Japan approves 39 new CDM projects

Japan said Wednesday it has approved 39 new CDM projects in five countries.

According to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (Meti), the projects are estimated to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 3.238 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent per year.

The latest approval takes the total number of clean development mechanism (CDM) and joint implementation (JI) projects authorised so far to 484.

Of the 39, 29 will be implemented in China, five in Indonesia, three in Thailand and one each in India and Vietnam.

Only one has been registered by the UN CDM executive board.

The 39 projects involve a total of 13 private Japanese companies and the government-affiliated New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO).

Among the 13 private Japanese companies are the nation’s five biggest trading houses – Mitsubishi Corp., Mitsui & Co., Itochu Corp., Sumitomo Corp. and Marubeni Corp., which are investing separately in 21 of the 39 new CDM projects.