Carbon Markets Specialist

Details

Mission and objectives

Since its inception in 1972, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has been the global authority that sets the environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment.
UNEP’s mission is to provide leadership and encourage partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing, and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations.
Headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, UNEP works through its divisions as well as regional, liaison and out-posted offices and a growing network of collaborating centres of excellence.

Context

The Climate Change Division of the UN Environment Programme is primarily responsible for identifying opportunities and implementing actions to accelerate the decarbonization of the global economy. As part of this work, the Climate Change Division is paying increasing attention to carbon markets, which can play an important role in accelerating the achievement of the goals of the Paris Agreement, promoting sustainable development, and reaching net zero emissions by 2050 globally. To achieve this, both the generation and use of carbon credits would need to develop the rigor, integrity, and credibility needed to contribute to transformational decarbonization efforts in line with 1.5 degree aligned pathways.
Carbon markets can leverage climate finance from public and private sources. If the appropriate safeguards are achieved, they can provide direct financing to regions and projects that need it the most.
Carbon markets – Integrity and Scale
Trust, integrity, and credibility remain key challenges across carbon markets. Without such integrity and credibility, carbon markets could risk adding to global emissions rather than contributing to their reduction. Carbon markets need to substantially increase the social, accounting, and environmental integrity of emission reductions being traded. Without it, carbon markets will not scale up to the level required to make a significant contribution to support the transition to net zero.
In this context, UNEP, through the Climate Change Division, is supporting countries to put in place the required infrastructure and policy for carbon markets of high-integrity. Building upon the recently developed “UN Principles for Carbon Markets with Integrity and Credibility”, UNEP aims to support countries in establishing a robust architecture and provide clear guidance on integrity and credibility across the full cycle of carbon market activities. The Programme Officer will provide support and expertise for the operationalization of these objectives.

Task description

Under the direction of, and reporting to, the Head of the Climate Mitigation Unit at the Climate Change Division the Programme Officer will support the team in analysing carbon markets, including carbon pricing mechanisms, emissions trading schemes, and carbon offset projects. The incumbent will assist in research, data analysis, and report preparation to facilitate decision-making and strategic planning related to carbon markets.
Key responsibilities:
Market research and analysis
· Conduct research on global and national carbon markets, including regulatory frame-works, market trends, and policy developments.
· Analyze carbon pricing mechanisms, emission reduction targets, and their implications on business and industries.
· Monitor carbon prices, trading volumes, and market dynamics to identify opportunities and risks.
Data collection and management
· Collect and organize data on carbon emissions, mitigation projects, and market trans-actions of various sources.
· Maintain databases and spreadsheets to track carbon market indicators and perfor-mance metrics.
· Assist in the development of tools for forecasting and scenario analysis.
Reporting and documentation
· Prepare regular reports, presentations, and briefs summarizing key findings and insights from carbon market analysis.
· Assist in the preparation of documentation for internal and external stakeholders.
· Support the team in responding to inquiries and requests for information related to carbon markets.
Project support
· Support programme officers and senior management in conducting studies and market assessments of carbon offsetting and compensation projects.
· Assist in the evaluation of project proposals, including technical feasibility, financial viability, and environmental integrity.
· Collaborate with other units and divisions to ensure alignment with the UNEP Program of Work.
In undertaking these duties, the Programme Officer will establish and maintain relationships to support collaboration with other staff members and experts across UNEP and in the UN system, as well as representatives in national governments, international organizations, consultants, and NGOs.
Furthermore, UN Volunteers are required to:
· Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and participating actively in UNV activities (for instance, in events marking International Volunteer Day).
· Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country.
· Reflect on the type and quality of voluntary action that they are undertaking, including participation in ongoing reflection activities.
· Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publica-tions/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.
· Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly arrived UN Volunteers.
· Promote or advise local groups on using online volunteering or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.
Results/Expected Outputs
The expected results of this position include:
The Programme Officer is expected to produce market analysis reports, providing insights into carbon pricing mechanisms, trading dynamics, and regulatory changes. Through solid data analysis, these products will generate actionable recommendations for stakeholders, aiding in strategy development and risk mitigation. Her/his work will contribute to clearly conveying key findings and recommendations to UNEP teams and regulatory authorities, facilitating informed decision-making processes. Additionally, she/he will provide timely responses to inquiries and requests for information, supporting project development and evaluation efforts.
Furthermore, the Programme Officer will continuously enhance her/his skills and knowledge through ongoing learning and professional development, staying abreast of developments in carbon markets and related fields. By contributing to the achievement of organizational goals and objectives in sustainability and climate action, she/he will play a crucial role in advancing the organization’s efforts to address climate change and promote responsible business practices.