Synopsis

This working paper summarizes the results of scoping research conducted by WRI and its partners to assess capacity needs in six countries—Brazil, Colombia, Ethiopia, India, South Africa, and Thailand—related to greenhouse gas (GHG) measurement and performance tracking. The paper also identifies common capacity challenges—as well as opportunities to overcome them—that are relevant to multiple countries.

This work is part of WRI’s Measurement and Performance Tracking (MAPT) project, which helps to enhance national capacities in developing countries to measure GHG emissions and track performance toward low-carbon development goals.

Executive Summary

The World Resources Institute (WRI) is working through the Measurement and Performance Tracking (MAPT) project to help enhance national capacities in developing countries to measure greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and track performance toward low-carbon development goals, where needed. GHG measurement and performance tracking is the process through which GHG emissions and emission reductions are measured and progress toward mitigation goals is regularly evaluated. Such systems can support both domestic policymaking and international reporting requirements.

To carry out the MAPT project, WRI is partnering with a broad range of stakeholders, including government agencies, the business community, and civil society organizations. In the early stages of the MAPT project, WRI and its partners conducted scoping research to assess the capacity needs in six countries—Brazil, Colombia, Ethiopia, India, South Africa, and Thailand— related to GHG measurement and performance tracking. This paper summarizes the results and, where possible, identifies common capacity challenges (see Table 1.1 for a summary)—as well as opportunities to overcome them— that are relevant to multiple countries. Capacity-building efforts, however, will need to also take into account local circumstances, stakeholder preferences, and past successes.

Supporting capacity building for measurement and tracking systems in a timely and targeted way is critical, as many countries are already developing such systems to meet a variety of objectives, such as enhancing GHG inventories, measuring GHG impacts of mitigation actions and policies, tracking progress toward national mitigation goals, facilitating climate finance, generating carbon credits, and preparing to meet international reporting requirements.

Our hope is that the research findings inform the work of those involved in capacity building for measurement and performance tracking, as they will continue to guide the activities of the MAPT project.