In June 2004, the Climate Change Biodiversity Alliance (CCBA), a consortium of large businesses and mostly US conservation NGOs, launched a certification system for global climate protection and biodiversity conservation projects around the world.

Under the scheme, projects that mitigate or adapt to climate change, such as forestry projects, or renewable energy plants, are given scores for their contribution to greenhouse gas emissions, biodiversity conservation, and benefits to local communities. Projects that score at least 50 per cent in each of these three components are eligible for a CCBA certificate.

The certification system, which was launched on 7 June, can work in both developing and developed countries and on projects with private investment, public investment or a combination of the two. CCBA’s founding organizations include the oil company BP and the conservation organisations The Nature Conservancy and Conservation International.

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