The Conference of the Parties,
Recalling the relevant provisions of the Convention, in particular Article 4, paragraphs 1, 3 and 7, and Article 12, paragraphs 1, 4, 5 and 7,
Also recalling decisions 8/CP.5, 3/CP.8, 17/CP.8, 8/CP.11, 5/CP.15, 1/CP.16, 2/CP.17, 14/CP.17, 17/CP.18 and 18/CP.18,
Acknowledging that the Consultative Group of Experts on National Communications from Parties not included in Annex I to the Convention has made a substantial contribution to improving the process of the preparation of national communications by Parties not included in Annex I to the Convention (non-Annex I Parties) by providing technical advice and support and therefore enhancing the capacity of such Parties to prepare their national communications,
Recalling decision 1/CP.16, paragraph 60, that decided to enhance the reporting in national communications from non-Annex I Parties, and emphasizing that the Consultative Group of Experts could continue to provide technical advice and support for the preparation of biennial update reports,
Emphasizing the importance of providing relevant technical advice and support for the process of the preparation of national communications and biennial update reports, as well as the importance of providing a forum for non-Annex I Parties to share their experiences of this process,
Recognizing that developing countries require enhanced support in the process of enhanced reporting,
Also recognizing that the preparation of national communications and biennial update reports is a continuous process,
1. Decides to continue the Consultative Group of Experts on National Communications from Parties not included in Annex I to the Convention for a period of five years from 2014 to 2018;
2. Also decides that the Consultative Group of Experts, in fulfilling its mandate, shall function in accordance with the revised terms of reference contained in the annex to this decision;
3. Further decides that the membership of the Consultative Group of Experts shall be the same as set out in decision 3/CP.8, annex, paragraphs 3–8;
4. Decides that the Consultative Group of Experts shall be composed of experts drawn from the UNFCCC roster of experts with expertise in at least one of the sections of national communications or biennial update reports in accordance with the relevant guidelines;
5. Encourages regional groups, in nominating their experts to the Consultative Group of Experts, to make every effort to ensure balanced representation in the areas of expertise referred to in paragraph 4 above, as well as take into account gender balance in accordance with decisions 36/CP.7 and 23/CP.18;
6. Requests the secretariat to publish the list of the members of the Consultative Group of Experts, including their respective area of expertise and experience relating to national communications and/or biennial update reports, and to notify the Subsidiary Body for Implementation of such appointments;
7. Also requests the Consultative Group of Experts to submit a progress report annually on its work to the Subsidiary Body for Implementation for its consideration at the sessions of the Subsidiary Body for Implementation which are held in conjunction with the sessions of the Conference of the Parties;
8. Decides to review, at its twenty-second session (November–December 2016), the mandate and terms of reference of the Consultative Group of Experts, with a view to adopting a decision at the same session;
9. Requests the secretariat to facilitate the work of the Consultative Group of Experts by:
(a) Organizing meetings and workshops of the Consultative Group of Experts and compiling reports on its meetings and workshops for consideration by the Subsidiary Body for Implementation;
(b) Providing technical support to the Consultative Group of Experts, as required, in relation to the process of and the preparation of national communications or biennial update reports by non-Annex I Parties;
(c) Liaising with other relevant multilateral programmes and organizations with a view to providing additional financial and technical support to the Consultative Group of Experts, as required, related to the preparation of national communications and biennial update reports;
(d) Disseminating the information materials and technical reports prepared by the Consultative Group of Experts to Parties, and other relevant experts and organizations;
(e) Providing assistance, including technical and logistical support, to the Consultative Group of Experts for developing and organizing appropriate training programmes for nominated technical experts, on the basis of the most updated training materials of the Consultative Group of Experts, with a view to improving the technical analysis, taking into account the difficulties encountered by non-Annex I Parties in the preparation of their biennial update reports;
10. Urges developed country Parties included in Annex II to the Convention and other developed country Parties in a position to do so to provide financial resources to enhance the support provided by the secretariat to the work of the Consultative Group of Experts and to support the full operation of the work of the Consultative Group of Experts;
11. Takes note of, as provided by the secretariat, the estimated budgetary implications of the actions requested of the secretariat in paragraph 9 above and other actions contained in the annex to this decision;
12. Also takes note that the requirements for additional resources for the implementation of the relevant actions referred to in paragraph 9 above and in the annex to this decision cannot be met by the approved core budget of the secretariat for the biennium 2014–2015;
13. Requests that the actions of the secretariat called for in this decision be undertaken subject to the availability of financial resources.
Annex
Terms of reference of the Consultative Group of Experts on National Communications from Parties not included in Annex I to the Convention
1. The Consultative Group of Experts on National Communications from Parties not included in Annex I to the Convention (CGE) shall have the objective of improving the process of and preparation of national communications and biennial update reports by Parties not included in Annex I to the Convention (non-Annex I Parties) by providing technical advice and support to such Parties.
2. The CGE, in fulfilling its mandate, shall:
(a) Identify and provide technical assistance regarding problems and constraints that have affected the process of and the preparation of national communications and biennial update reports by non-Annex I Parties;
(b) Provide technical assistance and support to non-Annex I Parties to facilitate the process of and preparation of their national communications and biennial update reports in accordance with the “Guidelines for the preparation of national communications from Parties not included in Annex I to the Convention” contained in the annex to decision 17/CP.8 and the “UNFCCC biennial update reporting guidelines for Parties not included in Annex I to the Convention” contained in annex III to decision 2/CP.17;
(c) Provide technical advice to non-Annex I Parties to facilitate the development and long-term sustainability of processes of the preparation of national communications and biennial update reports, including the elaboration of appropriate institutional arrangements and the establishment and maintenance of national technical teams, for the preparation of national communications and biennial update reports, including greenhouse gas inventories, on a continuous basis;
(d) Provide recommendations, as appropriate, on elements to be considered in a future revision of the guidelines for the preparation of national communications and biennial update reports from non-Annex I Parties, taking into account the difficulties encountered by non-Annex I Parties in the preparation of their national communications and biennial update reports;
(e) Provide technical advice and support to Parties, upon request, and information on existing activities and programmes, including bilateral, regional and multilateral sources of financial and technical assistance, to facilitate and support the preparation of national communications and biennial update reports by non-Annex I Parties;
(f) Provide technical advice and support to Parties, upon request, on the provision of information on steps to integrate climate change considerations into relevant social, economic and environmental policies and actions, in accordance with Article 4, paragraph 1(f), of the Convention;
(g) Provide information and technical advice based on, where possible, lessons learned and best practices in the process of and preparation of national communications and biennial update reports by non-Annex I Parties, including in relation to finance and other support available;
(h) Provide guidance and periodic advice to the secretariat to assist it in fulfilling the selection criteria for the composition of the team of technical experts, in accordance with decision 20/CP.19, annex, paragraphs 3–5, taking also into account the reports provided by the secretariat in this regard on a semi-annual basis;
(i) Develop and organize, with assistance of the secretariat, appropriate training programmes for nominated technical experts to begin no later than in 2014, based on the most updated training materials of the Consultative Group of Experts, with a view to improving the technical analysis taking into account the difficulties encountered by nonAnnex I Parties in the preparation of their biennial update reports.
3. The Consultative Group of Experts shall, in defining and implementing its work programme, take into account other relevant work by expert groups under the Convention in order to avoid duplication of work.
4. The Consultative Group of Experts shall revise its rules of procedure, if needed.
5. The Consultative Group of Experts shall develop, at its first meeting in 2014, a work programme for 2014–2018.
6. The Consultative Group of Experts shall forward recommendations on the matters referred to in paragraph 2 above for consideration by the Subsidiary Body for Implementation as appropriate.
