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Clean Development Mechanism (CDM)

  • The CDM allows emission-reduction projects in developing countries to earn certified emission reduction (CER) credits, each equivalent to one tonne of Carbon dioxide (CO2). These CERs can be traded and sold, and used by industrialized countries to a meet a part of their emission reduction targets under the Kyoto Protocol.
  • The mechanism stimulates sustainable development and emission reductions, while giving industrialized countries some flexibility in how they meet their emission reduction limitation targets.
  • The CDM is the main source of income for the UNFCCC Adaptation Fund, which was established to finance adaptation projects and programmes in developing country Parties to the Kyoto Protocol that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change. The Adaptation Fund is financed by a 2% levy on CERs issued by the CDM.

CDM Projects in Lesotho

The CDM Gold Standard project supplies households with efficient wood fuel stove-cooking-sets called SAVE80 in several districts of Lesotho where households use mainly firewood as fuel. Each SAVE80 Set contains a stainless-steel stove, several pots with lids and a heat-retaining polypropylene box. 

The SAVE80 is a portable stove developed and prefabricated by a German manufacturer and assembled in Lesotho by Solar Lights. It needs only 250 g of small brittle sticks/twigs of wood to bring 6 litres of water to boil, 80% less than traditional open fires. The stove is suitable for cooking, water heating, sterilising, frying, and for baking. After reaching the boiling point, food can be transferred to the heat-retention box, where it will continue to simmer until it is well cooked.