U.N. panel says it has cut carbon offset backlog
Instead of 90 days to receive a carbon offset permit, the process will only take around 30 now.
By ReutersWed, Jan 05 2011 at 2:19 PM EST
FACTORY SMOKE: In this photo taken Jan. 6, 2006, smoke pours out of smokestacks at a heating station that provides gas to central Kiev. Factories like this can buy certified emissions reductions to help offset their carbon emissions. (Photo: Efrem Lukatsky/AP)
LONDON - A U.N. panel which oversees a market in carbon offsets under the Kyoto Protocol says it has cut a backlog in project approvals, a development that is likely to quell long-running private sector complaints about delays.
The backlog had been cut to less than 30 days, from a high of about 90 days, the U.N. climate agency said on Jan. 5.
Under the clean development mechanism (CDM), developed countries exceeding their Kyoto Protocol greenhouse gas emissions targets can buy carbon offsets called certified emissions reductions (CERs) from projects that cut emissions in the developing world.
"We'll continue to look for efficiencies and improvements to keep the mechanism moving in a positive direction," said Clifford Mahlung, chair of the CDM panel, called the executive board.
To date, 2,718 CDM projects have been registered in 70 countries and a total of about 498 million CERs, each equivalent to one metric ton of CO2 emissions abated, have been issued to 847 projects, the climate agency said in a statement.
Copyright 2011 Reuters Environmental Online Report
Comments
JaneOBrien
01/14/2011 08:18 AM
Irish farmers are saying the new Climate Change Bill will increase energy costs, but won't lower emissions. http://www.insideireland.ie/index.cfm/section/news/ext/climatechange004/...
