Metro gets UN certification, earns Rs 47 crore carbon credits

New Delhi, Sep 25 (PTI) Delhi Metro has been certified by
the United Nations as the first metro rail-based system in the
world to get carbon credits for contributing to the fight
against climate change by help reducing pollution levels in
the city by 6.3 lakh tons every year.
The organisation has also earned carbon credits worth Rs
47 crore annually for the next seven years.
With nearly 20 lakh people taking the new age transport
system every day, the Metro has helped reduce pollution and
emission of green house gases as it is a completely
non-polluting and environment-friendly system.
"Thus, DMRC (Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Limited) has
helped in reduction in emission of harmful gases into the
city's atmosphere and the United Nations Body administering
the clean Development Mechanism (CDM) under the Kyoto Protocol
has certified that DMRC has reduced emissions," Delhi Metro
spokesman Anuj Dayal said.
Thus, Dayal said, the organisation earned carbon credits
worth about Rs 47 crore annually for the next seven years and
with the increase in number of passengers, this figure shall
increase.
No other Metro in the world could get the Carbon Credit
for the above because of the very stringent requirement of the
United Nations Body to provide conclusive documentary proof of
reduction in emissions.
"It is difficult to give documentary proof of the
difference of energy consumption of two scenarios, i.e.
with Metro and without Metro. DMRC proposed an innovative
method of proving the emissions using sampling techniques.
After rigorous persuasion the UN body has finally agreed with
this technique as it is very scientific in nature," Dayal
said.
Delhi Metro has helped remove more than 91,000 vehicles
from the roads of Delhi daily.
Metro complements other modes of transport and replaces
partially trips made by conventional or traditional means of
transit, Dayal said.
The CDM project replaces trips made by conventional
transport modes with Metro, being a more efficient, faster,
safer and more reliable transport means.
Emission reductions are achieved through reducing GHG
emissions per passenger-kilometer, comparing conventional
modes of transport with Metro, Dayal said.
The resource efficiency of transporting passengers in
Delhi by Metro has improved i.e. emissions per passenger
kilometre are reduced compared to the situation without
project i.e. had the Delhi Metro not operated.
This is the second CDM project from DMRC to be registered
with the UN body in the last three years.
DMRC's first CDM project on regenerative braking had also
achieved many international firsts apart from earning valuable
foreign exchange for the country.
Every passenger who chooses to use Metro instead of
car/bus contributes in reduction in emissions to the extent of
approx. 100 gm of carbon-dioxide for every trip of 10 km and
therefore, becomes party to the reduction in global warming.