Greenhouse Gas Emissions Verification

Clean Development Mechanism

The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) allows GHG emission reduction projects, to take place in countries that have signed the Kyoto Protocol, but do not have emissions targets.

The CDM encourages investment from industrialised nations in the developing world, through the application of stringent criteria:

1. Sustainable Development - Projects must meet criteria for environmental, social and economic factors.
   
2. Additionality - Project must prove that they would not proceed without the CDM being in place. They must be beyond ‘business as usual’.
   
3. Host Country Approval - Projects must be approved by the Designated National Authority in the project’s ‘host’ country.
   
4. Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) - This determines that a project that reduces GHG emissions, is not detrimental to the immediate local environment.

The projects result in "certified emissions reductions" (CERs), which may be used for compliance to Kyoto targets.

CDM projects must be validated and verified by an independent third party. For the CDM, these bodies are called Designated Operational Entities (DOE) and must be accredited by the UNFCCC’s CDM Executive Board. 

These are listed on the UN website, or see BSI services for more information.

To review the CDM project registration process, click here.