African Group Calls for More CDM Projects

Durban, South Africa 01 December 2011 (ECA) - The African Group has called for more clean development mechanism (CDM) projects to be undertaken in Africa to change the current bias towards emerging markets and more developed countries.

The CDM is designed to assist countries achieve their sustainable development goals and create incentives for investments in clean technologies and provide additional support for adaptation to the effects of climate change.

According to the 2011 annual report of the CDM executive board, out of more than 3500 registered projects, only 72 are in Africa.

Speaking on behalf of the African Group, the representative of the Democratic Republic of Congo, said attempts by UN agencies and multilateral institutions has so far failed to address this lack of projects in Africa.

“In 2006, after recognizing that there was a lack of CDM projects in Africa, the then United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, called for the elimination of barriers to Africa accessing the mechanism,” he said. But until now, progress has been minimal.

Other delegates also supported the African position and called for the continuation of the CDM as a useful mechanism for addressing carbon emissions.

The chair of the CDM executive board, Mr. Martin Hessian, stated in his report that: “In the ten years since the adoption of the Marrakech Accords and the prompt start of the CDM, the mechanism has demonstrated the real potential of carbon markets to deliver mitigation, investment and sustainable development in more than 70 developing countries.” He however acknowledged the under-representation of African countries and said more work will continue to improve the geographical distribution of the projects.

The president of COP 17, Ms Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, appointed a contact group co-chaired by Mexico and Japan, to continue deliberating on ways of improving the workings of the mechanism.

In establishing the contact group, Ms Mashabane said: “Parties see the CDM as critical.” She urged the group to finish its work expeditiously, and certainly before the end of the conference next week.

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