Climate Bridge has registered China’s first Gold Standard small hydropower project in Gansu province. (http://www.cdmgoldstandard.org/fileadmin/editors/files/2_news/newsletter/GS_Newsletter_COP15_edition.pdf)
The Nanyangshan hydro plant, located in the Linxia Prefecture，provides local residents, many from the Muslim Hui minority group with access to clean electricity, job opportunities and improved infrastructure.
In the past, villagers relied on coal briquettes and wood for cooking and heating. Burning these materials can lead to respiratory illnesses and air pollution. Wood collection also threatens local forests. After the construction of Nanyangshan hydro power plant and other similar projects in the region, the price of electricity fell by 75%, making it financially accessible to residents. Affordable electricity replaces the need for wood and coal burning stoves, which in turn improves the health of local residents and protects the local forest.
The project is registered under the Gold Standard, recognized as the premium standard in carbon offsets. Supported by over 60 NGOs, including the Worldwide Wildlife Fund (WWF), Gold Standard projects undergo a strict verification process to ensure that emissions reductions not only are real, but also bring genuine sustainable development benefits to communities in which they are built. Climate Bridge is proud of the Nanyangshan Hydropower project and is delighted to have it registered under this prestigious standard.
