Climate Transparency and NDC Specialist

Result of Service

The consultant will work in contact with the Project Coordinator in UNEP CCC in Copenhagen, Denmark, who will supervise technically and follow up on the compliance with the deliverables and the supporting tasks included. Those deliverables will be reviewed and certified within a period of no more than 5 days, after their receipt by the Project Coordinator. In all cases, the deliverables are considered completed after the review and approval of the Project Coordinator of UNEP-CCC.

The consultant will undertake a part-time assignment to perform the following activities:

• Identifying and tracking the current contribution of circular economy interventions to the decarbonization of the cement value chain, underpinning at the same time the contribution of non-state actors (NSA) of the sector to Nationally Determined objectives of countries.
• Establishing a Climate reporting link between State and NSAs of countries in the cement value chain, in order to develop recommendations to find a common ground between National Transparency reporting (in alignment with the Paris Agreement) and the carbon reporting requirements and responses driven by NSAs This component will be underpinned by an analytical effort aiming at benchmarking the different protocols and frameworks.
• Technical meetings providing ongoing scientific based input and/or feedback and knowledge sharing with technical UNEP – CCC staff. The meetings are organized by the UNEP CCC staff and the consultant should participate as required.

Develop the following final deliverables:

• Report on the findings of the analysis on CE interventions, their GHG reduction potential in the cement sector, including the adjustments done after their sharing with key State and NSAs. It will include a closer look at desk reported GHG reduction potential of selected CE interventions, findings on country priorities, stakeholder´s experiences with CE in the cement sector, enablers, needs, and challenges. It will also provide recommended key steps (as a framework) for enabling the implementation of CE instruments in the cement sector and enhancing and tracking and reporting in alignment with the national processes (Enhanced Transparency Framework, NDCs).
• Report on the analysis of existing GHGs accounting protocols (state and NSAs driven), including recommendations on potential points of alignment between embodied carbon based reporting protocols and the PA processes.

Duties and Responsibilities

• UN Environment Programme (Global Climate Action Unit) is implementing the Science and Transparency Programme Coordination Project (S&T PCP). S&T aims at contributing to the long-term climate stability objectives of the Medium-Term Strategy 2022-2025 of UNEP through transparent reporting and enhanced global climate action.
• The programme’s objective is to strengthen UNEP’s role in supporting high-quality, credible, open, and disaggregated climate and environmental data, information, statistics, and early warning, as well as scientific assessments and expertise while providing technical and financial support to countries in reporting under the UNFCCC, enabling state and non-state actors to adopt the Enhanced Transparency Framework arrangements under the Paris Agreement.
• By engaging with various stakeholders, including national and local governments, international partners, and other UN agencies, the programme aims to break down barriers to reporting, monitoring, and verifying climate actions, ultimately contributing to a more sustainable and resilient future. Through the activities and deliverables under this programme, UNEP CCC will support UNEP in achieving its Programme of Work outcomes, particularly those related to the climate change sub-programme, by providing scientific, project-based expertise and advise for supporting the establishment of the Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF) of the Paris Agreement (PA) in countries by addressing different national and sectorial needs, enabling Transparency for mitigation and adaptation efforts of countries. This particular programme aims at addressing particular needs and gaps to fill in, which would lead to reinforce countries efforts to implement an effective and country tailored ETF.
• It also aims at developing a framework to untap decarbonization strategies in key emitting sectors off developing countries, with focus on exploring Circular Economy based interventions and their potential to mitigate carbon emissions, contributing to the NCDs of countries. The programme will focus on the cement sector as a “common” key sector in countries and will put particular interest on supporting NSAs to effectively decarbonize their value chains in the building sector, enabling tracking their contribution to climate goals, in alignment with the ETF of the PA. In support of the achievement of the objectives and expected results of the project, a consultancy is called to support the implementation of the activities included in this project, described in the following sections.

Qualifications/special skills

• Advance university degree (Master’s or equivalent), preferably in the natural sciences, with postgraduate studies in climate change and/or related fields.
• Have practical experience of more than 7 years on climate change issues, mitigation and NDCs, MRV and reporting under the Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF) of the Paris Agreement.
• Deep understanding and practical experience with NDCs and carbon reporting under the ETF – Have been linked to the formulation and/or monitoring of Nationally Determined Contributions.
• Have accumulated experience working with key industries and different GHG reporting mechanisms
• Have accumulated experience in consultancy work. – Knowledge about baseline scenarios and mitigation scenarios that include the private sector, their preparation, and emissions calculation systems.

Languages

• Fluency in Spanish and English (spoken and written)

Source: https://careers.un.org/jobSearchDescription/241241?language=en