Training programmes for expert reviewers

Credit: UN Climate Change

Transparency is a key element of effective national and international climate action as it helps build up confidence and trust between Parties and with non-Parties stakeholders. Transparency covers reporting on the past, present and future state of greenhouse emissions, efforts to reduce greenhouse gases as well as building resilience to the inevitable impacts of climate change and the means of implementation such as finance, technology transfer and capacity-building.

A number of decisions have mandated training programmes for experts to enable them to participate in various activities related to the assessment and analysis of the information submitted by all Parties under the Convention and the Paris Agreement.

A prerequisite for becoming an expert reviewer under the Convention and the Paris Agreement is that experts are nominated to the UNFCCC Roster of Experts (RoE) and pass one of the certification programmes. To register for the examinations to become an expert reviewer you need to be nominated to the UNFCCC Roster of Experts.

You find information on the UNFCCC Roster of Experts nomination process here.

Introduction to the Training programme of experts for review under the Paris Agreement

Article 13 of the Paris Agreement established the enhanced transparency framework (ETF), which builds upon the existing monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) arrangements under the Convention. The ETF includes:

reporting by all Parties on climate action and support through biennial transparency report,
technical expert review of the biennial transparency reports, and
facilitative multilateral consideration of progress.

These three elements of the ETF are guided by the modalities, procedures and guidelines (MPG) contained in annexes to decisions 18/CMA.1 and 5/CMA.3. Within this framework, the training programme for experts participating in the technical expert review (TER) of biennial transparency reports was developed.

Additionally, in 2022, during COP27, it was decided to include in this training programme a training course for the technical experts participating in the voluntary review of the information reported by Parties in their biennial transparency reports on climate change impacts and adaptation under Article 7 of the Paris Agreement.

In accordance with paragraph 173 of decision 18/CMA.1, annex, technical experts shall complete the training programme for technical experts participating in the technical expert review, prior to serving on a technical expert review team.

The Training Programme for reviewers of the biennial transparency reports aims to familiarize experts with the essential reporting elements and requirements of the ETF as well as the tools available to help them prepare for the TER.

To participate in a TER process, experts must be nominated to the UNFCCC Roster of Experts (RoE) by their national focal point on behalf of their government, complete the relevant training programme and successfully pass examinations before they can be invited to participate in a review.

All courses in the training programme for BTR reviewers will be online, open and available to all experts to study at their own pace all year round. The material will also have the option to download for those experts who prefer it. Only experts nominated to the UNFCCC RoE will be eligible to take the examination.

Review experts who do not pass an examination at the first attempt may retake the examination only two more times, provided that the expert has fulfilled all of the tasks assigned during the training in a timely manner and that the retake does not require the secretariat to incur additional costs.

Target audience: Experienced and new experts interested in becoming eligible to participate in the technical expert review under the ETF.

Credit: UNFCCC

Which courses and examinations do you need to take?

To understand which courses and examinations are mandatory for the experts who wish to become eligible to participate in the TERT under the ETF, please refer to the decision tree below:

BTR training material_Decision tree_03.11.2023

Examination dates in 2024

Credit: UNFCCC

Structure of Training programme of experts for review under the Paris Agreement

According to decision 5/CMA.3, annex VII para.10, the training programmes for experts participating in TER will include the following:

Credit: UNFCCC

Course A: General and cross-cutting aspects for the technical expert review under the enhanced transparency framework under the Paris Agreement

Course A: General and cross-cutting aspects for the technical expert review under the enhanced transparency framework under the Paris Agreement

Please click the link above for course information, including course materials and exam registration.

Course B: Technical review of national inventories reports of anthropogenic emissions by source and removals by sinks of GHG

Course B: Technical review of national inventories reports of anthropogenic emissions by source and removals by sinks of GHG

Please click the link above for course information, including course materials and exam registration.

Course C: Technical review of the information necessary to track progress made in implementing and achieving NDCs

Course C: Technical review of the information necessary to track progress made in implementing and achieving NDCs

Please click the link above for course information, including course materials and exam registration.

Course D: Technical review of the information on financial, technology development and transfer and capacity building support provided

Course D: Technical review of the information on financial, technology development and transfer and capacity building support provided

Please click the link above for course information, including course materials and exam registration.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a training programme to become an expert reviewer of BTRs and what is the timeline for development?

Yes, the training program for BTR reviewers is being developed by the secretariat pursuant to decision 5/CMA.3. This training programme includes four courses. Course A ‘’General and cross-cutting aspects for the technical expert review under the ETF under the Paris Agreement’’ will be available on 1 March, 2023 in this link. The remaining courses will be available by September 2023 pursuant the decision 5/CMA.3, para.33.

Who can take the training courses?

The training courses are open to everyone who would like to obtain knowledge and become familiar with the technical expert review process. There is no prerequisite to taking the self-paced online course or for downloading the handbooks for offline self-paced learning.

Which are the requirements to take the examinations?

To take the exam, you need to be nominated by National Focal Points to the Roster of Experts and be registered for the relevant exam period.

Which are the mandatory examinations for all expert reviewers?

All experts, both new and experienced, will need to take and pass the examination corresponding to Course A. For further information, refer to section "Which courses and examinations do you need to take?" above.

If I’m already an experienced reviewer, do I need to take all examinations?

In light of para. 8 of Annex VII of decision 5/CMA.3, some courses and their examinations are not mandatory for the experts who have already participated in training programmes and related technical reviews under the measurement, reporting and verification arrangements under the Convention.

For the review of national GHG inventory reports, experts who meet the following requirement do not need to take sub-courses of B.1 and relevant sectors (B.2-B.6) before participating in the TER under the ETF:

Passed the exams of mandatory reviewers training courses on GHG inventories, and
Took part in the technical reviews of GHG inventories under the measurement, reporting and verification arrangements under the Convention.

For the review of the information necessary to track progress made in implementing and achieving NDCs, the following courses are mandatory for all experts:

Sub-course C-1 on description of the NDCs, and
Sub-course C-2 on tracking progress of the NDCs.

Additionally, those experts who meet the following conditions do not need to take sub-course C.3 on mitigation policies and measures, actions before participating in the TER under the ETF:

Passed the course of targets and of policies and measures and their effect of BR/NC training program, and
Took part in the technical reviews of target and mitigation policies and measures and their effect under the measurement, reporting and verification arrangements under the Convention.

Experts who meet the following conditions do not need to take sub-course C.4 on GHG emissions projections before participating in the TERT under the ETF:

Passed the course of projection of GHG emissions and removals of BRs/NCs training programme, and
Took part in the technical reviews of GHG emission projections under the measurement, reporting and verification arrangements under the Convention.

Lastly, for the review of the information of FTC provided, the experts who meet the following conditions do not need to take Course D. FTC support provided:

Passed the course of FTC support provided of the BR/NC training programme, and
Took part in the technical reviews of FTC support provided under the measurement, reporting and verification arrangements under the Convention.

What do I need to be considered as an experienced reviewer?

An expert is considered an experienced reviewer, if the expert has passed the relevant training course and participated in the technical review process under the Convention.

Do you have a deadline to complete the course?

Given that the courses are self-paced learning, there are not specific deadlines to complete the courses. However, the experts are strongly encouraged to complete the courses as soon as possible and register for the examination.

For further FAQs about the operationalization of the ETF please check here.

For further FAQs about the logistics and administration of the Course A examinations for expert reviewers, please click here.

Questions & Answers

Please click here to leave your questions related to the new training programme.

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Introduction to the Training programme of experts for review under the Convention

Transparency is a key element of effective national and international climate action. Under the Convention there are a number of decisions that have mandated the development of training programmes for experts to enable them to participate in various activities related to the measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) arrangements of the information submitted by developed and developing country Parties under the Convention.

For Annex I Parties, these include, among others, the reviews of annual submissions of GHG inventories and supplementary information under the Kyoto Protocol, and reviews of national communications and biennial reports as part of the international assessment and review (IAR) process.

For non-Annex I Parties, this relates to the technical analysis as part of the international consultation and analysis (ICA) process for biennial update reports (BURs).

Nominations of qualified technical review experts by Parties are key to operating the MRV arrangements under the Convention. The training programme for new review experts, comprising both technical and skill-building courses, has been implemented since 2015 and has been offered online and in-person format.

Who and how can enroll the course?

To participate in a review and technical analysis process, experts must be nominated to the UNFCCC Roster of experts (RoE) by their national focal point on behalf of their government, complete the training programme, and successfully pass examinations before they can be invited to participate as a technical expert.

Training programme for reviewers of developing country submissions

Training Programme for Technical Analysis of biennial update reports (BURs)

Pursuant to Decision 20/CP.19, paragraph 4, the Consultative Group of Experts on National Communications from Parties not included in Annex I to the Convention (CGE), developed a training programme for the technical experts nominated to the UNFCCC roster of experts who, upon successful completion of this training, shall be eligible to be part of the team of technical experts (TTE), to undertake the technical analysis of submitted biennial update reports (BURs).

The primary objective of the training programme is to ensure that the experts nominated on the UNFCCC RoE are fully conversant with the relevant reporting requirements for developing country Parties, and the modalities and procedures for the international consultation and analysis, including the technical analysis of BURs from developing country Parties.

The training programme covers three clusters of training materials.

Cluster (A): Provisions on the technical analysis of BURs
Cluster (B): Background materials covering methods and science on key themes addressed in BURs: Mitigation actions, GHG Inventory, Needs and Support received
Cluster (C): Provisions on the technical analysis of a technical annex for results-based actions resulting from REDD-plus activities.

Note: As each of the modules takes between 8 to 10 hours of studying time, we recommend not taking more than two modules per exam period.

More information about this training programme is available here.

Training programmes for reviewers of developed country submissions

Training programme for review experts for the technical review of Biennial reports and National Communications

The secretariat has a mandate (Decision 15/CP.20) to implement the training programme for review experts for the technical review of biennial reports and national communications of Annex I Parties, including the examination of experts.

Review experts with relevant experience on biennial reports (BRs) and national communications (NCs) matters must complete the training programme and successfully pass examinations before they can be invited to participate in a review of national communications and/or biennial reports.

The training programme covers technical aspects of the review of BRs and NCs and covers specific requirements for their reviews. These courses and their corresponding exams are offered online within a study period of 8 weeks, followed by an online examination.

More information about this training programme is available here.

Training programme for review experts for the technical review of greenhouse gas inventories of Parties included in Annex I to the Convention

The secretariat has a mandate (Decision 14/CP.20) to implement the training programme for review experts for the technical review of GHG inventories of Annex I Parties reported under the Convention.

New review experts of GHG inventories with relevant GHG inventory experience must complete the training programme and successfully pass examinations before they can be invited to participate in a GHG inventory review.

The mandatory basic course of the training programme covers technical aspects of the review of GHG inventories under the Convention. the course consists of six modules, including a general module and five modules of individual IPCC sectors. These courses and their corresponding exams are offered online within a study period of 9 weeks, followed by an online examination.

More details and information on this training programme are available here.

Training programme for members of expert review teams participating in annual reviews under Article 8 of the Kyoto Protocol

The secretariat has a mandate (Decision 5/CMP.11) to update and implement the training courses for members of expert review teams (ERTs) participating in annual reviews under Article 8 of the Kyoto Protocol; to reflect changes arising from the implementation of decisions 2/CMP.7 to 4/CMP.7 and 1/CMP.8 and other relevant decisions of the CMP; and to ensure that the courses incorporate the rules and modalities applicable to the second commitment period under the Kyoto Protocol.

The courses of the training programme are intended to train members of ERTs for the review of supplementary information submitted under Article 8 of the Kyoto Protocol. These consist of the following modules:

National Systems;
Application of adjustments;
Modalities for the accounting of assigned amounts under Article 7.4;
Review of national registries and information on assigned amounts; and
Review of activities under Article 3, paragraphs 3 and 4 of the Kyoto Protocol.

What is the role of technical expert reviewers?

The technical experts are expected to review of the consistency of the information submitted by all Parties, taking into account the flexibility accorded to those developing countries that need it in the light of their capacities, under the ETF created through Article 13 of the Paris Agreement. The information will be reported according to the Modalities, Procedures and Guidelines agreed in decision 18/CMA.1.
The technical experts will review the national GHG inventory, the information necessary to track progress in implementing and achieving the NDC and the information on FTC support provided to developing country Parties.
The technical expert review team’s primary objectives are to assess whether the Party’s reporting is consistent with the MPGs; consider the Party’s implementation and achievement of its NDC; identify areas for improvement related to the Party’s implementation of Article 13 of the Paris Agreement; and, for those developing country Parties that need capacity building, identify capacity-building needs.

What are the benefits of becoming a technical expert reviewer?

Gain a greater understanding of the ETF process and the reporting requirements under the ETF, which can then help in improving national reporting.
Collectively work together with experts and relevant partners within the UNFCCC to contribute in enhancing the transparency of the climate change process and move toward implementation of climate action.
Create valuable network in the review process.
Enhance climate action by learning from the best practices and experiences from other countries.

How to start your nomination process?

Similar to the other review processes, new technical expert reviewers under the Paris Agreement must register to the roster and submit their nomination to the UNFCCC roster of experts (RoE) which needs to be approved by their National Focal Points. Experienced experts who are already members of the RoE do not need additional approval from NFP to register for examination periods.

Please see further information on how to become a technical expert reviewer from here.

To expedite the approval process, the participants should follow up the nomination process with their national focal point.