27 September 2012: The UNFCCC Secretariat has published a note on the progress report on the work of the Consultative Group of Experts on non-Annex I National Communications (CGE), containing a report on the hands-on training workshop on national greenhouse gas inventories for the Africa region (FCCC/SBI/2012/25).

The workshop was held in Swakopmund, Namibia, from 23-27 April 2012, and was organized by the CGE in collaboration with the Technical Support Unit for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Task Force on National Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Inventories. It aimed to, among other things: build the capacity of national experts from Africa in preparing national GHG inventories; and serve as a platform for the exchange of views among parties and with the experts. The report outlines the proceedings of the workshop, and summarizes the feedback and recommendations on the workshop, the updated CGE training materials, and the financial and technical issues relating to the preparation of national communications.

During the workshop, participants exchanged views on, inter alia: the challenge of addressing data gaps and the lack of archiving of existing data; the need for, and challenges regarding, the establishment of suitable institutional arrangements to support the regular development of national GHG inventories; the choice and application of IPCC methodologies; and the financial and technical support needs.

The Conference of the Parties (COP), by decision 5/CP.15, reconstituted the CGE for the period 2010–2012, to improve the process of, and preparation of, non-Annex I national communications. [Publication: Note on the Progress Report on the work of the CGE: report on the hands-on training workshop for the Africa region on national greenhouse gas inventories]