Sustainable Development and the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM)

In 1999, HELIO developed eligibility critieria and indicators [PDF, 348KB] to assess the contribution of clean development mechanism (CDM) projects to sustainable and equitable development.

Document MDP disponible en français [PDF, 269KB]

The indicators were developed with a view to progressing the debate surrounding the CDM and putting forward some practical suggestions to help build consensus among stakeholders in the appraisal of CDM projects.

In order to support the goals ecodevelopment within a particular country, activities developed under the Clean Development Mechanism should ensure:

• economic and social benefits: without causing negative environmental impacts
• environmental integrity: effective emission reduction and prevention of any "leakage"
• economic efficiency: minimisation of total transaction, and related costs for project participants and institutions

These indicators helped the Designated National Authority (DNA) in several countries to develop their own assessment criteria.

The HELIO indicators set was subsequently tested by SouthSouthNorth and used to develop the now international Gold Standard