The UN acknowledges Renault’s effort at the Tangier plant to significantly reduce CO2 emissions

Approval, granted by the CDM Executive Board, follows a thorough technical review and validation of the project by an approved independent body.

Thanks to the partnership formed by Veolia Environment, the Kingdom of Morocco and Renault, the Tangier plant is so far the only automotive production site to have its emissions reductions recognized as part of the CDM. Emissions at the site have been reduced by two ground-breaking solutions. First, energy regeneration in the paint process limits energy needs and reduces boiler-house power requirements. Second, boilers fueled by biomass rather than natural gas reduce direct emissions of CO2.

Today’s CDM approval is a strong signal from the UN, acknowledging Renault’s efforts to significantly reduce direct CO2 emissions at the Tangier plant.

Details on the Tangier site’s CDM project can be found on the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) at http://cdm.unfccc.int/Projects/DB/DNV-CUK1356333556.03/view .


What is the Clean Development Mechanism?

The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), part of the Kyoto Protocol, finances emission reductions. It assigns Credit Emission Reduction units (CERs), measured in thousands of metric tons of CO2, to emission-reduction projects in emerging countries. CERs can be traded and sold and used by industrialized countries to fulfill part of their emission-reduction objectives as determined by the Kyoto Protocol.

The CDM fosters sustainable development and emission reductions in developing countries, while providing industrialized nations with more flexibility for reaching their reduction objectives.

The CDM is overseen by an Executive Board that approves methodologies for implementing small- and large-scale projects. To obtain certification, a project must be approved by all the parties involved and demonstrate measurable and long-term efficacy in emission reductions. Emission reductions are additional to what would otherwise have occurred.