afrol News, 8 September - Three days of intense negotiations aimed at improving Africa's standing in the global carbon marketplace came to an end Friday at United Nations-backed Africa Carbon Forum in Senegal.

Under Kyoto Protocol's Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), industrialised countries can offset some of their own greenhouse gas emissions to earn certified emission reduction credits.

Some 600 participants from 60 countries attended the Carbon Forum in Senegalese capital, Dakar, including 36 government representatives responsible for initial approval of emissions offset projects.

In one deal completed at the Forum, World Bank entered into an agreement with a local agency to spread use of energy-efficient light bulbs through rural Senegal.

At the same time, several African countries pledged $20 million to go towards Africa Bio-fuels and Renewable Energy Fund, a public/private sector partnership tasked with assessing carbon offset projects.

"Much remains to be done in the form of awareness-raising and capacity-building before African countries can take full advantage of CDM, but progress is being made, and we saw it here," said Daniele Violetti of UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

The continent still accounts for only 27 of more than 1,150 CDM projects currently registered in nearly 50 developing nations, but that number is expected to grow.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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