Result of Service
CBIT’s most important contribution will be to strengthen Argentina’s reporting capacities so as to adequately comply with the requirements of the Enhanced Transparency Framework through the new reporting format under the Paris Agreement: the Biennial Transparency Reports (BTR). In order to carry out the activities of Argentina’s CBIT project it requires the hiring of a Consultant in Institutional arrangements and MRV system related to carbon markets:
¿ The role of carbon markets in achieving the NDC and the LTS and enhancing ambition in mitigation and adaptation is estimated and quantified.
¿ Arrangements for authorizing the use of Internationally Transferred Mitigation Outcomes (ITMOs) towards achievement of NDC pursuant to Article 6 are in place;
¿ Arrangements that are consistent with Article 6.2 Guidance and relevant decisions of the CMA for tracking ITMOs are in place;
¿ Participating requirements for Article 6.2 and 6.4 are met;
¿ The transparency of the accounting and reporting of carbon markets in the NGHGI, the NDC (mitigation actions) and the LTS; unders the Paris Agreement is enhanced.
¿ The technical quality of products linked with the Carbon Markets Framework of Argentina´s is ensured.
¿ Technical assistance is provided to the NCCD team on issues related to carbon markets.
¿ A proposal for the national MRV framework for the accounting and reporting of carbon markets is elaborated.
OUTPUTS
Elaboration of a work plan and analysis framework.
Hold technical meetings, face-to-face and/or virtual (as appropriate), periodically together with the NCCD team in order to agree on next steps, requirements, opportunities, and evidencing progress.
Work closely with the DNCC team in activities related to the National Climate Change Cabinet (NCCC)
Support the NCCD in the design of a formal proposal for a National Emissions’ Registry, and for the operationalization of the National Registry of Climate Change Mitigation Projects by providing a formal proposal which must include: descriptions of activities and processes necessary for its applicability, a tentative formal organic structure, responsible for addressing this topic, and its relationship with the national greenhouse gas accounting (i.e. corresponding adjustments and avoiding double accounting), and the reporting requirements under Article 6 and the Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF) established in Article 13 of the Paris Agreement.
Provide a kick-off workshop related to the analysis framework and work plan in product n°1.
Product No. 1: Report including the analysis framework and work plan, with a preliminary detail about the bibliography to consult, subnational, international and/or regional cases to analyze and key elements for the design of the formal proposal for a National Emissions’ Registry.
Analyze COP26 decisions related to establishment of a National Emissions Registry, together with the operationalization of the National Registry of Climate Change Mitigation Projects, accounting and reporting of internationally transferable mitigation outcomes (ITMO) and Article 6.4. emission reductions (A6.4ERs). This analysis will allow the national understanding of the needs for monitoring and reporting mitigation actions, as well as the role of key stakeholders.
Identify the repercussions, risks and benefits for the use of carbon markets for the fulfillment of Argentina’s NDC, along with the commitments assumed by the country under the Paris Agreement.
Identify the main barriers and risks for 1) applying the corresponding adjustments to the NDC and avoid double accounting, 2) register projects/initiatives and transfers of mitigation results.
Identify the needs and obligations for a robust accounting and transparent reporting, the approval of activities, the authorization of transfers of results, as well as the report on the use of market approaches.
Identify reporting best practices for reporting to the UNFCCC under the scheme of Article 6 and the ETF established in Article 13 of the Paris Agreement.
Product No. 2: Report including a complete analysis and interpretation of Article 6 rules and their implications, focusing on topics agreed with the NCCD
Analyze current experiences worldwide, together with relevant regulation (whether subnational, international and/or regional), related to the structure of its national accounting, registration and reporting to the UNFCCC under Article 6 scheme, and the ETF established in Article 13 of the Paris Agreement.
Carry out a comparative analysis of cases and good practices and recommendations for the implementation of the national MRV, including:
- Prepare a comparative matrix with selected cases, arranged by criteria of analysis;
- Gather regional and international experiences for the identification and analysis of MRV schemes, detailing the policies and/or regulations implemented at the national or subnational level, established criteria, operational tools used for their operation, as well as the possible applicability of these structures in Argentina. The analysis should include existing records and approvals, authorization, registration and reporting processes (national or subnational), specification whether or not they have a local market mechanism, the necessary and preferable operational tools used for its operation, and the possible applicability of these structures in Argentina.
- Include in the comparative analysis experiences of Emissions Registry and National Emissions Project Registries in countries of the region, their characteristics, strengths and weaknesses related to their participation in carbon markets;
- Selection and justification of useful cases for Argentina, together with the NCCD, considering the national and subnational context (gases and emission sources included in the INGEI, type of NDC, LTS);
- Define, in close coordination with the NCCD, the analysis criteria, including: regulatory framework, institutional arrangements, national definitions, procedures and methods to make corresponding adjustments, registration and reporting criteria, technical and operational aspects, and other criteria that the consultant considers relevant based on the results of the comparative analysis;
Provide a technical workshop related to regional experiences of carbon market mechanisms.
Product No. 3: Report including a comparative analysis of the selected cases, monitoring schemes, registration and summary of good practices, and the comparative matrix.
Preparation of a proposal for the implementation of the national MRV and National Emissions Registry, containing the following information:
- Key Institutional and MRV decisions to be taken at the national level;
- Details of regulatory gaps at the national/subnational level and recommendations to address them;
- Draft for the operational structure of the Carbon Markets Office (AND; Designated National Authority), the MRV, the National Registry of Emissions and the National Registry of Climate Change Mitigation Projects compatible with Argentine national regulations and the international requirements for compliance with obligations and mandatory reports of the country;
- Stepshow to address and operationalize these guidelines and criteria in Argentina for its enrollment with carbon markets, considering their current structure and regulations, with a proposal for an organizational structure scheme to address the issue and provide a follow-up, as well as necessary activities and procedures for its implementation;
Elaborate a coordination and participation plan for the MRV of Cooperative Approaches, identifying public and private roles in light of the NDC. The plan must include:
- A map of actors involved, specifying their roles, sectors and interests in the development and operation of a National Registry of Projects and Transfers of Mitigation Results; analysis and identification of obligations, rights and responsibilities of each of the key actors involved, whether they are from the governmental or non-governmental sector, followed by an analysis of the distribution of socio-environmental costs and benefits, and their perception of carbon markets;
- Proposal of forms and potential models for the national MRV of carbon markets, the presentation of projects, the approval of projects and authorizations of transfers, corresponding adjustments, registration and reporting of the use of markets for compliance with the NDC;
- Criteria and procedures in order to apply corresponding adjustments, and for approval, authorization, registration of projects and reporting of transfers, under Articles 6 and 13 of the Paris Agreement;
- Analyze and suggest a governance scheme for the proposed National Registry of of Projects and Transfers of Mitigation Results, with identification of responsibilities of each one of the participating actors;
- Identify potential technological solutions for the implementation of a National Registry of Greenhouse Gas Emissions as well as for the National Registry of Climate Change Mitigation Projects, including a SWOT analysis;
- Analyze and present the information necessary for IT security and implementation of the National Registry of Greenhouse Gas Emissions, as well as for the National Registry of Climate Change Mitigation Projects, including necessary information and form templates, identifying the different access levels to the system, and data privacy and confidentiality;
- Analyze existing systems, tools and instruments to guarantee the traceability and registration of potential transactions, which is compatible and articulated with the National Information System on Climate Change provided in article 17 of Law No. 27,520 and with the Nationally Determined Contribution and the international reporting systems that Argentina must comply with;
- Identify existing regulatory gaps at a national level, followed by recommendations to address them.
Provide a technical workshop related to opportunities, challenges, and risks of establishing a carbon market in Argentina.
Product No. 4: Report including the proposal for the implementation of the national Institutional Arrangements and MRV System, including the National Registry, for approval of activities/projects, authorizing the use of ITMOs towards achievement of NDCs, arrangements for tracking ITMOs applying corresponding adjustments, accounting, tracking and recording of market approaches and all of the related templates.
Preparation of material to train government representatives (decision makers, officials and national government technicians on the results) on the subject, in coordination with the DNCC.
Provide a final workshop presenting results and conclusions.
Product No. 5: Communication and information materials; Power Point presentations (or other formats), and communication pieces used in the workshop for disseminating the results. Digital folder with final reports, presentations, meeting reports, and consulting support documentation, in PowerPoint/Word/PDF format.
Detail on documents expected format:
All documents presented by the consultant within the framework of this contract must be in editable format and must be revised by the DNCC. Likewise, the CTA must agree with the consultant on the preferred format and content of the documents and presentations to be generated. At a minimum, the documents must contain:
A. Reports, studies, papers
• Editable file, Word format (.doc).
• The structure of the draft and final product must be as follows:
- Cover
- Index
- Executive Summary
- Introduction
- Core content
- Conclusions
- APA-style bibliographic references
- APA-style bibliography
- Annexes
- Acronyms
• Pages must be numbered.
• Establish units of measurement.
• Reports must be presented in Spanish. The DNCC will indicate if it is necessary to present the document in English, this will depend on the type of document that is being generated.
• When information from external sources are included, it must be clearly referenced.
• When working on drafts, both the consultant and the reviewing technicians must work with the “change control” tool.
B. Formulas, calculations, graphs
• When the documents require calculations and formulas in Microsoft Excel, they must all be self-referential. This means that you must be able to modify and see the link between the formulas and calculations.
• Excel format (.xls). They must be able to be modified in such a way that data updating is possible.
• In the case of graphic figures that reflect results, calculations, etc. Excel sheets showing how they were done must be submitted.
C. Graphic or audiovisual pieces:
• Format (.mp4).
• Format (.ai).
• Format (.pdf).
• Physical format (printed).
• Web format (platforms).
• The final delivery, reviewed by the DNCC and approved by the Climate Ambition and Transparency Coordinator of the Climate Change Unit of the Office for Latin America and the Caribbean of UNEP, must contain the entire editable package and final versions in high and low quality.
• Videos: The final delivery must have a low-quality web version with and without subtitles; and a high-quality version with subtitles and another without subtitles.
The final version of the products must be reviewed by the Climate Ambition and Transparency Coordinator of the Climate Change Unit of the Office for Latin America and the Caribbean of UNEP LACO. Work Location
Home-Based
Expected duration
8 months Duties and Responsibilities
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment.
The UNEP Latin America and the Caribbean (LACO), located in Panama City, works closely with the 33 countries of the region and its activities are integrated into the Medium-term Strategy and the Programme of Work approved by the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA).
The Argentine Republic ratified the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 1994 (Law No. 24,295), the Kyoto Protocol in September 2001 (Law No. 25,438) and the Doha Amendment to the Kyoto Protocol in May 2015 (Law No. 27,137). As a signatory of the UNFCCC, the country undertook obligations including the report of the national greenhouse gases inventories, national programs with mitigation and adaptation actions against climate change and any other relevant information regarding the fulfilment of the objective of the UNFCCC. As part of the country’s undertaken obligations, Argentina submitted its First National Communication in July 1997, and a revised communication in October 1999. The Second National Communication was submitted in December 2007 and the Third National Communication and the First Biennial Updated Report (BUR) were both submitted in December 2015. The Second BUR was submitted in August of 2017, the Third BUR was presented to the UNFCCC in November 2019, and the Fourth BUR was presented in December 2021.
In December 2015 during the 21st Conference of Parties (COP 21), the Paris Agreement (PA) was adopted; its article No. 2 established the objective of “holding the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2 °C above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels''. In September 2016, Argentina ratified the Paris Agreement (Law No. 27,270), then in December 2019, the National Congress approved the National Law No. 27,520 on Global Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation.
In terms of mitigation, in accordance with decisions 1/CP.19, 1/CP.20, 1/CP.21, 1/CP.24, 4/CMA.1, 9/ CMA.1 and 18/CMA, the Argentine Republic submitted in 2015, its Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), which was reviewed and updated in 2016, and showed a much higher level of ambition and transparency, than the previous document. Subsequently, in December 2020, Argentina presented its second NDC to the UNFCCC, with an updated version in November 2021, also increasing its ambition in the mitigation and transparency objective. In the second updated NDC, Argentina commits to the absolute and unconditional goal, that covers the entire national territory and all sectors of the economy, of not exceeding the net emission of 349 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO2e) in the year 2030, a goal that is 27.7% more ambitious compared to the first NDC, in 2016.
When it comes to carbon markets and its use towards compliance with its NDC, the Argentine Republic has reserved its national position and decision-making in relation to the possible use of any market mechanism established under the Paris Agreement, until negotiations on Article 6 of the Paris Agreement within the framework of the UNFCCC arrive to a conclusion. Until then, any operation that involves emission reduction units achieved in the Argentine territory, both public and private, must be registered and have the express authorization of the National Government and, unless expressly provided otherwise, all emission reductions in the national territory will be counted towards the achievement of the NDC goal. Nonetheless, this statement must be re-evaluated in light of the results of the last Conference of the Parties (COP), that took place in November 2022, in Glasgow, Scotland, regarding the rules for the implementation of carbon markets.
To date, Argentina is designing its national strategy for the use of carbon markets and generating technical inputs to plan a possible structure and subsequent operationalization of Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. In order to advance in addressing this topic, in December 2021, the National Registry of Climate Change Mitigation Projects was created, under the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development’s Resolution No. 363/2021. Its main objective is to register and systematize projects that reduce anthropogenic emissions or that increase the capture of greenhouse gases in the National territory. However, this Registry comes out as an isolated instrument within the Ministry’s current needs to begin a complete and integrated approach towards market mechanisms.
Following the results of COP26, and the consensus reached on key actions which permitted the conclusion of the Paris rulebook, an important further step in addressing carbon market mechanisms established in the Paris Agreement, is to determine specific eligibility criteria for projects that may fall under the provisions of Article 6.4.
One of the most relevant challenges that the implementation of the Paris Agreement poses on countries is to count with strong Transparency Frameworks. Article No.13 of the PA establishes the need for Parties to implement national robust and transparent reporting and accounting systems to give clarity on action and support while providing clear information to stakeholders. As part of building and enhancing their Transparency Frameworks, Parties of the UNFCCC will progressively implement better tools and institutional practices, many of them not sufficiently developed in the countries. This is especially true for developing countries.
The UNFCCC Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF) demands substantial and immediate progress in the countries’ domestic Monitoring Reporting and Verification (MRV) systems and strategic de-carbonization planning. This entails moving from often disintegrated and often different-methodological approaches in data management to an integrated and robust system. The success of the Paris Agreement hinges on enhanced transparency of action and support, as a critical foundation to making its bottom-up, country-led approach work, as well as building mutual trust and confidence amongst Parties. Under the framework of Article 6 rules reporting needs to be complied, in consistency with Article 13, concerning the ETF. The national framework needs to be developed to ensure transparent reporting for both.
In this respect, implementation of Article 6 mechanisms entails the need for an adequate accounting system of emissions, including corresponding adjustments to avoid double counting, increasing the Parties necessity to have a transparent national structure and monitoring system.
Rules established by the UNFCCC for the implementation of article 6 of the Paris Agreement, include the need to comply with the additionality criteria. For this reason, and to comply with the Argentine Republic international commitments, including the Enhanced Transparency Framework, the implementation of market mechanisms requires setting up specific criteria to determine the additionality of potential projects. These shall be proved through an exhaustive evaluation that demonstrates the activity would not have occurred in the absence of the incentives generated by the mechanism, to avoid double counting and to reveal the additionality of the mitigation actions that allow compliance with the NDC.
Article 6 mechanisms seek to promote the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions in a cost effect way in the long term while fostering sustainable development. Therefore, the construction of a national structure for implementing these mechanisms, has substantial repercussions in medium and long-term strategies.
The Global Environment Facility - Capacity Building Initiative for Transparency (GEF-CBIT) will support the Argentinian government for four years, mainly in strengthening its ETF. This will happen by improving the accuracy, completeness and consistency of its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions inventories and increasing its capacities to domestically track and evaluate mitigation measures and related finance support received and provided, as well as generating the technical inputs needed for medium and long-term planning contributing to the improvement of climate-related decision-making in the country. In order to achieve this objective, Argentina’s GEF-CBIT project, which was approved in July of 2019, is organized into three components:
- National and subnational GHG inventory System
- Domestic tracking of mitigation actions and support received
- Medium and long-term projections
In this sense, the Climate Change Unit of UNEP LACO is recruiting an Consultant in Institutional arrangements and MRV system related to carbon markets in the form of a consultant to strengthening Argentina’s reporting capacities so as to adequately comply with the requirements of the Enhance Transparency Framework-ETF through the new reporting format under the Paris Agreement: the Biennial Transparency Reports (BTR). The incumbent will work from home and will be supervised by the Climate Ambition and Transparency Coordinator of the Climate Change Unit of the Office for Latin America and the Caribbean of UNEP LACO. He or she will work in close collaboration with the National Climate Change Directorate (NCCD) within the Secretariat of Environment, Sustainable Development and Innovation of Argentina’s Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development (MAyDS). Qualifications/special skills
¿ Bachelor´s degree in Economics, Environmental Sciences, or similar university degree (required);
¿ Postgraduate degree in Environmental areas specially related to GHG accounting, climate change policy and/or carbon markets (desirable);
¿ A minimum of 7 years of professional experience in areas related to climate change (required);
¿ Verifiable professional experience of at least 2 years, within the 7 years of professional experience, in related to activities within carbon market sector (desirable);
¿ Demonstrates understanding of tools used for the estimation of GHG emissions and captures (desirable);
¿ Knowledge of GHG emissions inventories estimation, NDC, LTS and ETF (desirable);
¿ Demonstrates good understanding of Argentina’s national policy related to climate change with particular focus on carbon markets(desirable);
¿ Experience working with, and building partnerships with public and private sector both national and subnational (desirable);
SPECIAL KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:
¿ Very good knowledge and understanding of theories, concepts and approaches related to the climate change policy and carbon markets (required);
¿ Very good understanding of the Argentina’s legal framework and infrastructure related to the climate change and carbon markets (desirable);
¿ Verifiable experience using IT tools such as Microsoft Office (Word, Excel and Powerpoint) and related apps (required);
¿ Verifiable knowledge of environmental equipment related to monitoring the waste sector (desirable);
¿ Knowledge of the standards ISO such as ISO 14001 (desirable);
¿ Confident with numbers and equations, as well as drafting reports with procedures and results.
¿ Relationship skills with public and private sector officials;
¿ Ability to identify issues, analyze and participate in the resolution of issues/problems;
¿ Ability to apply judgment in the context of assignments given, plan own work and manage conflicting priorities. Shows pride in work and in achievements;
¿ Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; Is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns;
¿ Shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; Remains calm in stressful situations; Shows leadership capacities;
¿ Experience in teamwork, with recognition in the field of their specialty to cooperate with consultants of other specialties;
¿ Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others' ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.
¿ Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently. Languages
¿ The candidate must be fluent in Spanish and have a confident level in English.
No Fee
THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.
This vacancy is archived.