Perspectives your partner for identification and conceptualization of NAMAs

The role of NAMAs under the UNFCCC

At least up to 2020 developing countries will not be subject to a binding emissions cap under the UNFCCC. Until then, the developing world will be integrated into the international climate policy regime through a “pledge-and-review” process. Developing countries are asked to undertake voluntary Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs) in order to ensure that there national GHG emissions are reduced below the Business-As-Usual scenario. Potential measures under a NAMA are various and can become a mix of actions over various sectors, policies, measures, programmes. Monitoring, Reporting and Review (MRV) processes have been agreed for such actions.
Climate financing and NAMAs.

A NAMA specifies voluntary activities of GHG emissions mitigation in developing countries that are not subject to mitigation commitments and can be supported by industrialized country financing technology or capacity building. In the Copenhagen Accord from COP15, industrialized countries have committed to mobilize US$ 30 billion until end of 2012 (“Fast-track finance”) and up to US$ 100 billion a year by 2020 to address the needs of developing countries for mitigation and adaptation.
The Cancun Agreements (2010) recognize two kinds of NAMAs – those developed with domestic resources (“unilateral NAMAs”) and those requesting international support (“supported NAMAs”). So far most of the NAMAs seek support but this is not necessarily meant to be of pure financial nature. NAMAs can also comprise elements of technology transfer or capacity building. Financing is thought to be channeled through bilateral or multilateral donors or through facilities officially approved by the Conference of the Parties (COP), such as the Green Climate Fund or the Global Environmental Facility. Supported NAMAs could be co-funded through carbon offset credits generated for the amount of emission reductions achieved (colloquial “NAMA crediting”) and traded on the carbon market. However, this concept of credited NAMAs is not currently officially defined under the UNFCCC and is rather likely to evolve under a new market mechanism scheme.

How to attract support for NAMAs?

The UNFCCC will build a NAMA registry that will differentiate between unilateral NAMAs and NAMAs seeking international support. Submission of supported NAMAs should inter alia include estimated costs and emission reductions, and the anticipated timeframe for implementation. In terms of Monitoring, Reporting and Verifications (MRV) requirements, MRV for supported NAMAs should be undertaken domestically and following international MRV guidelines (so called International Consultation and Analysis – ICA) to be developed under the UNFCCC while for unilateral NAMAs domestic MRV is sufficient. However, as the registry is a voluntary means the development of NAMAs and in particular the direct and bilateral interaction with donors can take place without using the registry. Any NAMA related MRV will be covered either by the ICA process or by specific conditions of the donors.

Perspectives support for NAMAs.

Our team of experts that has since 2010 already worked on several innovative assignments pioneering the NAMA concept (e.g. for the Mexican Government, UNFCCC, GIZ and RCREEE) can support you in the following areas:

• NAMA identification evaluation and selection
• Detailed analysis and development of NAMA concepts
• Development of robust MRV framework
• Identifying opportunities for climate financing jointly with developing country entities
• Development of NAMA handbooks and good practice guidance
• Conceptualisation and support in deriving Low Carbon/Low Emission development strategies (LCDS/LEDS)