Clean Development Mechanism for Power Infrastructures for China's Sustainable Development

What is the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM)? The establishment of Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) is a significant achievement in the political negotiations on the implementation of United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). CDM is stipulated in Article 12 of the Kyoto Protocol (KP), where assisting developing country Parties in achieving sustainable development is explicitly listed as a purpose in parallel with the others. Developed country Parties are to be assisted in achieving compliance with their quantified emission limitation and reduction commitment (QELRC) under Article 3 by acquiring Certified Emission Reductions (CERs) accrued from the CDM. This win-win mechanism reflects two arguments: the responsibility of developed countries for past greenhouse gas emissions, and the legitimate priority needs of developing countries for their social and economic development and poverty eradication. It should be kept in mind, therefore, that when formulating the strategic policy of the CDM, one important principle to be followed is that CDM projects must be compatible with and supportive of national environments and sustainable development priorities and strategies of developing country Parties.