UNFCCC documents relevant for REDD+

Recalling decisions 2/CP.13, 4/CP.15, 1/CP.16, 2/CP.17 and 12/CP.17,

Also recalling the relevant provisions of decisions 17/CP.8 and 2/CP.17 related to the provision of support for reporting,

1. Decides that measuring, reporting and verifying anthropogenic forest-related emissions by sources and removals by sinks, forest carbon stocks, and forest carbon stock and forest-area changes resulting from the implementation of the activities referred to in decision 1/CP.16, paragraph 70, taking into account paragraph 71(b) and (c) of that decision, is to be consistent with the methodological guidance provided in decision 4/CP.15, and any guidance on the measurement, reporting and verification of nationally appropriate mitigation actions by developing country Parties as agreed by the Conference of the Parties, and in accordance with any future relevant decisions of the Conference of the Parties;

2. Recognizes the need to develop capacities for measuring, reporting and verifying anthropogenic forest-related emissions by sources and removals by sinks, forest carbon stocks, and forest carbon stock and forest-area changes resulting from the implementation of the activities referred to in decision 1/CP.16, paragraph 70;

3. Decides that the data and information used by Parties in the estimation of anthropogenic forest-related emissions by sources and removals by sinks, forest carbon stocks, and forest carbon stock and forest-area changes, as appropriate to the activities referred to in decision 1/CP.16, paragraph 70, undertaken by Parties, should be transparent, and consistent over time and with the established forest reference emission levels and/or forest reference levels in accordance with decision 1/CP.16, paragraph 71(b) and (c) and chapter II of decision 12/CP.17;

4. Agrees that, consistent with decision 12/CP.17, paragraph 7, the results of the implementation by Parties of the activities¹ referred to in decision 1/CP.16, paragraph 70, measured against the forest reference emission levels and/or forest reference levels should be expressed in tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent per year;

5. Encourages Parties to improve the data and methodologies used over time, while maintaining consistency with the established or, as appropriate, updated, forest reference emission levels and/or forest reference levels in accordance with decision 1/CP.16, paragraph 71(b) and (c);

6. Decides that, consistent with decision 1/CP.16 and decision 2/CP.17, annex III, the data and information referred to in paragraph 3 above should be provided through the biennial update reports by Parties, taking into consideration the additional flexibility given to the least developed countries and small island developing States;

7. Requests developing country Parties seeking to obtain and receive payments for results-based actions, when submitting the data and information referred to in paragraph 3 above, through the biennial update reports, to supply a technical annex as per decision 2/CP.17, annex III, paragraph 19;

8. Underlines that the submission of the technical annex referred to in paragraph 7 above is voluntary and in the context of results-based payments;

9. Decides that the data and information provided in the technical annex referred to in paragraph 7 above shall be consistent with decisions 4/CP.15 and 12/CP.17 and follow the guidelines provided in the annex;

10. Also decides that, upon the request of the developing country Party seeking to obtain and receive payments for results-based actions, two land use, land-use change and forestry experts from the UNFCCC roster of experts, one each from a developing country and a developed country Party, will be included among the members selected for the technical team of experts;

11. Further decides that, as part of the technical analysis referred to in decision 2/CP.17, annex IV, paragraph 4, the technical team of experts shall analyse the extent to which:

1. There is consistency in methodologies, definitions, comprehensiveness and the information provided between the assessed reference level and the results of the implementation of the activities referred to in decision 1/CP.16, paragraph 70;
2. The data and information provided in the technical annex is transparent, consistent, complete² and accurate;
3. The data and information provided in the technical annex is consistent with the guidelines referred to in paragraph 9 above;
4. The results are accurate, to the extent possible;

12. Decides that the Party that submitted the technical annex may interact with the technical team of experts during the analysis of its technical annex to provide clarifications and additional information to facilitate the analysis by the technical team of experts;

13. Also decides that the two land use, land-use change and forestry experts referred to in paragraph 10 above may seek clarifications on the technical annex referred to in paragraph 7 above and that the Party should provide clarifications to the extent possible, in accordance with national circumstances and taking into account national capabilities;

14. Agrees that the land use, land-use change and forestry experts referred to in paragraph 10 above will develop, under their collective responsibility, a technical report to be published by the secretariat via the web platform on the UNFCCC website,³ containing:

1. The technical annex referred to in paragraph 7 above;
2. The analysis of the technical annex referred to in paragraph 7 above;
3. Areas for technical improvement identified, consistent with paragraph 5 above, as appropriate;
4. Any comments and/or responses by the Party concerned, including areas for further improvement and capacity-building needs, if noted by the Party concerned, as appropriate;

15. Also agrees that results-based actions that may be eligible to appropriate market-based approaches that could be developed by the Conference of the Parties, as per decision 2/CP.17, paragraph 66, may be subject to any further specific modalities for verification consistent with any relevant decision of the Conference of the Parties.

* This decision forms part of the Warsaw Framework for REDD-plus. For more information, see document FCCC/CP/2013/10, paragraph 44.
1 As per decision 1/CP.16, paragraph 70, a Party undertakes activities as deemed appropriate by it and in accordance with its respective capabilities and national circumstances, noting that significant pools and/or activities should not be excluded.
2 Complete means here the provision of information that allows for the reconstruction of the results.
3 <http://unfccc.int/redd>.

Annex

Guidelines for elements to be included in the technical annex referred to in decision 14/CP.19, paragraph 7

1. Summary information from the final report containing each corresponding assessed forest reference emission level and/or forest reference level, which includes:

1. The assessed forest reference emission level and/or forest reference level expressed in tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent per year (CO2 eq);
2. The activity or activities referred to in decision 1/CP.16, paragraph 70, included in the forest reference emission level and/or forest reference level;
3. The territorial forest area covered;
4. The date of the forest reference emission level and/or forest reference level submission and the date of the final technical assessment report;
5. The period (in years) of the assessed forest reference emission level and/or forest reference level.

2. Results in tonnes of CO2 eq per year, consistent with the assessed forest reference emission level and/or forest reference level.

3. Demonstration that the methodologies used to produce the results referred to in paragraph 2 above are consistent with those used to establish the assessed forest reference emission level and/or forest reference level.

4. A description of national forest monitoring systems and the institutional roles and responsibilities for measuring, reporting and verifying the results.

5. Necessary information that allows for the reconstruction of the results.

6. A description of how the elements contained in decision 4/CP.15, paragraph 1(c) and (d), have been taken into account.
10th plenary meeting
22 November 2013