5 November 2017: This Update focuses on individual nationally appropriate mitigation actions (NAMAs) by developing countries and related support, events and activities for the months of September and October 2017. During this period, one NAMA seeking support was submitted to the UNFCCC Registry, by El Salvador. Three NAMAs secured support from the NAMA Facility.

El Salvador Submits Buildings Energy Efficiency NAMA for Implementation Support

El Salvador registered an energy efficiency NAMA, with a total estimated cost of US$98.3 million, which is seeking US$58.2 million in external financial and technical implementation support. The Catalytic Program for Energy Efficiency in Public Buildings (ProCEEEP) aims at total energy savings of 59.1 GWh between 2018 and 2022 through technological changes, including replacement of inefficient air conditioning equipment and light bulbs. [UNFCCC NAMA Registry Entry] [UNEP DTU NAMA Pipeline]

Actions by Colombia, Chile and China to Receive Support from NAMA Facility

The NAMA Facility, which is supported by Germany, the UK, Denmark and the European Commission, approved funding for NAMAs in Colombia, China and Chile. The actions target the domestic refrigeration sector in Colombia (€9 million), waste management in China (€8 million) and renewable energy systems in small and medium-sized businesses in Chile (€14 million). [NAMA Facility Press Release]

NAMAs on COP 23 Agenda

The UN Bonn Climate Change Conference (also known as COP 23), convening in Bonn, Germany from 6-17 November, will consider a report by the UNFCCC Secretariat on the operation of the NAMA registry from 1 September 2016 to 30 September 2017 (FCCC/CP/2017/INF.3). The report finds that, inter alia: during the reporting period, the total estimated cost of all NAMA entries in the registry amounted to US$28.9 billion, of which US$11 billion was sought in international support; and matching support for NAMAs increased from US$34.9 million to US$37.7 million since 2016. The report will be considered as part of COP finance agenda under sub-items on the report of the Green Climate Fund (GCF) to the COP and guidance to the GCF, and the report of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) to the COP and guidance to the GEF. [UNFCCC Document on Operation of the NAMA Registry]

A number of side events will also focus on issues relating to NAMAs at COP 23, including an event on 13 November organized by the NAMA Facility on the ‘Future Role of the NAMA Facility in Unlocking Finance for Ambitious Mitigation Actions.’ [NAMA Facility Press Release]

Low-Carbon Coffee, Municipal Solid Waste Make Progress

Costa Rica’s Coffee NAMA provided an update on implementation. In recent months, more than 3,000 farmers have participated in training activities promoting good agricultural practices, and participating mills have been measuring their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and water consumption. In addition, selected mills participated in a promotional trip in Germany in October 2017. [Transparency Partnership Story]

In another update, the Partnership on Transparency in the Paris Agreement reported on a NAMA in India’s municipal solid waste sector focused on co-processing waste-based fuel, or refused derived fuel, in cement kilns. Supported by the German development agency (GIZ), the NAMA has the potential to achieve an industry-wide thermal substitution rate that is very close to the country’s cement sector’s Technology Roadmap, namely 18.8% out of 19% by 2030. Raising the thermal substitution rate from the current 1% to this level would translate into 3.1 million tonnes of fossil fuels replaced per year. [Transparency Partnership Story]

NAMA Facility Shares Lessons; Transparency Partnership Releases Guidance for Transformational Mitigation Projects

The NAMA Facility made available a webinar titled ‘Lessons Learnt – Early Experiences from NAMA Implementation.’ The recorded presentation focuses on peer-to-peer learning among practitioners, policy makers and other interested stakeholders. [NAMA Facility Webinar Recording]

Also, the Partnership on Transparency in the Paris Agreement and the UNFCCC released a document titled ‘Guidance Note on How to Design Transformational Mitigation Projects: A Checklist for Project Developers and Managers.’ Prepared by GIZ and the UN Environment – DTU Partnership (UNEP-DTU), the note aims to increase understanding among practitioners of the concept of “transformational change.” It provides a checklist of the characteristics that should be considered when designing transformational mitigation projects, with the aim of assisting in the design of mitigation policies and actions, including NAMAs, and in meeting the requirements of funding partners. [Transparency Partnership Publication]

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NAMAs, first introduced in the UNFCCC Cancun Agreements, are actions that reduce GHG emissions relative to business-as-usual (BAU) emissions in 2020 in developing countries. They are prepared under the umbrella of a governmental initiative, aligned with the country’s national development goals, and supported by finance, technology and capacity building. NAMAs are becoming an increasingly important vehicle supporting the implementation of the Paris Agreement, with significant co-benefits for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development due to their alignment with national development strategies.