18 June 2014: Forty policy makers from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan participated in the regional workshop on ‘NAMA Readiness and Investment Training for Mitigation Activities in the Energy and Transport Sectors.’ Participants learned about the design, implementation and monitoring of Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs), shared regional NAMA experience and progress, and discussed the financing of NAMA components.

The workshop, which was held in Astana, Kazakstan, from 17-18 June 2014, was organized within the framework of the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB’s) Regional Technical Assistance 8119 (RETA 8119) project on Economics of Climate Change in Central and West Asia. RETA 8119 assists Central and Western Asian countries in prioritizing low-carbon energy and transportation investments, and conducting cost-benefit analysis of greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction measures.

Presentations on best practices from the three participating countries contributed to the workshop’s discussions on finding attractive climate change mitigation investment opportunities in conjunction with NAMAs. In addition, the International Climate Initiative (IKI) presented on selection criteria for projects funded under its NAMA Facility, shedding light on the qualities needed to attract NAMA financing.

As a forum for identifying, evaluating and developing NAMAs in the transport and energy sectors, the workshop also advanced the goals of the International Partnership on Mitigation and Measuring, Reporting and Verification (MRV), of which Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan are partner countries. The Partnership, launched within the framework of the Petersberg Climate Dialogue by South Africa, the Republic of Korea and Germany in May 2010, supports a practical exchange on mitigation-related activities and MRV between developing and developed countries. [International Partnership on Mitigation and MRV Press Release] [Workshop Programme]