Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and Joint Implementation (JI) Projects

The clean development mechanism (CDM) and joint implementation (JI) are two flexible mechanisms set out in the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). They are intended to help industrialised countries achieve their emissions reduction targets and promote sustainable development in the host countries by encouraging investment in greener technologies. For that purpose, the Kyoto Protocol and subsequent related decisions set general requirements in these areas. More specifically, an entity or a person participating in a CDM or JI project is required to obtain a letter of approval from the host country in which the project is being carried out, as well as a letter of approval from the so-called investor country, i.e. the country that will enter the first transaction involving emission reduction certificates generated by the project in its national registry. However, every investor country is free to set its own criteria for issuing letters of approval. In Switzerland, the CO2 Act and CO2 Ordinance set out the quality requirements for participating in these projects.

This publication contains the following:

• general information about the flexible mechanisms;
• an explication of Switzerland’s role as national enforcement authority;
• an explication of the steps in the process of submitting an application;
• the material requirements that projects must meet so that a letter of approval can be
  issued
• a description of the documents that must be provided as part of the application and;
• a brief explanation of the internal procedure.