CGE Side Event Responding To Needs To Implement The Enhanced Transparency Framework 08.07.2019
Laure Fouchecourt The Consultative Group of Expert (CGE), on the margins
of the June 2019 Climate Change Conference (SB50) in
Bonn, Germany, organized a side-event to present its 2019 CGE work plan and also highlight how it is responding to the needs arising from the enhanced transparency framework.
The group
invited few countries to present their experiences and lessons learned in the process of
preparing their national communications (NC) and/or biennial update reports
(BURs), and how they are building on from those experiences and lessons learned
to prepare for the enhanced transparency framework
(ETF).
The CGE Chair, Mr. Gervais Ludovic
Istoua Madzou (Congo), presented the 2019 work plan of the CGE, which addresses the capacity-building needs of
developing countries in a more targeted and strategic manner, in order to facilitate improved reporting of developing
countries over time and support the implementation of the ETF under Article 13 of the Paris Agreement.
Since February 2019, as part of its
work plan, the CGE has already launched several activities, such as a targeted
survey to developing countries to better understand their needs for
implementing the MRV arrangements and the ETF, a toolbox on institutional
arrangements to support MRV/transparency of climate action and support,
technical guide to prepare for the implementation of the ETF, and the regional
hands-on training workshops on institutionalization data management for GHG
inventories.
Bangladesh, Jamaica and South Africa
shared their experiences and lessons learned on the existing MRV arrangements,
and also provided an update on how efforts being undertaken nationally to
prepare for the implementation of the ETF.
Jamaica has submitted its first Biennial Update Report (BUR) in 2016 which
went through the technical
analysis and Facilitative Sharing of Views (FSV) in the same
year. It submitted its third National Communication (NC) in 2018 and ,
In the context of preparing these reports, two key challenges were highlighted,
which were limited technical and human capacity to complete the reports, and inability
to disburse resources in original project timeframe. In order to address these
challenges, Jamaica received technical and financial support through the United
National Development Programme and the Capacity-building Initiative for
Transparency (CBIT). Despite these challenges, Jamaica plans to submit its
second BUR and fourth NC in 2020-2022. It also aims to put in place a robust
national MRV system from 2021-2022.
Bangladesh submitted its third NC in 2018. The presentation highlighted some of the challenges
and lessons learned from the process of preparing this report. Lack of reliable data and information
consistent with the requirements of the IPCC 2006 guidelines, lack of
institutional capacity and dependence on external experts, and issues to retain
sectoral specialist that were trained in the process of preparing these reports
were identified as some of the challenges it is facing currently. With a view
to addressing these challenges, Bangladesh aims to establish data sharing
arrangements at the national level, including a permanent structure at the department
of environment which had the mandated to prepare the NCs and BURs. In order to
prepare itself for the implementation of the ETF, Bangladesh will build on and
enhance the existing institutional arrangement, and plans to use the guidelines
and tools, which will be developed by CGE. Bangladesh called for an increased financial
and technical support to institutionalize the proposed MRV arrangements, update
its National
Determined Contributions (NDCs), and prepare their first
Biennial Transparency Report (BTR).
South Africa, one of the five
countries that has submitted its third BUR, shared its
experiences, challenges and lessons learned. With regard to challenges, the
following were identified: limited number of and high turnover of key staff
members, issues with data management, capacity constraints in using the
national GHG inventory information management systems, lack of disaggregated
data for the GHG reporting, and a non-centralized information system for
climate finance. Efforts to address these challenges include: recruiting sector
specialists to compile GHG inventory data, conducting capacity-building for key
personnel, formalizing data collection processes, and developing a climate
change tracking and evaluation system, which included tracking of climate
finance. The presentation also highlighted how the National Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Reporting Regulations, published in April 2017,
formalized the institutional arrangements to ensure consistent and sustainable
data input for the GHG inventory. In order to prepare for the ETF, South
Africa will continue using the 2006 IPCC guideline, and will set up higher tier
methodologies for key categories in country specific emission factor. South
Africa also provided a preliminary list of actions that it aims to undertake in
its effort to prepare for the implementation of the ETF.
| The Consultative Group of Expert (CGE), on the margins of the June 2019 Climate Change Conference (SB50) in Bonn, Germany, organized a side-event to present its 2019 CGE work plan and also highlight how it is responding to the needs arising from the enhanced transparency framework. |