November 2014: The Climate Change Expert Group (CCXG) has released four papers examining technical issues relevant to the negotiations towards a 2015 climate change agreement under the UNFCCC.

‘Planting the Foundations of a Post-2020 Accounting Framework’ describes possible elements for the post-2020 reporting and accounting framework for emissions and removals from the land sector. It also identifies possible steps that could be taken to achieve such a framework at the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference in Lima, Peru, in December 2014 and Paris, France, in 2015, as well as during the period 2016-2020. The paper argues a more robust framework is necessary as existing reporting and accounting arrangements for the land sector are not applicable to all Parties and are limited in scope for pursuing more cost-effective approaches, such as helping developing countries address climate change while increasing agricultural output.

‘The Role of the 2015 Agreement in Mobilizing Climate Finance’ explores how the 2015 climate agreement could further stimulate the mobilization of climate finance by examining existing financing environments and mechanisms, including: international institutional arrangements; in-country enabling environments; financial instruments and tools; and transparency in and enhanced climate finance tracking.

‘Taking Stock of the UNFCCC Process and its Interlinkages’ reviews existing UNFCCC institutions and arrangements and the interlinkages between them in the areas of mitigation, adaptation and loss and damage, means of implementation and enhanced monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) in order to inform discussions on the possible elements of a 2015 agreement.

‘Energy Sector Transformation: Issues and Options for the UNFCCC Negotiations’ explores options for how the 2015 climate agreement, and nationally-determined contributions made under it, could drive energy sector transformation. The paper argues action is necessary to ensure conditions are in place for longer-term transformation to low-emissions energy systems, which will involve linkages between actions, institutions and processes, both inside and outside the UNFCCC.

CCXG is a group of government delegates and experts from developed and developing countries, which was established in 1993 to promote dialogue on and enhance understanding of technical issues in the climate change negotiations. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the International Energy Agency (IEA) jointly serve as the group’s secretariat. [CCSX Website] [Publication: Planting the Foundations of a Post-2020 Accounting Framework] [Publication: The Role of the 2015 Agreement in Mobilizing Climate Finance][Publication: Taking Stock of the UNFCCC Process and its Interlinkages][Publication: Energy Sector Transformation: Issues and Options for the UNFCCC Negotiations]