The Low Carbon Development (LCD) Programme facilitates analysis, research and technical assistance on emerging mitigation policies, strategies and instruments, such as Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs) and works extensively with the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). The Programme provides institutional and technical capacity building in Asia, Africa and Latin America through various in-country activities, such as trainings, workshops and regional carbon forums. In addition, it enables URC to support countries by facilitating better access to various finance options in their quest to fully deploy clean energy technologies and reduce carbon emissions. In parallel, the Programme strives to create a more efficient and transparent system of knowledge and information dissemination.
One of its key focus areas is to facilitate access to the carbon market, through provision of knowledge and information. One of its more prominent contributions is the CDM Pipeline that provides free and easy access to CDM statistics by gathering data and analyzing the performance of the CDM. A supplementary web based tool is the CDM Methodology and Technology selection tool that facilitates the choice of CDM methodologies to project developers and gives hints on technology selection to policy makers. To increase contacts and facilitate information sharing between credit sellers and buyers, UNEP Risø Centre hosts the CDM Bazaar in close cooperation with the UNFCCC Secretariat. In addition, to achieve the knowledge dissemination and informational objectives of building capacities, this Programme produces guidebooks, analytical tools and diverse publications to fill the gaps of information asymmetries in the carbon market.