to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in developing countries have prevented 135 million tonnes of CO2 emissions from entering our atmosphere so far, according to Det Norske Veritas.

The projects, known as Clean Development Mechanisms (CDMs) are defined in the Kyoto Protocol. They allow industrialised countries and companies to finance projects aimed at reducing greenhouse gases in developing countries such as Japan. In return the investors are credited with emission rights.

AFP notes that CDM projects, which have primarily benefitted China and India so far, are not free from controversy:

Critics argue that some dam projects in China have been officially certified as CDMs even though they were partially constructed before being given the certification -- suggesting they would actually be used outside the CDM framework.

AFP/Google: Climate projects prevented 135 million tonnes of CO2

Map from Treehugger: 135 Million Tons of CO2 Saved - And Counting

(Red dots denote large-scaled CDM projects, orange are medium-sized projects, yellow small projects)



This is an interesting historical graph showing annual CO2 emissions from major regions around the world (Source: CDIAC).

I briefly considered "Your lifestyle, to be reconsidered?" as a title of this entry. Oh well.