ROLE OF THE CLEAN DEVELOPMENT MECHANISM (CDM) IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF NATIONAL ENERGY INDUSTRIES

摘要

Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) is an agreement under the Kyoto Protocol (1997) allowing industrialized (Annex-Ⅰ) countries with Greenhouse Gas emission reduction commitment to invest in or finance projects that reduce emissions in developing countries using clean technologies. Under CDM, for every tonne of CO_2 that does not enter into the atmosphere, a developing (Non-Annex-Ⅰ) country earns one carbon credit which can be further sold to developed countries (Annex -Ⅰ) through the international carbon market. Developed countries exchange these credits in terms of money and technology transfer with developing countries to meet their GHG emission reduction targets. 7391 CDM projects were registered worldwide by November 2013, out of which 6205 (84%) are under energy industry sector. India is contributing 828 (13%) CDM projects with estimated emission reduction of 69,156,926 metric tonnes of CO_2e. By the end of the first commitment period (2012), 19,061,210 metric tonnes of CO_2e emission reduction was achieved. The estimated range of annual CDM-generated revenue in India varies between US$10 and 330 million (Birla et.al.2012). India has the second largest number of CDM projects in the world. The National Clean Development Mechanism Authority (NCDMA) is the Designated National Authority (DNA) which was set up to evaluate and approve CDM projects. This paper provides a probing insight into these projects, and the methodologies used in order to achieve emission reduction by Indian industries.