Beijing, China (BBN) – The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) has joined forces with China to address climate change by increasing clean energy projects under the Kyoto Protocol’s Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and boosting the use of hydropower in Africa.

Under an agreement signed in Beijing on Thursday by UNIDO Director-General Kandeh K. Yumkella and Chen Huan, Deputy Director-General of the China CDM Fund Management Centre, the two bodies will implement schemes – including transitioning to a low-carbon economy and expanding the transfer of adoption and technology – over the next three years.

The CDM allows industrialized countries to generate credits through investment in emission reduction projects in developing countries, according to a UN press statement.

Mr. Yumkella also entered into an agreement with Chinese and Sierra Leonean officials on the day to build a small hydropower plant on the Bankasoka River in the West African nation, with construction slated to begin next month and be completed by the end of 2009.

The project hopes to pave the way for further trilateral cooperation under UNIDO’s Lighting-up of Rural Africa initiative, which aims to reverse the lack of access, low purchasing power and over-dependence on traditional fuels currently characterizing the continent’s energy situation.

BBN/SI/SS/AD-08November08-3:56 PM (BST)