Kick the Habit: A UN Guide to Climate Neutrality

Cultivating one hectare of wheat

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duction of GHGs under the Kyoto Protocol. Excluded are projects related to nuclear energy, new HCFC-22 facilities and avoided deforestation. Typical activities under the CDM comprise: Renewable energy projects, such as: wind, solar, geothermal, (clean) bio- mass and hydro energy. Energy efficiency improvement projects. Transportation improvement projects. Projects concerning recovery and utilisation of methane, for example from waste landfills or coal mines. Projects concerning fossil fuel switching to less carbon-intensive sources. Afforestation and reforestation Joint Implementation (JI) JI is very similar to CDM; one country invests in emissions reduction proj- ects that take place in another country. As under the CDM, projects must demonstrate additionality and go through a similar verification and certifica- tion process. The main difference is that JI operates in other Annex I coun- tries instead of developing countries. Unlike host countries of CDM projects, countries that host JI projects have committed themselves under the Kyoto Protocol to legally binding reduction targets. These projects generate tradable credits which are called Emission Reduction Units (ERUs) also equivalent to one tonne of carbon. Most JI projects are expected to take place in so-called “economies in transition,” currently Russia and Ukraine are slated to host the greatest number of JI projects. As with emission certificates from CDM proj- ects, JI certificates can be purchased by anyone interested in offsetting.

KICK THE HABIT THE CYCLE – OFFSET

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