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Financing the Clean Development Mechanism through debt-for-efficiency swaps? Case study evidence from a Uruguayan wind farm project

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  • Cassimon, Danny
  • Prowse, Martin
  • Essers, Dennis

Abstract

As one of Kyoto’s three flexibility mechanisms for reducing the cost of compliance, the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) allows the issuance of Certified Emission Reduction (CER) credits from offset projects in non-Annex I countries. Whilst much attention has focused on the widespread use of the mechanism by China and India, the complex project cycle, and the lack of convincing baselines, little attention has been paid to the financing of CDM projects. In this paper we assess the extent to which CDM projects with public bodies should utilise debt swaps as a form of finance. The paper does this through analysing the use of a debt swap between Uruguay and Spain within a CDM wind farm project in Uruguay. The paper assesses this transaction according to a simple framework by which debt swaps can be evaluated: whether it delivers additional resources to the debtor country and/or debtor government budget; whether it delivers more resources for climate purposes; whether it has a sizeable effect on overall debt burdens (thereby creating ‘indirect’ benefits); and whether it adheres to the principles of alignment with government policy and systems (key elements within the new aid approach).

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  • Cassimon, Danny & Prowse, Martin & Essers, Dennis, 2011. "Financing the Clean Development Mechanism through debt-for-efficiency swaps? Case study evidence from a Uruguayan wind farm project," IOB Working Papers 2011.06, Universiteit Antwerpen, Institute of Development Policy (IOB).
    • Handle: RePEc:iob:wpaper:2011006
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    Cited by:

    1. Mr. Marcos d Chamon & Erik Klok & Mr. Vimal V Thakoor & Mr. Jeromin Zettelmeyer, 2022. "Debt-for-Climate Swaps: Analysis, Design, and Implementation," IMF Working Papers 2022/162, International Monetary Fund.
    2. Combes, J.-L. & Combes Motel, P. & Minea, A. & Villieu, P., 2015. "Deforestation and seigniorage in developing countries: A tradeoff?," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 116(C), pages 220-230.
    3. Cardenas, J. C. & Jaramillo, F & León, D & López, M. & Rodríguez, M & Zuleta, H, 2021. "With a little help from my friends: Debt Renegotiation and Climate Change," Documentos de Trabajo 19732, Universidad del Rosario.
    4. Marion Davin & Mouez Fodha & Thomas Seegmuller, 2019. "Pollution in a globalized world: Are debt transfers among countries a solution?," Working Papers halshs-02303265, HAL.
    5. Bhatnagar, S. & Sharma, D., 2022. "Evolution of green finance and its enablers: A bibliometric analysis," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 162(C).
    6. Howard Haughton & Jodie Keane, 2021. "Alleviating debt distress and advancing the sustainable development goals," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 29(3), pages 528-536, May.
    7. Marion Davin & Mouez Fodha & Thomas Seegmuller, 2023. "Pollution in a globalized world: Are debt transfers among countries a solution?," International Journal of Economic Theory, The International Society for Economic Theory, vol. 19(1), pages 21-38, March.
    8. Essers, Dennis & Cassimon, Danny & Prowse, Martin, 2021. "Debt-for-climate swaps in the COVID-19 era: killing two birds with one stone?," IOB Analyses & Policy Briefs 43, Universiteit Antwerpen, Institute of Development Policy (IOB).

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