Clean Development Mechanism (CDM)
The Kyoto Protocol mechanism that credited emission reductions in developing countries, the ancestor of today's voluntary standards.
The CDM generated certified emission reductions from projects in developing countries, and in doing so created most of the methodological toolkit now used across carbon markets: baselines, additionality tests, validation and verification cycles.
Its legacy is mixed. It demonstrated that international crediting could work at scale, and it also produced the first large-scale evidence of over-crediting, which shaped the reforms embedded in later standards.
Frequently asked questions
Is the CDM still issuing credits?
Its crediting activity has wound down as the Paris-era mechanisms take over, with a transition process for existing projects.
Why does it still matter?
Because many methodologies, registry practices and audit expectations originate there.