Rio, December 10, 2002 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - Natural disasters caused by climate changes resulted in losses of US$ 70 million to insurance companies in claims payments. These data were presented today by the president of the National Economic and Social Development Bank (BNDES), Eleazar de Carvalho Filho, at the opening of a public discussion in this capital on the Guide to the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM).

According to Carvalho, the document can help reduce economic losses caused by the greenhouse effect, because it provides investors with suggestions for models of projects that intervene in economic activity on behalf of sustainable development. The guide is based on the Kyoto Protocol and the Marrakesh accords. (DAS)