cge technical paper 2019 tp... · 2020. 10. 23. · cge tp 2019 distilled the cge, with a view to...

CGE Technical Paper 2019 Distilled

Technical paper on problems, constraints and lessons learned, as well as capacity-building needs for the preparation of national communications and biennial update reports 2019

September 2020

Consultative Group of Experts

OverviewTransparency

Transparency of climate action and support under the UNFCCC process includes measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) under the Convention and enhanced transparency framework under the Paris Agreement. Transparency is key to achieving the goals set out in the Convention and the Paris Agreement.

While countries have been engaging in the existing MRV arrangements under the Convention for many years, the Paris Agreement established an enhanced transparency framework (ETF) that applies common modalities, procedures and guidelines (MPGs) for all Parties with “flexibility to those developing country Parties that need it in the light of their capacities.”

Countries are at different starting points in terms of their capacities and experience in preparing for the ETF. While the existing domestic MRV systems will provide a solid basis for countries to prepare for and implement the ETF, capacity-building to developing countries will remain crucial to ensure all countries are able to engage fully and effectively in the new and enhanced processes and requirements established under the ETF.

The Consultative Group of Experts (CGE) is an expert group mandated to assist developing countries, through technical advice and support, improve their capacities to implement the existing MRV arrangements under the Convention and the ETF under Article 13 of the Paris Agreement in a timely and sustainable manner.

CGE TP 2019 Distilled

The CGE, with a view to providing technical assistance and support that responds to the needs of developing countries in a targeted and strategic manner, conducts an assessment of the existing and emerging constraints and gaps, lessons learned and capacity-building needs of developing countries in implementing the existing MRV arrangements and preparing for the ETF and prepares, annually, a technical paper containing the results.

The CGE TP Distilled series aims at conveying the information in a more user-friendly manner and reaching a broader range of support providers and MRV experts and practitioners. The CGE TP 2019 Distilled provides visual presentation of the information contained in the CGE technical paper published in 2019.

The information on the existing and emerging constraints and challenges, lessons learned and capacity-building needs draws on, among others, a CGE stocktake survey on MRV and transparency gaps and needs, national communications (NCs) and biennial update reports (BURs) submitted by developing countries and summary reports of technical analyses of BURs.

ndbook f

For more information, see CGE Technical Paper 2019FCCC/TP/2019/4 available at

Approach to the compilation and synthesis The information on problems and constraints, lessons learned and capacity-building needs identified by developing countries was compiled from various data sources as shown in figure below.

150 NCs 39

BURs

Problems, constraints, gaps and capacity-building needs as identied by developing countries and reported in their NCs and BURs

Problems, constraints and lessons learned in the implemenation of existing MRV arrangements under the convention

ETF under the Paris Agreement- Level of knowledge in the MPGs for the ETF- Status of national planning for reporting under the ETF- Key areas of capacity-building

41 TASRs

Capacity-building needs identied during the technical analysis of the BURs

Submitted by 31 January 2018

Published by 31 August 2019

2019 CGE Stocktake

SUrvey- Conducted between 24 May - 19 July 2019- 86 countries represented- National Focal Points, NR/BUR project coordinators, national GHG inventory coordinators, sectoral/thematic experts

Examples of problems and constraints and capacity-building needs

Signicance of key categories of issues as identied by countries represented in the survey

Problems and constraints, lessons learned and capacity-building needs associated with:

Status of capacity-building needs in respect of the preparation for the ETF

National GHG inventory

Reporting on mitigation actions

Reporting on climate change impacts and adaptation

Reporting on support needed and received

Issues associated with institutional arrangements Issues associated with data and informationIssues associated with methodology and tools

The number indicates the average level of significance as identified by countries represented in the survey, on a scale of 1–3 (1: low – 2: medium – 3: high).

Page 4

Lack of formal arrangements and inadequate coordination often result in a delay in collecting data and feedback from stakeholders.

2.28

2.28

2.29

2.292.30

2.3

3

2.41

2.41

2.43

2.43

2.45 2.112.18

2.18

2.20

2.23

Leader-ship

Accessibility of data due to

condentiality

Technical capacity to use IPCC so�ware

Awareness of stakeholders,

especially private sector

Technical capacity to perform key

category analysis

Policy or legal mandate to prepare national

reports

Improvement planning

Roles and responsibilities

across stakeholdersData

management process

Technical capacity to perform uncertainty assessment

Technical capacity to

understand and apply IPCC guidelines

Quality data

Retaining institutional

capacity

Data availability

Coordination

Data collection process

Insufficient legislative or policy support for climate change initiatives usually results in an inadequate institutional basis to sustain the national reporting process. The responsible institution is unable to justify the resource commitment for the preparation and submission of national reports. Further, lack of mandate renders data collection from the private sector extremely challenging, especially where data collection and storage involves costs.

Inadequate data management systems for national GHG inventories make the archiving and use of data difficult. In most cases, data are archived in different formats and across multiple locations in different agencies, which means obtaining and using the data is challenging and which often leads to a failure to retain institutional memory.

Some countries faced technical constraints in: understanding and applying IPCC guidelines; estimating emissions using proxy activity data; carrying out uncertainty assessment; undertaking key category analysis and/or conducting QA/QC. Some countries have found that the default emission factors contained in the IPCC GLs are not applicable to their national circumstances; yet they lack the expertise and resources needed to develop country-specific emission factors.

The format of the data might not be suitable for the national GHG inventory, which renders the data compilation and processing for the inventory challenging and increases uncertainty. The data might also be incomplete or inconsistent.

National greenhouse gas inventories

Problems and constraintsKey categories of issues that have been recurrently reported by developing countries in relation to the preparation of their national GHG inventories are presented in the diagram below. Among 16 categories of issues presented, lack of inadequate data collection process was identified as the most significant, followed by inadequate coordination across sectors or institutions to collect and share data, and lack of availability of data that are consistent with reporting guidelines. See the boxes for examples.

.. continue National greenhouse gas inventories

Lessons learnedCountries are devising various ways of dealing with problems, constraints and gaps identified. Examples of success stories and lessons learned are:

What has been put in place? How did it contribute to enhancing the MRV process?

Establishing national GHG inventory data

management system as a central depository of all

relevant data and information and accessible to the

relevant stakeholders.

Ensures the continuous flow of data from the relevant institutions

to the designated entity.

Documenting the steps in the data collection process

and annotating collected data.

Helps maintain institutional memory and create a basis for a

larger data depository.

Creating a legal instrument (e.g. a by-law or

regulation).

Mandates the preparation of the national GHG inventory and the

continuous disclosure of activity data by major GHG emitters to the

designated entity.

Establishing data sharing protocols or memorandum

of understanding with the relevant institutions.

Facilitates data-sharing.

Creating a coordination mechanism, such as a

working group comprising key ministries.

Improves the quality of the national GHG inventory and the

efficiency of the data collection process.

Establishing a dedicated team or unit in key

institutions to serve as the focal point for data-

sharing and management.

Improves data collection and addresses the issue of data loss

resulting from staff turnover.

Clearly communicating to data custodians and key

stakeholders the purpose, process and strategic

results of data-sharing, including what is expected

from them and how the data and information

provided will be used.

Helps ensure that stakeholders are more actively engaged in the

process.

Involving national statistical agencies in the

inventory preparation process.

Facilitates data generation for certain sectors/categories.

Engaging more national experts in the process of

generating and managing data and information

and limiting the role of consultants to training the

national experts.

Helps retain institutional capacity and sustain the national GHG

inventory process.

Capacity-Building NeedsWhat are the key areas for capacity-building needs identified by developing countries in respect of the process and preparation of national GHG inventories?

Training and guidance to enhance the technical capacity of experts and institutions to:

• Understand and apply the 2006 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories and IPCC inventory

software, and identify appropriate and consistent methods for estimating emissions to ensure a reliable and

consistent time series;

• Conduct uncertainty assessment and key category analysis;

• Identify and use surrogate data to fill data gaps in order to generate a consistent time series;

• Develop a QA/QC plan and implement QA/QC procedures;

• Develop country-specific emission factors to reduce uncertainty and enable the use of higher tiers for key

categories;

• Develop data management and archiving systems (i.e. technology infrastructure, such as a web-based

platform or centralized database);

• Develop or strengthen the data collection process by establishing data-sharing protocols or developing.

standardized data-sharing formats to ensure systemic collection of data that are consistent with IPCC guidelines.



Page 6 Reporting on mitigation actions

Problems and constraintsKey categories of issues that have been recurrently reported by developing countries in relation to their reporting of mitigation actions are presented in the diagram below. Among 17 categories of issues presented, lack of or inadequate methods for quantification of direct and indirect effects of mitigation actions, and lack of or insufficient institutional capacity to retain skills and knowledge gained from training were identified as the most significant issues. See the boxes for examples.

Conducting mitigation assessment requires quality baseline information. It serves as the reference point for assessing progress since the implementation of the mitigation action and for scenario development. Existing data challenges and high data uncertainties associated with the national GHG inventory place constraints on conducting assessment of mitigation measures and on identifying and developing mitigation options.

Some countries face technical constraints in using the available models, methods and tools and require practical and easy-to-apply guidelines or methods, particularly relating to setting baselines and target values, developing progress indicators, scenario development, uncertainty management and abatement cost analysis.

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2.33

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2.39

2.39

2.39

2.40

2.40 2.102.13

2.18

2.29

2.302.30

Improve-ment

planning Leader-ship


con�dentialiality

Technical capacity to use the

available tools



Technical capacity to analyze data and

information gathered from

modelling


Quality dataData

management process

Data availability

Practical tool to conduct

mitigation assessment (e.g. sector-speci�c

modeling)

Practical guidelines/

methods for setting baselines/target values/indicators

Policy or legal mandate to prepare

national reports

Coordination

Roles and

responsibilities across stakeholders


capacity

Methods for quanti�cation of direct and

indirect effects of mitigation

actions

.. continue Reporting on mitigation actions



Building on the existing data collection process

in key sectors, for example, revisiting sectoral

data collection vehicles, such as an energy

survey conducted by the ministry of energy, to

incorporate progress indicators for mitigation

assessment.

Helps streamline the data collection process and obtain more up-to-

date and accurate data from key stakeholders.

Strengthening coordination with enforcement

entities, including ministries and other

stakeholders at different governance levels.

Facilitates data collection and use of policy instruments.

Clearly communicating to key stakeholders the

purpose, process and strategic results of data-

sharing.

Facilitates the participation of stakeholders and ensures that the

relevant policies and measures of each ministry are incorporated

into the national reporting process.

Including information on other development

benefits (i.e. economic, social and environmental)

of mitigation measures, so-called co-benefits.

Leads to more comprehensive outcomes of mitigation assessments

Facilitates communicating the benefits of mitigation measures

beyond reducing GHG emissions, which can make mitigation

measures more appealing to policymakers.

Countries have also found that the participation in the MRV process brings many benefits at the national level, including:

National planning process for new or updated

mitigation assessments provides a good basis

for improving scenario development and more

accurately calculating mitigation potential.

The preparation of information on mitigation

actions to be included in national reports helps

to improve the communication and dissem-

ination of information on mitigation projects

and programmes for the purpose of attracting

investors.

Capacity-Building Needs What are the key areas for capacity-building needs identified by developing countries in respect of reporting on mitigation actions?


• Identify and use appropriate methodologies and relevant assumptions to track the progress and quantify

the effects of mitigation actions in key sectors, and assess mitigation co-benefits resulting from adaptation

actions or economic diversification plans;

• Develop progress indicators;

• Maintain or strengthen the extensive analytical work conducted for developing scenarios and projections,

and create a solid analytical base for revising mitigation measures in the future;

• Develop or strengthen a mechanism for tracking and verifying GHG emission reductions resulting from

various mitigation actions across all sectors;

• Develop data management and archiving systems (i.e. technology infrastructure, such as a web-based

platform or centralized database);

• Develop or strengthen the data collection process by establishing data-sharing protocols or developing

standardized data-sharing formats to ensure systemic collection of data that are consistent with IPCC guidelines.



Page 8

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2.48 2.122.14

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2.232.32


Leader-ship

Accessi-bility of

data due to

con�-dentiali-

ty

Technical capacity to use

the available tools



Technical infrastructure for

monitoring of climate data

Technical capacity to analyze data and information

Quality data

Data management

process

Data availability

Prac-tical tool to

conduct V&A assessment (e.g.

sector-speci�c modeling, regional/ downscaling climate

models)

Policy or legal mandate to

prepare national reports

Coordination

Roles and responsibilities

across stakeholders


capacity

Practical guidelines on

development of scenarios for V&A

assessment


Reporting on Climate Change impacts and Adaptation

Problems and constraintsKey categories of issues that have been recurrently reported by developing countries in relation to their reporting of climate change impacts and adaptation are presented in the diagram below. Among 17 categories of issues presented, lack of practical guidelines on the development of baseline or socioeconomic scenarios for vulnerability and adaptation assessment was identified as the most significant issue, followed by lack of practical tool to conduct vulnerability and adaptation assessment, in particular associated with sector-specific modelling and regional or downscaling climate models. See the boxes for examples.

Countries with incomplete data systems have found climate change scenario development challenging owing to inconsistencies between available data sources, such as historical observational data and meteorological data, and global and regional climate model outputs.

Some countries have acknowledged not having sufficient funds for or national experts capable of applying climate science and carrying out technical studies to address all prioritized socioeconomic sectors.

Some countries face the challenge of identifying socioeconomic indicators for vulnerability and adaptation assessment. In most cases, the challenge is associated with data constraint and/or the lack of technical capacity to interpret data and information gathered from modelling.

Many developing countries are faced with a lack of standardized methodologies and tools for developing baseline and climate change scenarios. Consequently, sectoral assessments are often incomplete or inconsistent and thus difficult to present in an integrated manner.


Strengthening the network of meteorological

stations and observation systems;

Digitization and retrieval of historical

observational data.

Improves data availability.

Countries have also found that the participation in the MRV process brings many benefits at the national level, including:

Vulnerability and adaptation assessment

conducted during NC preparation has been

beneficial to the development of national ad-

aptation strategies.

The integration of vulnerability and adapta-

tion assessment for key sectors has proved

useful in informing the development and im-

plementation of relevant social and environ-

mental policies and strategies. Some countries

have reportedly integrated vulnerability and

adaptation assessment into their national

adaptation planning process.

Some countries have found that their technical

capacity to conduct vulnerability and adapta-

tion assessment for key sectors has been en-

hanced by the continuous reporting process.

Capacity-Building NeedsWhat are the key areas for capacity-building needs identified by developing countries in respect of reporting on climate change impacts and adaptation?


• Identify appropriate and practical methodologies and tools for vulnerability and adaptation assessment,

climate modelling and projections;

• Identify and prioritize adaptation options;

• Develop or upgrade technology infrastructure to enhance the quality of observational and meteorological

data.

... continue Reporting on Climate Change impacts and Adaptation




Page 10 Reporting on support needed and received

Problems and constraintsKey categories of issues that have been recurrently reported by developing countries in relation to their reporting on support needed and received are presented in the diagram below. Among 10 categories of issues presented, lack of or inadequate allocation of responsibilities for MRV of support was identified as the most significant issue, followed by lack of or inadequate data collection process. See the boxes for examples.

Many countries reported their lack of a clear understanding of what constitutes climate finance and the lack of a common mechanism for classifying financial support received as either climate finance or development assistance. Consequently, they are faced with the challenge of setting criteria, identifying key actors and institutions for generating data, and putting in place a process or strategy to coordinate data collection.

In most cases, financial and technical assistance for climate action is channeled through various agencies: not only governments, but also the private sector and non-governmental organizations. The dispersion of information thereon can hinder a country’s ability to track and measure the financial and technical support received for climate action.

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4

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con�dentiality

Identi�cation of all relevant

stakeholders


Guidelines or standards such as

common de�nitions of relevant

terminology and approaches

Data availability


Data management

process

Process for the coordination of support received

Process or approaches to integrate reporting processes to various donors on support

received

Allocation of responsibilities for MRV

of support

.. continue Reporting on support needed and received



Mapping the scope of mandates and projects

of relevant institutions receiving financial,

technological and capacity-building support

related to climate change;

Defining the roles of relevant institutions and

involving planning and finance ministries in the

data gathering and reporting process.

Helps reduce duplication of efforts and inconsistencies between

institutions .

Carrying out thematic studies and preparatory

work for establishing a national climate finance

tracking mechanism or climate finance tagging

mechanism.

Helps identify a set of criteria for tracking climate finance (e.g.

expenditure allocated to or spent on adaptation measures) and

thereby enhances data collection from various stakeholders,

including from the private sector and non-governmental

organizations.

Countries have also highlighted the need to put in place a new process or system for reporting on support needed and received, including:

• Clear mechanism, technological platforms, methodologies and monitoring instruments for the funds received;

• A donor coordination mechanism through which donors can report on their climate-related activities and projects.

Capacity-Building NeedsWhat are the key areas for capacity-building needs identified by developing countries in respect of reporting on support needed and received?


• Develop a methodology or systemic approach for identifying and classifying climate change related

support needed and received;

• Develop procedures and arrangements for collecting and managing information.

A compilation and synthesis of information on methodologies for and experience in setting criteria for climate finance, tracking support received and assessing needs and gaps in a rigorous manner.

Preparation for the enhanced transparency framework

Where do developing countries stand?Few questions were asked in the survey with a view to gauging the emerging needs of developing countries resulting from the enhanced transparency framework under the Paris Agreement.

Limited knowledge

Knowledgeable enough to identify needs and start planning for the implementation of the enhanced transparency framework.

Familiar but need more guidance and detailed information to identify needs

Key areas of capacity-buildingWhat are the key areas of capacity-building that developing countries could most benefit from in respect of the implementation of the enhanced transparency framework?

Planning at the national level

Has the country started planning for reporting under the ETF?

Level of knowledge of the MPGs

To what extent are you familiar with MPGs for ETF?

42% Methods and/or practical guideline for tracking progress of implementation and achievement of NDCs.

Understanding of the relationship between MRV/transparency

of climate action and support and tracking/monitoring of SDGs

indicators.

Formalization of data collection and management process.

Use of 2006 IPCC guidelines.

Understanding of the relationship between existing MRV

arrangements and enhanced transparency framework.

20%

17%

11%

11%

55 %

59 %

No

41% Yes

21 % 24 %

cge technical paper 2019 tp... · 2020. 10. 23. · cge tp 2019 distilled the cge, with a view to...

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