An event showcasing the various financial, technical, and
capacity-building support initiatives offered by various agencies was held on
11 December 2018, during the 24th session of the Conference of the
Parties in Katowice, Poland. The panel comprised of representatives from
UNEP-DTU, UNEP/UNDP GSP, GEF, GGGI and GIZ.
Presenters provided an overview of the scope and depth of
support provided to developing countries for effective participation in the MRV
arrangements under the Convention and in terms of preparedness for
participation in the Enhanced Transparency Framework as per Article 13 of the
Paris Agreement.
The GEF shared information on the programming status of the
Capacity Building Initiative for Transparency (CBIT). So far 41 national
projects and 4 global projects were approved to the total value of 63 million USD.
Of these, 13 projects have begun implementation. The GEF also spoke about
priorities and lessons identified by countries in their national projects to
date. UNEP DTU shared their experience in developing the knowledge management
platform “CBIT Global Coordination
Platform,’’ supported by the GEF. UNEP
DTU also shared their experience in managing the Initiative for Climate Action
Transparency (ICAT) that provides the tools, support and capacity-building to
developing countries to measure and assess the effects of their climate
policies and actions.
The Global Support Programme (GSP) jointly implemented by UN
Environment and UNDP and funded by the GEF, discussed the support provided to
developing countries in preparation of National Communications (NCs), GHG
inventories, Mitigation and Vulnerability & Adaptation analysis, and Biennial
Update Reports (BURs). Their major
support approaches include regional and national training workshops; preparation
of guidance materials/publications; review of Terms of References, draft
reports/components; national inventory reports, NCs, BURs, mitigation analysis,
V&A assessment; assist in identifying international experts; conducting joint
training regional workshops with other international or regional capacity building entities; and
development of regional MRV Networks that facilitate South-South and bilateral
technical cooperation.
The GIZ shared information on the projects they are working
on worldwide on MRV / Transparency (29 global, regional and bilateral projects
in 18 countries.) including sharing links to various product offerings (Trainings,
guidance documents, studies; NDC Helpdesk; Good Practice Database).
GGGI’s shared
their experience in setting up their MRV Program in March 2017 upon request
from the Member and Partner countries for support to enhance transparency in
tracking greenhouse gas emissions and climate efforts towards NDC
implementation under the Paris Agreement. They provide technical support
through all phases (planning, implementation and operation) for establishment
of MRV system at country level.
The presenters shared similar sentiments to GIZ about the
lessons learned from the provision of support and highlighted some key ones:
·
Institutionalization of MRV systems are anchored
in and mandated by legislation or agreements;
·
Sustainable MRV systems need national ownership
and additional national human and financial resources.
·
It’s important to highlight the additional
benefits of climate reporting to governments, such as improving national
statistics, enhance cooperation with the private sector or improve access to climate
finance;
·
Complementarity of national and regional/global
CB support is needed amongst the different support providers
The event highlighted that whilst there are many support
initiatives accessible to developing countries, these countries also need to
ready themselves in terms of defining the scope and objective of their national
MRV system; ensuring that the MRV system is supported by legislation or
agreements so that stakeholders have a clear understanding of their role and
responsibility in participation in the MRV system; as well as enhancing the
political willingness at senior government levels to support the MRV
system.
If you missed the event, the presentations can be obtained here and the webcast is available here.