A major initiative of the Carbon Finance Unit (CFU) was innovating and developing new tools and methodologies. It developed 42 approved methodologies across a wide range of sectors, mostly in the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), which benefited projects well beyond the Bank’s carbon funds’ portfolio. A large share of the CDM projects and program of activities use methodologies developed by the CFU. As of December 2017, more than 6,067 (77 percent) out of 7,889 Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) project activities and 136 (44 percent) out of 310 programs of activities use World Bank methodologies.

Code Methodology Date Approved Mechanism Scale Sector Scope Note
ACM0008 Abatement of methane from coal mines 2005-11-28 CDM Large Mining/mineral production 8,10
VM0017 Adoption of Sustainable Agricultural Land Management 2011-12-21 Verra Large Agriculture, Forestry, Land Use 14
AR-AM0003 Afforestation and reforestation of degraded land through tree planting, assisted natural regeneration and control of animal grazing 2010-09-17 CDM Large Afforestation and reforestation 14
AR-AM0013 Afforestation and reforestation of lands except wetlands 2011-04-15 CDM Large Afforestation and reforestation 14 Consolidated under AR-ACM0003: Afforestation and reforestation of lands except wetlands
AR-AM0005 Afforestation and reforestation project activities implemented for industrial and/or commercial uses 2006-12-22 CDM Large Afforestation and reforestation 14 Consolidated under AR-ACM0003: Afforestation and reforestation of lands except wetlands
AR-AM0010 Afforestation and reforestation project activities implemented on unmanaged grassland in reserve/protected areas 2007-10-18 CDM Large Afforestation and reforestation 14 Consolidated under AR-ACM0003: Afforestation and reforestation of lands except wetlands
AR-ACM0002 Afforestation or reforestation of degraded land without displacement of pre-project activities 2009-03-25 CDM Large Afforestation and reforestation 14
AR-AM0009 Afforestation or reforestation on degraded land allowing for silvopastoral activities 2007-10-19 CDM Large Afforestation and reforestation 14 Consolidated under AR-ACM0003: Afforestation and reforestation of lands except wetlands
AM0007 Analysis of the least-cost fuel option for seasonally-operating biomass cogeneration plant 2004-06-14 CDM Large Energy industries (renewable—/ nonrenewable sources) 1,4
AMS III E Avoidance of methane production from decay of biomass through controlled combustion, gasification or mechanical/thermal treatment  2002-11-01 CDM Small Waste handling and disposal 13