RCC Latin America
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    San José Province, San José, Costa Rica RCC LatAm. Photo green-grass-field-near-green-mountains-under-blue-sky-during-daytime
    Costa Rica’s Participation in Article 6 and NDC 3.0 Update under the ICTU Framework

    Background  In preparation for the next round of NDC 3.0, RCC Latin America is providing technical assistance to the Government of Costa Rica through the Ministry of Environment and Energy (MINAE). This support includes a series of capacity-building and institutional strengthening activities aimed at enhancing national capacities to integrate cooperative approaches under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement and to effectively apply the ICTU guidance in the design and submission of Costa Rica's NDC 3.0.  A national workshop was convened to strengthen Costa Rica’s technical and institutional readiness to participate in international carbon markets, with a focus on the roles and responsibilities of the host Party under both Article 6.2 and A6.4, and to support the strategic orientation of the NDC 3.0 update process. The event provided a platform to examine how the ICTU framework and the outcomes of the first Global Stocktake (GST) can inform the ambition, structure, and implementation of the updated NDC.  Additionally, the workshop also explored the role of Mitigation Contribution Units (MCUs) within Costa Rica´s domestic carbon market framework, as well as the strategic opportunities to embed Article 6 mechanisms into national climate policy, ensuring alignment with national development priorities, and the evolving transparency and ambition requirements under the Paris Agreement.  This process is especially important as Costa Rica plans to submit its updated NDC 3.0 by October 2025. Reaching this milestone will enable the country to show increased ambition and reaffirm its commitment to global climate goals.  Objectives  Explore Costa Rica’s opportunities and challenges to engage in international carbon markets, considering its current NDC commitments.  Understand the opportunities and implications of markets and non-markets approaches under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement (6.2, 6.4, and 6.8).   Assess Costa Rica’s progress in preparing for Article 6 implementation and identify existing challenges.  Discuss CDM Transition and PACM (A6.4) engagement.   Support the development of Costa Rica’s NDC 3.0 by aligning it with ICTU elements and Global Stocktake messages to enhance ambition, transparency, and implementation pathways, and by identifying how Article 6 cooperation and carbon markets can be effectively reflected in the updated NDC.  Discuss capacity-building needs to enable stakeholder engagement.  Key Insights  1. NDC 3.0 in the Paris Agreement Ambition Cycle  Provided an overview of the NDC ambition cycle, highlighting their evolution into “NDC 3.0” as a cornerstone of the Paris Agreement. Addressed key implementation gaps and tools, introduced ICTU elements, and underscored the need to respond to GST outcomes with higher ambition, balanced action, and inclusive engagement of non-Party stakeholders. Reviewed the 2024 NDC Synthesis Report and its implications for national planning.  2. Understanding Article 6: Opportunities and Implications  Provided an overview of Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, including its market and non-market approaches. Emphasized its role as a flexible cooperation tool that requires strong governance, transparency, and environmental integrity, and its strategic value for raising ambition and mobilizing climate finance, particularly for high-impact projects.  3. Cooperative Approaches under Article 6.2  Focused on bilateral and multilateral cooperation through the transfer of ITMOs. Highlighted key implementation elements such as authorization, tracking, reporting, and accounting, supported by appropriate legal and institutional frameworks.  4. Paris Agreement Crediting Mechanism (PAMC) under Article 6.4  Aimed at strengthening MINAE’s institutional capacities to engage with the centralized mechanism under Article 6.4. Covered participation requirements, activity approval and authorization procedures, and governance. Discussed the issuance and use of A6.4ERs and the role of MCUs, with a focus on enabling public and private sector engagement.   5. Non-Market Approaches under Article 6.8  Explored how voluntary, non-market approaches can support Costa Rica’s NDC implementation in line with national priorities. Highlighted their potential to drive transformational actions in adaptation, resilience, sustainability, and clean energy—without relying on mitigation outcome transfers.  Next Steps     Follow-up ICTU Session  A follow-up technical session will be organized with the NDC team to deepen the understanding and application of ICTU elements (Information for Clarity, Transparency, and Understanding) in Costa Rica’s NDC 3.0. This session will support alignment with the Paris Agreement’s guidance and the outcomes of the first Global Stocktake.  Strengthening Regulatory Frameworks for Carbon Markets  Costa Rica will continue to strengthen its regulatory frameworks for both the domestic carbon market and international cooperation under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. RCC Latin America will provide technical support in the development and refinement of legal instruments, institutional arrangements, and national procedures to ensure transparency, environmental integrity, and alignment with national priorities and Article 6 key decisions.     

    San José Province, San José, Costa Rica RCC LatAm. Photo green-grass-field-near-green-mountains-under-blue-sky-during-daytime
    Participación de Costa Rica en el Artículo 6 y Actualización de la NDC 3.0 bajo el Marco de las Directrices ICTU

    Descripción Este taller presencial reunió a representantes gubernamentales, expertos técnicos, actores del sector privado, sociedad civil y socios internacionales para dialogar sobre las oportunidades, desafíos y avances de Costa Rica en su participación en los mercados internacionales de carbono bajo el Artículo 6 del Acuerdo de París. Los participantes conocieron los aspectos normativos, institucionales y operativos clave para fortalecer los mercados de carbono en apoyo al cumplimiento de las contribuciones determinadas a nivel nacional (NDC) del país. Objetivos Conocer las posibilidades del país de participar en los mercados internacionales dados los compromisos con las NDC. Conocer las oportunidades e implicaciones de los mercados de carbono bajo el Artículo 6 del Acuerdo de París (6.2, 6.4 y 6.8). Conocer los avances de Costa Rica en la preparación ante el Artículo 6 y retos existentes. Discutir la creación de capacidades para el involucramiento de actores clave. Aspectos destacados de la agenda Presentaciones sobre los mecanismos del Artículo 6 y oportunidades en mercados internacionales de carbono. Discusión de desafíos institucionales y prácticos para la participación eficaz de Costa Rica. Avances en marcos normativos para el mercado doméstico de carbono. Panel sobre la participación del sector privado y las comunidades. Experiencias, oportunidades y desafíos en la región. Público objetivo Funcionarios de gobierno. Representantes del sector privado. ONG y organizaciones de la sociedad civil. Expertos técnicos. Socios de desarrollo internacional.

    RCC Latin America Pathway to NDCs 3.0
    Pathway to NDCs 3.0: Challenges and Experiences in Latin America

    On 27 June 2024, RCC LatAm will host a regional webinar to advance development of the NDCs 3.0. The Regional Collaboration Centre for Latin America supports governments in the region as they look to develop an ambitious third round of Nationally Determined Contributions in early 2025.   Objectives The webinar aims to facilitate space to exchange knowledge and experiences among Latin American countries regarding the challenges faced in the preparation and updating of NDCs. Through these sessions, we seek to identify common challenges, share best practices, and foster collaboration among the countries of the region. This webinar aims to: Understand the current NDC implementation process. Identify successful practices and key challenges in the NDC implementation. Provide suggestions for enhancing ambition and feasibility in the next cycle of NDCs 3.0 Background It is a critical time as the next round of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) due in 2025, requires new and more ambitious NDCs from countries. The Global Stocktake (GST) outcome agreed upon at COP28 underlined that despite overall progress on mitigation, adaptation and means of implementation and support, Parties are not yet collectively on track towards achieving the purpose of the Paris Agreement and its long-term goals, and encouraged Parties to come forward with ambitious, economy-wide emission reduction targets, covering all greenhouse gases, sectors and categories and aligned with the 1.5°C limit in their next round of NDCs. NDCs are submitted every five years to the UNFCCC secretariat, and this is the third round, due by early 2025. The second round of NDCs in its totality has shown that current efforts and plans are insufficient to put the world on track to achieve the temperature goals of the Paris Agreement. The latest science from the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) indicates that greenhouse gas emissions need to be reduced by 60% by 2035, compared to 2019 levels, and that adaptation and mitigation must be pursued with equal force and urgency to advance sustainable development for all. The GST invited the secretariat including their Regional Collaboration Centers (RCCs) and organizations in a position to do so, to provide capacity-building support for the preparation and communication of the next NDCs. The first generation, NDC 1.0, and the second generation, NDC 2.0, have yielded valuable insights through their implementation, which provides orientation for the development of the upcoming cycle, NDC 3.0. This platform will be instrumental in understanding the processes undertaken by each Party and how to progress towards achieving the goals outlined in Article 2 of the Paris Agreement, including in this new round of NDC 3.0 submissions. Drawing from the challenges and best practices observed in the construction and implementation of past NDCs, Parties can then apply them in this new round of NDCs 3.0 submissions 9 to 12 months before COP 30.   Watch the event again

    RCC Latin America Panama Capcaity Building
    Panama NDC Capacity Building Workshop: Financing, Measuring and Reporting

    On 18 June, RCC Latin America delivered a training for Panama focused on finance, measuring qualitative actions and transitioning to quantitative actions, with emphasis on development of indicators and progress reporting for NDCs.   The training program engaged government officials, policymakers, and professionals working in the fields of climate change, sustainability, and environmental policy. The training objectives were tailored to Panama: Provide participants with insights into the significance of Panama's NDC update in the context of the Latin American region and its alignment with the outcomes of the first Global Stocktake (GST). Facilitate participants' understanding of the knowledge and skills necessary to identify specific opportunities to access financing for NDC implementation and develop better strategies accordingly. Enable participants to develop effective financing strategies tailored to Panama's specific NDC goals and priorities. Familiarize participants with best practices for translating qualitative goals outlined in the NDC into quantifiable targets through the development of indicators. Train participants on the implementation of best practices for monitoring, reporting, and verifying the progress of Panama's current NDC, ensuring transparency and accountability in the process.   Background   On May 31st, the government of Panama presented the update of its NDC 2.0 as part of its third cycle of NDC updates for the year 2025. This event marks a significant milestone in the Latin American region as it is the first country to present its efforts in line with the outcomes of the first Global Stocktake (GST). This training program on Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) is tailored to address the current needs identified by the Panamanian government on enhancing access to financing and formulating financing strategies for its NDC. Furthermore, the program delves into best practices for translating qualitative goals outlined in the NDC into quantifiable targets through the development and implementation of indicators. This segment aims to explore effective approaches to transforming qualitative NDC goals into measurable outcomes. Discussions will cover the selection of appropriate indicators that accurately reflect progress toward NDC objectives and the design of effective monitoring systems to gather relevant data. Additionally, case studies and practical examples of indicators used in various contexts will be examined to illustrate successful approaches in translating qualitative objectives into quantifiable targets, facilitating the dissemination of best practices in reporting on the progress of the country's current NDC.  

    RCC Caribbean Cuba Article 6 Workshop
    Building effective implementation capacity while Introducing a cooperative approach for Article 6 

    RCC Caribbean and RCC Latin America build capacity for effective implementation in Cuba with Article 6 workshop    From 14 to 17 May, RCC Caribbean teamed up with RCC Latin America to deliver a three-day workshop that connected seven Cuban officials with Article 6 practitioners from the governments of Panamá and the Dominican Republic. The workshop raised awareness about Article 6 and its different mechanisms among relevant Cuban ministries and facilitated knowledge exchange and stronger collaboration between Cuba, the Dominican Republic and Panamá.    Background  Article 6 of the Paris Agreement provides a framework for international cooperation to enhance ambition and action on climate change mitigation and adaptation. Article 6 encourages greater private sector involvement and investment in low-carbon projects, helping to scale up climate finance and accelerate the transition to a sustainable, low-carbon economy.  Capacity-building support and regional collaboration enable all governments to participate in Article 6 activities.     Objectives  This Article 6 workshop seeks to increase understanding and enable collaboration, specifically it aims to:  Introduce Article 6 instruments to governmental ministries in Cuba outside the environmental sectors  Deepen understanding of Article 6 mechanisms, with focus on potential uses in national and regional contexts  Equip participants with knowledge to develop an implementation plan for Cuba to engage with Article 6 mechanisms  Develop the necessary skills and knowledge to train other officials in Cuba and amplify impact  Facilitate knowledge exchange and sharing of experiences among Cuba, Panama, and the Dominican Republic 

    View of Guatemala City
    Readiness workshop in Guatemala on NDC 3.0 and cooperative approaches

    RCC Latin America supports Guatemala readiness for NDCs 3.0 and Article 6 participation   From 13 to 20 May, RCC Latin America organized a series of workshops to support Guatemala´s national readiness for the NDC 3.0 update and the use of cooperative approaches under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. The workshop had three sessions: 13 May at 08:00 – 9:30 a.m.  (Central America Time) / 09:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. (Panama Time)  16 May at 09:00 – 11:00 a.m.  (Central America Time) / 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (Panama Time)  20 May at 09:00 – 11:00 a.m.  (Central America Time) / 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (Panama Time)  Background The three-day capacity building program for the government of Guatemala focuses on preparing the country for the 2025 update of their NDC and using cooperative approaches under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. Active participation by the Vice-Minister of Environment and our Global Coordinator underscores the collaborative nature of this initiative, which was organized jointly with UNEP through the GCF readiness project, LAC-6.  The workshops provide insight into the importance of the third update for the Nationally Determined Contributions, the NDCs 3.0 process. They also cover the results and key messages from the first Global Stocktake (GST), concepts and main carbon pricing instruments as mitigation policies to achieve the NDCs, and cooperative approaches under Article 6 to achieve the NDCs and greater climate ambition. The workshops move forward with several objectives: Present the importance of the NDCs 3.0 process and submission of NDCs 3.0 in 2025 Provide results and understand the key messages from the first GST Understand the relevance and functionality of different carbon pricing instruments to leverage climate action Cover various types of voluntary cooperation established under Article 6, based on market and non-market mechanisms  

    Latin America, Argentina
    2025 NDCs: Latin America Partners Stocktaking Meeting

    RCC Latin America mobilizes regional partners for the NDCs 3.0 In April 2024, RCC Latin America brought together partners in the region to connect countries with support for the NDCs 3.0. This meeting was convened as part of a global series of partner meetings to develop ambitious NDCs by early 2025. Connecting governments with support for NDC development can increase the confidence needed to make bold commitments and accelerate implementation.    Background The Paris Agreement requires all Parties to prepare, communicate and maintain successive Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) that it intends to achieve. The NDCs are the main vehicle for countries to express their climate ambition and actions, and to align them with their national development priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals. This is especially relevant now with Decisions 6/CMA.3 and 1/CMA.5 requiring new and more ambitious NDCs from countries to be developed and submitted in 2025, with targets until 2035. In addition to being more ambitious, the NDCs 3.0 must be country-owned, country-driven, implementable, and well-positioned to unlock financing. The first Global Stocktake (GST) outcome underlined that despite overall progress on mitigation, adaptation, and means of implementation and support, Parties are not yet collectively on track towards achieving the purpose of the Paris Agreement and its long-term goals. As such, 43 percent emission reduction is needed by 2030 relative to 2019 levels, 60 percent emission reduction is needed by 2035, and net zero emissions by 2050. The outcome therefore encouraged Parties to come forward with ambitious, economy-wide emission reduction targets, covering all greenhouse gases, sectors and categories. The GST decision also emphasized the need for collective efforts by inviting the UN Climate Change Secretariat, including through the RCCs, and other organizations in a position to do so, to provide capacity-building support for the preparation and communication of the next NDCs.  Diverse development and implementation partners are providing NDC preparation and implementation support to countries in the Caribbean, including support for data and analysis, policy and planning, finance and investment, capacity building, and stakeholder engagement. This regional partner meeting is a follow-up to the global support workshop on NDCs convened by the UNFCCC secretariat in early March 2024 in Bonn, Germany. At that meeting, partners put together a framework to inform the NDC 3.0 support ecosystem.   Objectives Establishing shared knowledge about the current support provided by development organizations to countries in the LatAm region regarding the preparation and implementation of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).  Identifying areas where the portfolios and initiatives of development organizations can synergize and complement each other in the realm of NDCs, with the aim of enhancing implementation effectiveness at the national level, including engaging with the United Nations system.  Collaborating on efforts, initiatives, and activities aimed at strengthening support for NDCs in the LatAm region, leveraging the collective expertise of development partners in the region and considering regional priorities and context.   Way Forward RCC Latin America will map out the different support avenues available to the countries in the region and provide insight on where collaborations can be developed. This information will be shared with the network of partners and made available to countries in the region. This exercise will hopefully ensure that Latin American countries can access support that is fit for their purposes. The plan is to convene regular meetings to continue the discussions and collaborations on the way forward for the region to develop ambitious NDCs 3.0.

    LACCW 2022 Banner TEST
    Host an event at Latin America and the Caribbean Climate Week 2023 - Expression of Interest

    The Latin America and the Caribbean Climate Week (LACCW) is now open for receiving Expressions of Interest to host an event at the climate week. National, regional and local governments, the private sector, investors, youth organizations, science organizations, universities and schools, cooperatives, Indigenous Peoples organizations, filmmakers, media and other stakeholders are welcome to submit their event proposals. Hosted by the government of Panama in Panama City, the Latin America and the Caribbean Climate Week 2023 takes place from 23 to 27 October 2023. The Latin America and the Caribbean Climate Week seeks to facilitate and accelerate the region’s response to the climate crisis. The climate week offers opportunities for presenting new ideas, taking part in lessons learned, and finding opportunities for working together. We welcome diverse applications from stakeholders working in the region and ask that all submissions align with one or several of the four thematic tracks that the climate week will focus on: Energy systems and industry Cities, urban and rural settlements, infrastructure, and transport Land, ocean, food, and water Societies, health, livelihoods, and economies The 2023 Regional Climate Weeks provide a timely opportunity for policymakers, practitioners, businesses and civil society to share climate solutions, overcome barriers, realize opportunities and ultimately take concrete action that will allow us to course-correct and achieve the Paris Agreement goals and objectives. LACCW 2023 is hosted by:  

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