在京都議定書碳市場的架構下，風力和地熱等提升能源效能計劃，乃至洋蔥的保存方法，正在全球發燒。京都議定書是聯合國為了藉由減少溫室氣體排放量，以控制全球暖化現象而簽訂的條約。
議定書下所制定的清潔發展機制年終檢討報告指出，全球新增和正在執行的清潔發展機制專案，已從2004年的60件增加到目前的4200件。
其中大部分為中小型規模的水力發電專案，緊接在後的則有生質能源、風力以及工業廢熱發電。
這項機制目前也引發許多國家對可再生能源專案的興趣，包括太陽能、地熱以及南韓一座250百萬瓦特的潮汐發電廠。
清潔發展機制允許發展中國家提出溫室氣體排放減量專案來賺取公證信用額度，每一額度相當於1公噸的溫室二氧化碳氣體，這些信用額度可用於交易和販售，工業化國家也可使用這些額度，來達成部分在京都議定書下所要求的排放減量目標。
京都議定書的目標，是要求各國在2012年底將排放量減少到低於1990年標準5.2%，而透過提供工業化國家彈性化減少排放量的措施，這項機制有效地促進永續發展和二氧化碳排放減量。
在尼日這個西非發展中國家內，正興起一種最新專案，由於該國國內約有60%的洋蔥作物會壞死，進而導致溫室氣體甲烷排放到空氣中，而最新專案的概念，是利用太陽能乾燥器和其他系統來保存洋蔥，讓洋蔥不會在儲存或運送過程中腐爛。
聯合國環境規劃署執行長史坦納表示：「整體而言，清潔發展機制和碳市場是國際氣候變化合作行動中最成功的案例，現在我們所面對的挑戰是要簡化機制的流程，以及克服某些領域專案執行的障礙，例如建築和林業。」
全球環境基金司長Niamir-Fuller指出，推動包括造林在內的清潔發展機制專案行動已在進行中，林木成長後可以吸收二氧化碳，而最令人嚮往的專案不僅僅只是將目標放在碳減量，還包括其他益處，例如改善生物多樣性、土壤以及適應氣候變遷等等。
Wind and geothermal power projects alongside projects promoting energy efficiency and even the preservation of onions are emerging around the world under the carbon market brokered by the Kyoto Protocol, the UN treaty to curb global warming by reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
A year-end review of the protocol's Clean Development Mechanism shows that more than 4,200 projects are up and running, or in various phases of the pipeline, up from 60 in the CDM's first year, 2004.
Most numerous are medium and small-scale hydroelectric projects, followed by projects that generate biomass energy, wind power and electricity from industrial waste heat.
The process is now stimulating interest in a wider range of renewable energy projects, including solar and geothermal power and one 250 megawatt tidal project in South Korea.
The Clean Development Mechanism allows emissions reduction projects in developing countries to earn certified credits, each equivalent to one metric tonne of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide. These credits can be traded and sold, and used by industrialized countries to a meet part of their emission reduction targets under the Kyoto Protocol.
The mechanism stimulates sustainable development and emission reductions, while giving industrialized countries flexibility in how they meet their targets, which amount to an average 5.2 percent reduction in emissions below 1990 levels by the end of 2012.
One novel project is emerging from the developing West African country of Niger where an estimated 60 percent of the national onion crop can be lost, leading to methane emissions as the vegetables rot. The idea is to use solar dryers and other systems to preserve the onions so they do not rot in storage or on the way to market.
UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner said, "The CDM and the carbon markets as a whole are one of the great success stories of international cooperative action on climate change. The challenge now is to streamline it and overcome some of the hurdles that are keeping back projects in areas such as the building sector and forestry."
Maryam Niamir-Fuller, director of the UNEP's Global Environment Facility Division, says action is underway to boost the number of projects under the CDM that involve afforestation and reforestation. Forests absorb carbon dioxide as they grow. The most desirable projects will capture not only carbon but other benefits such as improvements for biodiversity, soils and adaptation to climate change.
作者
In my healing journey and learning to attain the breath awareness, I become aware of the reality that all the creatures of the world are breathing the same breath. Take action, here and now. From my physical being to the every corner of this out of balance's planet.
