9 September 2014: The UNFCCC Secretariat has released a report on regional hands-on training workshops, organized between October 2013 and March 2014, on the use of non-Annex I greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory software (NAIIS). The report describes the proceedings of, and presentations and discussions held during, three workshops aimed at training national focal points and other key experts from non-Annex I parties.

The web-based NAIIS was developed and launched by the UNFCCC Secretariat on 6 June 2013, in response to a request by the 35th session of the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI 35) to upgrade the national GHG inventory software for non-Annex I parties. While being based on the same methodologies, NAIIS differs from a previous Excel-based application in design, layout and functionality. The report on the regional workshops on the use of NAIIS organized by the Secretariat in 2013-2014 was mandated by SBI 41.

The report covers workshops held for: the Asia-Pacific region from 14-18 October 2013, in Manila, the Philippines; the African and Eastern European regions from 10-14 March 2014, in Libreville, Gabon; and the Latin America and Caribbean region from 24-28 March 2014, in Bogota, Colombia. The workshops were organized with financial support from Australia, Canada and the EU. All three workshops included sessions on, inter alia: general themes relating to the development of national GHG inventory management systems; the five sectors of the national GHG inventory; and implementation of cross-cutting issues.

The report also includes a summary of recommendations made during the workshops on improving the NAIIS and organization of future workshops. It notes that most participants found NAIIS better than the previous software, and describes the overall level of satisfaction of participants as high. [Publication: Report on the Regional Hands-on Training Workshops on the Use of the Non-Annex I Greenhouse Gas Inventory Software]