4 November 2013: The UNFCCC Secretariat has published technical papers addressing the use of indigenous and traditional knowledge and practices for adaptation, Kyoto Protocol methodological issues, and loss and damage.

The technical paper on ‘Best practices and available tools for the use of indigenous and traditional knowledge and practices for adaptation, and the application of gender-sensitive approaches and tools for understanding and assessing impacts, vulnerability and adaptation to climate change’ (FCCC/TP/2013/11) reviews and analyzes the available best practices and tools. It highlights, inter alia, the tools, approaches and practices being applied to promote the application of indigenous and traditional knowledge and gender sensitivity in adaptation projects.

The technical paper relating to Kyoto Protocol methodological issues deals with ‘Implications of the implementation of decisions 2/CMP.7 to 4/CMP.7 and 1/CMP.8 on the previous decisions on methodological issues related to the Kyoto Protocol, including those relating to Articles 5, 7 and 8 of the Kyoto Protocol’ (FCCC/TP/2013/9). The Secretariat also published a correction to this document, contained in document FCCC/TP/2013/9/Corr.1.

Two technical papers address the issue of loss and damage. The paper on ‘Gaps in existing institutional arrangements within and outside of the Convention to address loss and damage, including those related to slow onset events’ (FCCC/TP/2013/12) provides a review of existing institutional arrangements, within and outside of the Convention and at the transboundary, regional and global levels, carrying out activities relevant to addressing loss and damage associated with climate change impacts. On the basis of that review, it also provides a preliminary analysis of some of the general features of, and emerging trends and gaps in, such existing institutional arrangements.

The paper on ‘Current knowledge on relevant methodologies and data requirements as well as lessons learned and gaps identified at different levels, in assessing the risk of loss and damage associated with the adverse effects of climate change’ (FCCC/TP/2012/1) assesses 18 selected approaches, methods and tools in terms of their data and information requirements, strengths, weaknesses, lessons learned, gaps at different levels and relevance for social and environmental impacts, as well as discussing capacity needs for applying risk assessment methods in developing countries.

These documents will be considered by parties during the upcoming Climate Change Conference that will take place in Warsaw, Poland, from 11-22 November 2013. [Publication: Technical Paper on Indigenous and Traditional Knowledge, and on Gender Issues] [Publication: Technical Paper on Kyoto Protocol Methodological Issues] [Publication: Technical Paper on Kyoto Protocol Methodological Issues (Corrigendum)] [Publication: Technical Paper on Gaps in Existing Institutional Arrangements to address Loss and Damage] [Publication: Technical Paper on Assessing the Risk of Loss and Damage]