Suggestions at a 170-nation climate conference in Bonn include the possibility of assisting developing countries in constructing nuclear power plants as part of an expansion of a UN program aimed at reducing greenhouse gases. This proposal, which is considered controversial, would allow wealthy nations to invest in projects such as wind farms or hydropower dams in developing countries and receive credit for reducing emissions domestically. Other ideas being discussed at the conference include providing incentives for capturing and storing carbon dioxide from coal-fired power plants and promoting the planting of forests to absorb carbon dioxide. Numerous countries and environmental advocates are against the idea of extending the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) to encompass nuclear energy. The CDM is a component of the Kyoto Protocol, a United Nations initiative aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions through 2012. Martin Hiller from the WWF conservation organization stated that nuclear power is not the way forward in terms of energy sources and should not be included in the CDM. He believes that the focus of the CDM should be on renewable energy instead. He mentioned that nuclear power was considered too risky even though it produces very little greenhouse gases compared to coal, oil, and gas. The discussions in Bonn, which are part of the negotiations for a new U.N. climate treaty to replace the Kyoto Protocol, will not include any decisions about changing the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). Many delegates do not support including nuclear power in the CDM. There is a lot of uncertainty about whether nuclear power should be used as an alternative to fossil fuels to prevent the negative effects of climate change. De Boer estimated that the CDM could provide up to $100 billion a year to developing nations if industrialized countries commit to significant emissions reductions and half of these reductions are made overseas. The assumption was made that credits for preventing greenhouse gas emissions would be around $10 per ton. The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) has projects in progress that would prevent a total of 2.7 billion tonnes of emissions by 2012, which is similar to the combined annual emissions of Japan, Germany, and Britain. De Boer defended the CDM against criticisms of flaws, such as benefiting carbon traders and companies in China that destroy HFC 23, a potent greenhouse gas. He argued that finding a way to profitably remove a harmful gas is not morally wrong, as the market mechanism is effectively functioning. Other critiques of the program center around the question of whether the funding has actually resulted in reductions in emissions, or if these reductions would have occurred regardless due to preexisting government backing for wind power in countries like China and India.