Chinese wind farm plans approved in bid to improve air quality

The United Nations (UN) has approved a number of proposals put forward by the Chinese government for the construction of wind farms in the country.

Under the Kyoto Protocol, 32 projects were agreed and will now receive carbon financing, Reuters reported.

It is estimated that the wind farms will reduce carbon emissions by approximately 11.3 million metric tonnes by the end of 2012.

The agreement is part of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) set out under the environmental pact.

Companies are able to invest in energy projects in emerging economies in order to receive offset credits, as long as they can prove that the schemes would have been unable to proceed without their involvement.

At its latest meeting, the CDM board also reversed two previous decisions, which had led to the rejection of wind farm developments in the country.

Since its inception in 2006, the scheme has registered more than 1,650 projects, which the organisation estimates will result in certified emission reductions of more than 2.9 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent between 2008 and 2012.

Posted by Joseph Hutton