This technical paper was prepared to support the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice at its sixtieth session in considering the functioning and operation of the processes and institutions under the clean development mechanism in the future. The paper presents estimates of the financial resources required for future operations under the clean development mechanism for various time frames related to the deadline for submitting requests for issuance of certified emission reductions, and the projected year-end balances of the trust fund for the clean development mechanism under those scenarios. It includes the assumptions and considerations applied in the estimation and a list of the activities and processes under the clean development mechanism considered essential to its operations and functions.