Training Programme for GHG Inventory Review Experts UNFCCC

Training Programme for GHG Inventory Review Experts UNFCCC side event: Training programme for GHG inventory review experts, UNFCCC Roster of Experts, and the Kyoto Protocol Reference Manual Nairobi, 13 November 2006 Javier Hanna Review and Analysis subprogramme, RDA

Outline l Background l Convention training programme l Kyoto Protocol training programme l Conclusions

Background l l Decision 12/CP. 9 (2003) – Training programme for the technical review of Annex I GHG inventories under the Convention Decision 24/CMP. 1 (2005) – Training programme for the initial review under Article 8 Guidelines of the Kyoto Protocol à Request the secretariat to develop and implement a training programme for inventory ERT members, including testing of experts à Encourage Annex I Parties to provide support à Request SBSTA 24 (May 2006) to assess the results of the training programme and to recommend the COP/MOP on further actions à Request the secretariat to prepare a report on information on the training programme (FCCC/SBSTA/2006/INF. 7)

Training programme for review of GHG inventories under the Convention l Basic course for the review of Annex I Parties GHG inventories à Overview of UNFCC guidelines for preparation and review of GHG Inventories and IPCC inventory guidance à Sectoral modules: Energy - Fugitive Emissions; Industrial Processes; Agriculture and Waste à LULUCF module, according IPCC Good Practice Guidance and reporting requirements included in decision 13/CP. 9 l Improving communication and facilitating consensus in expert review teams l Handling confidential information

Convention training programme Premises l Course authors and instructors are highly experienced experts in the review process l Annual courses have a final seminar (if resources available) l All courses have an examination (after the seminar) l Arrangements for taking exams at other times could be made, under secretariat supervision l Examination is standardized, objective and transparent (true/false questions, multiple choice questions and review exercises/short answers)

Convention training (1) Summary of Convention training 2002 - 2006 § Pilot training courses in Geneva 2002 and in Tokyo 2003 § Basic training courses with seminar in 2004, 2005 and 2006 (Bonn, Tsukuba and Bonn) § LULUCF training course in 2005 (Valencia – from 2006 included in Convention training) § LULUCF training course (without instructor) in 2005 (Wellington) § Several non-instructed activities

Convention training (2) Summary of Convention training 2002 - 2006 § Total number of experts who took exams (including LULUCF, pilot training and noninstructed courses): 183 § Total number of experts who passed exams (including experienced experts): 142 (45 non. Annex I and 97 Annex I) § Total number of new experts who passed exams: 119 (36 non-Annex I and 83 Annex I) § Total number of new experts integrated in ERTs (up to 2005): 63 (24 non-Annex I and 39 Annex I)

Convention training (3) Difficulties in finding trainees More support needed from Parties! § 104 invitations sent this year § 29 experts attended the seminar in July 2006 (15 non. Annex I and 14 Annex I) § 21 experts passed the exams (10 non-Annex I and 11 Annex I) § Reviewers from all Parties needed, but especially from non-Annex I Parties § Experts MUST be nominated by their National Focal Point to the UNFCCC Roster of Experts

Convention training (4) Summary of evaluations § Courses generally well-appreciated § Course content clear § Different perceptions on guidance by instructors during training Possiblity for more individual use of time vs. § Stricter deadlines and advise during online period § § Printable version of course requested (no mandate) § Seminars particularly liked: § Interaction with instructor § Interaction with group § Seminars should be longer, more individual coaching

Convention training (5) Non-instructed activities so far Initiative from Parties or individuals, low cost for the secretariat: § Japan § New Zealand § Austria § Individuals In Bonn § Outside Bonn § § Non-instructed courses studied by more than 80 experts § 80 experts already have taken examination

Improving communication and facilitating consensus in expert review teams § § Course mandated by decision 12/CP. 9 Not mandatory for experts So far studied by 50 experts Feedback positive, content found useful for work in international expert review teams

Handling confidential information 1. Course also mandated by decision 12/CP. 9 2. Not implemented because not enough information to justify a course 3. The secretariat will directly instruct ERTs on procedures for handling confidential information 4. Information on this subject included in the Agreement for Expert Review Services

Kyoto Protocol training programme Decision 24/CMP. 1 Training programme for the initial review under Article 8 Guidelines of the Kyoto Protocol àImplementation of three courses: § National Systems (mandatory) § Application of Adjustments (mandatory) § Modalities for the accounting of assigned amounts under Article 7, paragraph 4 (mandatory for LRs) àAny reviewer who will review national systems/may apply adjustments/will review information relating to accounting of assigned amounts or serve as lead reviewers must pass the examination àApplication of adjustments course offered with an instructor for monitoring trainees, and provide assistance and advice during the course

Kyoto Protocol training - Premises l The development and implementation of the courses of this training programme depend on the availability of resources l All courses include an examination (on-line). For courses which have a final seminar, the examination will generally take place during the seminar l Examination procedures are standardized, objective and transparent l Experts who do not pass an examination for a course at the first attempt may re-take the examination one additional time (re-take does not require the secretariat to incur additional costs) l All courses are available on-line. The courses are distributed on CD -ROM to trainees without easy access to the Internet l Experts with relevant expertise are selected as instructors for courses of the training (taking into account geographic balance)

Kyoto Protocol training (1) 1 st round (22 May – 28 July 2006) § Invited all experienced reviewers (160) 2 nd round (14 August – 22 September 2006) § Invited all reviewers who failed/did not participate in 1 st round, plus 2 reviewers (1 new and 1 noninstructed). Additional examination on 6 October 2006 3 rd round (28 August – 27 October 2006) § Invited all experts who passed Convention training in 2006, plus non-instructed trainees and reviewers who failed/did not participate in 1 st and 2 nd rounds

Kyoto Protocol training (2)

Kyoto Protocol training (3) Online examinations § Made available during one week – 5 working days – 24 hrs/day § Support staff from ECLC available 24 hrs/day in case of problems § Possible technical problems anticipated beforehand precautions taken. No negative effect on examination results § Questions easy to upload (“light” information) § In case of interruption of Internet connection expert can access exam again, automatically taken to where he/she was interrupted § Integrity of examination process ensured by: § 2 hrs max. time for each examination (too much, but buffer

Future training activities § Continue training activities online, subject to availability of funds § Instructors could be available, subject to availability of resources § Examination will continue to be taken online during fixed dates throughout the year § Training seminar can be organized, depending on § Needs, feasibility (completion of reviews of initial reports) § Financial resources § Update the contents of the training programme, subject to availability of resources

Conclusions (1) l l l Training improves the effectiveness, efficiency and consistency of review activities Contributes to enhance quality of GHG inventories from Annex I Parties Participation of experts from non-Annex I Parties in training and subsequent reviews contributes to prepare better GHG inventories Kyoto Protocol training programme successful, feedback positive Training is essential for the review process - examinations are mandatory ü Secretariat needs approx. 230 review experts for the initial reviews under the Kyoto Protocol and the 2006 annual review under the Convention, and additionally 13 experts for a centralized review under the Convention ü Only approximately 160 review experts available ü Drawback: Experts who do not take examination or who

Conclusions (2) Support needed from Parties to provide experts with sufficient time for the review process (initial and subsequent reviews under Article 8 of the Kyoto Protocol and Convention reviews) l Parties should continue to nominate experts with relevant expertise to the UNFCCC roster of experts and support their active participation in the training programme and later in the review process l Financial support needed from Annex I Parties. There are NO funds available for the training programmes and for Lead Reviewers meetings in the secretariat's core budget l