Measurable, Reportable and Verifiable Mitigation Actions and Support
The 2007 Bali Action Plan emphasized "measurable, reportable and verifiable" (MRV) as crucial for delivering concrete national actions to address climate change. Current gaps and weaknesses in measuring, reporting, and verifying greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, mitigation actions, and support have led to proposals for an enhanced MRV framework in future agreements.
Key Issues and Challenges
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Scope and Scale: The scope and scale of MRV provisions for GHG mitigation actions, commitments, and support are still under negotiation. The extent to which MRV applies to developed and developing countries, and within developing countries based on support from international finance, remains uncertain.
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Focus Areas: The focus of a post-2012 MRV framework—whether on emissions levels, mitigation actions, or emission reductions from actions—will significantly impact what countries need to report and whether new international guidance is required for transparency and comparability.
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Implications for the Climate Regime: Decisions on the purpose, coverage, and form of the MRV framework can affect the legal characteristics of countries' GHG mitigation actions, the amount of negotiation needed, and the collection and use of information. For instance, recording planned mitigation actions in a "national schedule" could make their implementation legally binding.
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Current Information Gaps: Current levels of information on GHG emissions and mitigation actions are patchy, especially for non-Annex I countries. Under the UNFCCC and Kyoto Protocol, monitoring and reporting are well-developed for Annex I countries but less so for non-Annex I countries. Financial support for mitigation actions also varies in quality and availability.
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Financial Support Tracking: Information on financial support for mitigation actions is incomplete and often focuses on support provided by Annex II countries rather than needs or received support. The most comprehensive system is through "Rio" climate markers, but it is limited to OECD/DAC donors. Private financial flows, particularly those related to the carbon market, are less understood.
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Benefits of Enhanced MRV: Increasing the availability of comparable information on GHG emissions and mitigation actions can provide a better international picture of current actions and their locations. This can help assess aggregate effects, enhance trust and understanding between developed and developing countries, and demonstrate compliance with support commitments.
Proposed Framework
A post-2012 MRV framework could collect quantitative or qualitative information on mitigation actions and support, quantify their impacts, and provide a comprehensive view of global emission trends. The coverage of a reporting or recording mechanism could vary, incorporating more or less information based on its functions.
Conclusion
Enhancing the MRV framework is critical for effective climate action. Addressing current gaps and uncertainties will require careful negotiation and clear guidelines to ensure transparency and comparability in reporting and verification processes.
