Designing the Clean Development Mechanism to meet the needs of a broad range of interests

This research paper examines the design conflicts surrounding the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) established by the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, specifically comparing bilateral, multilateral, and unilateral implementation models and proposing an 'open architecture' to reconcile diverse national interests.

• International climate negotiations are divided over three primary implementation models for the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM): bilateral, multilateral, and unilateral. The choice of architecture impacts which countries benefit and which project types are favored, leading some Parties to advocate only for the model that suits their specific national circumstances.
• The authors propose an 'open architecture' for the CDM, which would allow various designs to complement each other. This approach is suggested as a way to deliver a wider range of sustainable development and climate benefits while helping to reach a consensus among Protocol Parties with conflicting visions.
• The document warns that failing to adopt an open architecture may make consensus elusive and hinder the CDM's ability to meet the diverse interests of the Protocol Parties and its overall expectations.

APA

World Resources Institute (n.d.). Designing the Clean Development Mechanism to meet the needs of a broad range of interests. https://www.wri.org/research/designing-clean-development-mechanism-meet-needs-broad-range-interests

Chicago

World Resources Institute. Designing the Clean Development Mechanism to meet the needs of a broad range of interests. n.d. https://www.wri.org/research/designing-clean-development-mechanism-meet-needs-broad-range-interests.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=World Resources Institute |title=Designing the Clean Development Mechanism to meet the needs of a broad range of interests |url=https://www.wri.org/research/designing-clean-development-mechanism-meet-needs-broad-range-interests |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{worldresourcesinstitutenddesigning, author = {{World Resources Institute}}, title = {{Designing the Clean Development Mechanism to meet the needs of a broad range of interests}}, institution = {World Resources Institute}, url = {https://www.wri.org/research/designing-clean-development-mechanism-meet-needs-broad-range-interests}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }