Initial situation
The Climate Footprint Project supports state and regional governments in improving their greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction and tracking efforts. Regional GHG inventories provide the level of detail needed for local policymakers to understand their emission sources and trends and improve the design of their emission reduction strategies.
The project provides direct support and training to Pernambuco (Brazil), Chhattisgarh and Telangana (India), Baja California, Jalisco and Yucatán (Mexico), and KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa). Through peer learning, the project will subsequently inspire improved emissions management in other governments within the Under2 Coalition. The project runs from February 2019 to February 2021.
The Climate Footprint Project is led by The Climate Group as Secretariat of the Under2 Coalition, in coordination with the following consortium partners: Ricardo Energy and Environment, ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, Greenhouse Gas Management Institute and CDP.
Project Objectives
1. Provide a tailored package of technical assistance and training
Following consultations with regional stakeholders, the project will provide regions with tailored technical assistance and training to improve their capacities and knowledge of Measurement, Reporting and Verification (MRV) systems, while identifying additional opportunities for emissions tracking and reduction.
2. Align regional MRV systems with national and local efforts to promote integrated climate action
Dialogues will be organized among national, state, regional and local governments to help align climate action across all levels of government in Brazil, India, Mexico and South Africa. Guidance documents will be developed to align regional MRV systems with their national and local counterparts.
3. Exchange knowledge and replicate good practices internationally through the Under2 Coalition
By promoting peer learning through a series of knowledge products, webinars, online forums and an e-learning course, the consortium partners will disseminate lessons learned from this project to other states and regions within the Under2 Coalition.
Importance of the Project
States and regions are key to addressing climate change and have set ambitious targets; however, many lack the technical resources and expertise to track and measure their emissions. Through this project, states and regions will be better equipped to make informed decisions for their emission reduction plans. This will also help them demonstrate their contributions to national government targets and inspire further climate action.
About the Partners
The Climate Group seeks to accelerate climate action to achieve a world with global warming below 1.5°C and greater prosperity for all. The Climate Group acts as the Secretariat of the Under2 Coalition of state and regional governments committed to keeping the global temperature increase well below 2°C. The Climate Group is responsible for leading the implementation of this project and sharing lessons learned with members of the Under2 Coalition and other state and regional governments.
Ricardo plc is a strategic and environmental consultancy with more than 30 years of experience in compiling GHG inventories and MRV systems and has helped more than 15 countries prepare their first NDCs, supporting three of them in implementation. Ricardo will lead the delivery of MRV support and provide tailored training and technical assistance on MRV for GHG inventories and mitigation actions in the selected regions.
CDP is an international non-profit organization that encourages companies, cities, states and regions to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, safeguard water resources and protect forests. The selected regions will be encouraged to disclose their annual emissions data throughout the project, enabling them to measure and manage progress and ensure continuous improvement beyond the project.
The Greenhouse Gas Management Institute (GHGMI) is a non-profit organization dedicated to training future experts in the principles, concepts and techniques required to transparently manage and account for GHG emissions. GHGMI will develop an online learning course for state and regional officials that will enable them to
independently design, implement and assess relevant GHG MRV systems that inform local policy decisions.
ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability is the leading global network of more than 1,500 cities and regions committed to building a sustainable future. ICLEI will provide guidance to the four countries selected for the project, exploring a
vertical integration approach to climate action through dialogues and capacity building on multilevel governance and reporting.
To learn more, visit the Under2 Coalition website and read about the Capacity Building workshops in two of the three regions selected for the project in Mexico: Yucatán and Baja California.