5 December 2012: A new partnership aiming to share knowledge and successful ideas for developing Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs) was launched on the sidelines of the 18th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 18) to the UNFCCC in Doha, Qatar. The partnership will focus on: NAMAs in the context of national development; NAMA preparation for different sectors or technologies; and how to finance NAMAs.

The NAMA Partnership consists of UN agencies, development banks, bilateral organizations and other organizations.

NAMAs are policies or activities that countries take on as part of a commitment to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The concept is built on the recognition that countries’ actions must be nationally-appropriate, and that countries have different capabilities and capacities for reducing emissions or financing mitigation projects.

According to the NAMA Partnership, wealthier countries can assist developing countries with mitigation work but previous efforts to provide this assistance have been limited or uncoordinated. The NAMA Partnership hopes that collaboration and complementary activities will quickly increase support of developing countries in preparing and implementing NAMAs.

The new partnership intends to enable multilateral organizations, bilateral cooperation agencies and think tanks to support developing countries’ efforts to prepare and implement NAMAs by sharing information and coordinating activities. By sharing information openly and transparently, the participants hope to identify gaps, avoid duplicating efforts, and work together effectively. Additionally, the NAMA Partnership and the International Partnership on Mitigation and Measurement, Reporting and Verification (MRV) will coordinate their activities and work programmes with the goal of building a low-carbon future.

UN members of the NAMA Partnership are: the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Risø Centre (URC); the UN Development Programme (UNDP); the UN Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO); UNEP-Division of Technology Industry and Economics (DTIE); and the UN Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR). Development banks partners are: the Inter- American Development Bank (IDB); the Nordic Environment Finance Corporation (NEFCO); the World Bank; the African Development Bank (AfDB0; and the Asian Development Bank (ADB). [International Partnership on Mitigation and MRV Press Release] [NAMA Partnership Website]