Understanding the mechanism to implement theParis Agreement to the UNFCCC
United Nations University (UNU-IAS)
Autumn 2024
Location: 6F Lecture Room
Time: 14:00 – 15:40

Lecturer: Dr Akio Takemoto, Dr Himangana Gupta
Contact Information: atakemoto@unu.edu, gupta@unu.edu
Office Hours: by appointment

Course Description
The climate negotiations process started in 1992 when countries signed the international treaty– United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) during the Rio Earth
Summit. This Convention was the result of the revelation that climate change was unequivocal
and anthropogenic. The UNFCCC had put in place several principles through its 26 articles,
laying the foundation for mitigation action, adaptation, finance, technology, and monitoring
and reporting.
The first protocol under the UNFCCC, the Kyoto Protocol, agreed upon in 1997, furthered theobjective of the Convention, with set timelines and targets. However, this protocol was notconsidered fully effective in abating global greenhouse gas emissions to the level needed.
Therefore, the Paris Agreement (PA) was adopted in 2015 during the 21st Conference of theParties to the UNFCCC. It commits all countries to climate action based on their capability andintent. The Agreement is being celebrated as a milestone in the history of climate negotiations
as it is hoped that it will be key to implementing climate-positive solutions and also enhancing
climate governance from local to national levels.
Even with the past efforts to abate climate change, human activities caused approximately
1.1°C of global warming above pre-industrial levels, which is likely to reach 1.5°C by 2040 if it
continues to increase at the current rate as per the Sixth Assessment Report of theIntergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in 2021. Therefore, PA holds much more
responsibility to tackle the global crisis in a shorter span of time. The impact of PA is expected
to be more far-reaching, including on all domains of development, namely the economic, socialand environmental, as well as on all countries. The world has already pledged to make the bestof its efforts to do away with carbon intensive technology and be less dependent on nonrenewable energy resources.
With increased complexities in the climate change regime, including new market mechanisms,
transparency arrangements, reporting requirements, and global stocktake assessments, it has
become much more important to understand the modalities under the Paris Agreement (PA) for1

its effective implementation at the national level and achievement of global temperature andadaptation goals set under PA. Following the Common but Differentiated Responsibilities
principle from the UNFCCC, PA provides some flexibility associated with finance, technology,
and transparency to developing countries. This makes finance, capacity building, andtechnology transfer also relevant topics under the agreement. Therefore, beginning with an
overview of the UNFCCC, and its Kyoto Protocol, this course will discuss each article of the Paris
Agreement and its implementation and governance mechanism in detail.

Course Objectives and Learning Goals
This course will aim at enhancing the understanding of the students on the key climateagreements, and their modalities and relevance for the Paris Agreement. It will discuss the key
articles of the agreement in detail, including that on climate change mitigation (Article 4),
market mechanisms (Article 6), climate change adaptation (Article 7), Finance (Article 9),transparency (Article 13), and Global Stocktake (GST, Article 14). The course will also examine
the enablers and barriers in the context of the science-policy interface in the current climate
regime. First, the course will present an overview of the UNFCCC agreement and its Kyoto
Protocol, discussing key modalities and goalposts. Second, it discusses each key article, as
mentioned above, in the context of negotiations, rules and procedures agreed, and its relevantscience-policy aspects. Third, the course will provide an opportunity to develop students’ ability
to explore information on climate change data and policy and measures which are necessary toconsider solutions of different goals of the Paris Agreement for a common temperature goal.
The course is comprised of the three components as follows:•

Component 1 Climate Science, Mitigation, and Reporting – Focuses on the unfolding ofclimate negotiation processes in the context of national commitments and mitigation
mechanisms: What is the relevance of and science behind the calculation of national
greenhouse gas inventories? What are the key elements of national commitments andtransparency mechanisms in place to ensure effective mitigation? What is the scientificevidence of climate change?

•

Component 2 Adaptation, loss and damage, and global stocktake – Explains the basics
of adaptation and its linkages with mitigation, NDCs, and SDGs: What is adaptation andloss and damage? What are the major climate impacts and adaptation challenges? What
are the goals of Action for Climate Empowerment? What are the key elements of global
stocktake?

•

Component 3 Means of implementation: Finance and international cooperation –Covers key aspects of climate finance, technology, capacity building, and implementationof climate actions on the ground through international cooperation and domestic
actions: How can climate finance be leveraged for mitigation and adaptation and whatis the role of private sector? What are the examples and best practices of international
cooperation and multistakeholder engagement? What is the role of market mechanisms
under the Paris Agreement in spearheading mitigation?

Requirements and Grading Policy
All students are expected to complete the required readings before each class. The course
requirements also include active class participation and assignments:•

Class participation and discussion (10%)
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•
•
•

Assignment 1: Class presentation 1 (20%)
Assignment 2: Class Presentation 2 (30%)
Assignment 3: Research paper (40%)

Class participation and discussion
The course requires students to attend all classes, to arrive on time, to complete the readings andto participate actively in class discussions. This means speaking during each and every class. At
the discretion of the instructor, frequent late arrivals or absences may result in a lower grade.
Please note that the first session is of particular importance and cannot be missed. Students arealso strongly encouraged to regularly follow the news to keep up with international
developments, as these events will be reflected in the class discussions. Relevant news sites andreporting archives will be shared by the instructor during the class.
Assignment 1: Class presentation 1
Participants are requested to make a presentation on their analysis of national commitments,
GHG emissions and removals, and key mitigation actions for a selected country. They are expected
to carry out an analysis of NDCs and GHGs from national documents for preparation of theirpresentation. Each participant will be given 5 minutes for presentation and 3 minutes fordiscussion.
Assignment 2: Class presentation 2
Participants are requested to make a presentation building on the analysis made under
Assignment 1, identifying the mitigation and adaptation actions needed to meet the NDCs, andimprove NDC and GHG reporting. They are expected to also identify key national circumstances,including vulnerability, adaptation, and loss and damage, etc. that may affect their ability to meetthe national commitment under PA. Each participant will be given 10 minutes for presentationand 5 minutes for discussion.
Assignment 3: Research paper
Participants are requested to write a research paper based on Assignment 1 & 2 covering key
analysis of GHG and NDCs, ways of improving transparency in GHG reporting, enablers andbarriers to achieve the national targets, key mitigation and adaptation strategies, and role offinance, international cooperation, and stakeholder engagement, etc. in effective implementationof PA in the selected country.
Format:• Arial 12, 1.5 space, justified alignment, double side, cover page, references (in-text
citation and bibliography can include both reports and academic articles)• Harvard referencing style• Maximum of 3,500 words (Excluding references and other relevant information which
may be attached as an annex to the essay)
Submission deadline of the Assignment 3: Friday, February 7tht, 2025

Course Outline

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Lecture
No.
1

Comp
onent

2

4

5

Climate Science, Mitigation, and Reporting

3

6

7

9

10

Adaptation, loss and damage, and global stocktake

8

Title

Date

Instructors/Invited
Speakers if any
Dr. Akio Takemoto
Dr. Himangana
Gupta
Dr. Atsushi Sato

Orientation and course overview &Introduction to the UNFCCC

Tuesday, October 1st,
2024 ~ 14:00-15:40

Overview of the Paris Agreement &climate science and IPCC

Tuesday, October 8th,2024 ~ 14:00-15:40

Dr. Atsushi Sato

Climate mitigation Part 1:- Mitigation rules and NDCs
- GHG emissions and data sources- Transparency under Paris Agreement
Climate mitigation Part 2:- Land-based mitigation through
REDD+/ NbS- Case examples of implementation
Climate mitigation Part 3:- Characteristics of GHG emission- Sector specific issues including
LULUCF/REDD+ accounting- MRV for National, local and private
sectorAssignment 1 – Class presentation(NDCs and GHG emissions)

Tuesday, October 15th,
2024 ~ 14:00-15:40

Dr. Atsushi Sato

Tuesday, October
22nd, 2024 ~ 14:0015:40

Dr. Himangana
Gupta

Tuesday, October 29th,
2024 ~ 14:00-15:40

Dr. Atsushi Sato

Tuesday, November
5th, 2024 ~ 14:0015:40

Dr. Akio Takemoto
Dr. Himangana
Gupta
Dr. Atsushi SatoDr. Himangana
Gupta

Climate adaptation Part 1:- Impacts, vulnerability and adaptationneeds- Global goal on adaptation andreporting- Introduction to loss and damage
Climate adaptation Part 2:- Adaptation planning andimplementation- Loss and damage estimations;finance
Action for Climate Empowerment
under PA & global stocktake

Tuesday, November
12th, 2024 ~ 14:0015:40

Assignment 2 – Class Presentation:
Mitigation and adaptation

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Tuesday, November
26th, 2024 ~ 14:0015:40

Dr. Naoyuki Okano
Ms. Nagisa Shiiba(IGES)

Tuesday, December
3rd, 2024 ~ 14:0015:40

Mr. Makoto Kato
(OECC)

Tuesday, December
10th, 2024 ~ 14:0015:40

Dr. Akio Takemoto
Dr. Himangana
Gupta

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13

14

15

Means of implementation – Finance and international cooperation

11

Paris Agreement Implementation:
multistakeholder engagement(Article 10, 11 and 12)

Tuesday, December
17th, 2024 ~ 14:0015:40

Mr. Makoto Kato
(OECC)

Market mechanisms under the Paris
Agreement (Article 6)

Tuesday, January 7th,2025 ~ 14:00-15:40

Mr. Kazuhisa
Koakutsu (IGES)

International cooperation of climatechange - Example of Japan
International Cooperation Agency(JICA) - Article 10, 11 and 12

Tuesday, January 14th,
2025 ~ 14:00-15:40

JICA - Office for
Climate Change

Decarbonization and sustainable
societies in the context of net-zerotargets under the PA

Tuesday, January 21st,
2025 ~ 14:00-15:40

Dr. Tatsuya
Hanaoka

Climate finance and role of Private
sector (Article 2.1.(c) and 9)

Wednesday, January
22nd, 2025 ~ 14:0015:40

Dr. Kanako Morita

Course Readings
Participants are expected to actively contribute to class discussions based on the readingmaterial provided. The lecturer reserves the right to update the reading list throughout thecourse and will alert participants to the changes in class. If any required readings from academic
journals or e-books are added to the course, these can be accessed through the public work
stations at the UNU library, using your UNU student login and password. Additional readings
from web based content will also be included.
LectureNo.
1

Recommended Readings
Orientation and course overview & Introduction to the UNFCCC
Outline: This lecture provides an overview of the international climate policy, particularly the
UNFCCC and its Kyoto Protocol. It provides insights into the history of climate negotiations
and commitments. It discusses the major international climate priorities, and their relevancein the contemporary context. This lecture will form the foundation for further lectures on
the context and specificities of the Paris Agreement.

2

Recommended readings
1. UNFCCC. (1992). United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. United
Nations. http://unfccc.int/resource/docs/convkp/conveng.pdf
2. UNFCCC (1997). Kyoto Protocol to the UNFCCC.
https://unfccc.int/resource/docs/convkp/kpeng.pdf
3. A record of climate negotiations summaries from 1992 to 2022 is available at Earthnegotiations bulletins: https://enb.iisd.org/enb/vol12/
Overview of the Paris Agreement & climate science and IPCC

5

Outline: This lecture broadly outlines the structure and elements of the Paris Agreement. It
also highlights the latest scientific findings on climatic change available from IPCC
assessment report, including the information on the possible pathway following the Paris
Agreement.

3

4

5

Recommended readings
1. Science in the UNFCCC negotiations: How does science connect to policy under the
UNFCCC? https://unfccc.int/topics/science/the-big-picture/science-in-the-unfcccnegotiations
2. IPCC. (2021). Summary for Policymakers. In: Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science
Basis. Contribution of Working Group I to the Sixth Assessment Report of theIntergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, United
Kingdom and New York, NY, USA, pp. 3−32.
3. United Nations. (2015). Paris Agreement. United Nations Framework Convention on
Climate Change.
http://unfccc.int/files/essential_background/convention/application/pdf/english_paris_agre
ement.pdf
Climate mitigation Part 1:- Mitigation rules and NDCs
- GHG emissions and data sources- Transparency under Paris Agreement
Outline: This lecture provides an understanding of climate change mitigation objectives
under the Paris Agreement, including Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). It talks
about GHG emissions, and procurement of related data from national reports tointernational database. It discusses how Paris Agreement has setup transparency rules toenhance mitigation estimations.
Recommended readings:
1. All about the NDCs: https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/all-about-ndcs
2. Moving towards implementing an Enhanced Transparency Framework.
https://unfccc.int/enhanced-transparency-framework
3. Unpacking Provisions Related to Transparency of Mitigation and Support in the Paris
Agreement. https://www.oecd.org/environment/cc/Unpacking-transparency-provisionsParis-Agreement-CCXG-May2016.pdf
Climate mitigation Part 2:- Land-based mitigation through REDD+/ NbS- Case examples of implementation
Outline: This lecture discusses some key mechanisms under the UNFCCC which are beneficial
for the achievement of NDCs. This includes Reducing Emissions through Deforestation andForest Degradation in Developing countries (REDD+), Ecosystem-based mitigation, andNature-based solutions. Some best practices of implementation around the world will be
discussed.
Recommended readings:
1. What is REDD+? https://unfccc.int/topics/land-use/workstreams/redd/what-is-redd
2. Warsaw framework for REDD+: https://unfccc.int/topics/landuse/workstreams/redd/redd-resources#Warsaw-Framework-for-REDD
3. IUCN. 2016. ‘WCC-2016-Res-069-EN. Defining Nature-Based Solutions’. International
Union for Conservation of Nature.
https://portals.iucn.org/library/sites/library/files/resrecfiles/WCC_2016_RES_069_EN.pdf
Climate mitigation Part 3:- Characteristics of GHG emission- Sector specific issues including LULUCF/REDD+ accounting

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- MRV for National, local and private sector
Outline: This lecture provides details on the types of GHGs, various type of GHG emission
profiles, their estimation needs, and accounting. It also describes the concept of monitoring,
reporting, and verification.

6
7

8

9

Recommended readings:
1. FAQs of Task Force on National Greenhouse Gas Inventories - IPCC
https://www.ipcc-nggip.iges.or.jp/faq/faq.html
2. GHG data interface - UNFCCC
https://unfccc.int/topics/mitigation/resources/registry-and-data/ghg-data-from-unfccc
3. GHG protocol – about us
https://ghgprotocol.org/about-us
Assignment 1 – Class presentation (NDCs and GHG emissions)
Climate adaptation Part 1:- Impacts, vulnerability and adaptation needs- Global goal on adaptation and reporting- Introduction to loss and damage
Outline: This lecture explains the basics of the term “adaptation”, types of adaptation,
adaptation gap, and its linkages with mitigation, NDCs, and SDGs. It discusses climate
impacts and adaptation success as per the latest IPCC report. It further talks about thearticles under the Paris Agreement that cover adaptation and its reporting needs. It briefly
introduces the Nairobi work programme, Cancun adaptation framework, and Loss anddamage.
Recommended readings:
1. IPCC AR6 WGII, Summary for Policy Makers:
https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg2/downloads/report/IPCC_AR6_WGII_SummaryForP
olicymakers.pdf
2. Adaptation to climate change: Key terms.
https://www.oecd.org/environment/cc/36736773.pdf
3. What is loss and damage?
https://www.chathamhouse.org/2022/08/what-loss-and-damage
Climate adaptation Part 2:- Adaptation planning and implementation- Loss and damage estimations; finance
Outline: This lecture covers the chronology and details of adaptation negotiations, national
adaptation plans, and its role in the Paris Agreement, ranging from reporting to the global
stocktake. It details loss and damage framework under the Paris agreement, and the financerelated negotiations.
Recommended readings:
1. National Adaptation Plans: https://www.unep.org/explore-topics/climate-action/whatwe-do/climate-adaptation/national-adaptation-plans
2. Adaptation and resilience: https://unfccc.int/topics/adaptation-and-resilience/the-bigpicture/introduction#adaptation)
3. Loss and damage: https://unfccc.int/topics/adaptation-and-resilience/the-bigpicture/introduction#loss-and-damage
Action for Climate Empowerment under PA & global stocktake
Outline: This lecture, divided into two parts, discusses the goals of Action for Climate
Empowerment, ACE dialogue and its implementation. In the second part, it covers global
stocktake definitions, needs, and elements.

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10
11

12

Recommended readings:
1. Action for Climate Empowerment: https://unfccc.int/topics/education-and-youth/bigpicture/ACE#:~:text=What%20is%20ACE%3F,12%20of%20the%20Paris%20Agreement.
2. Global Stocktake: https://unfccc.int/topics/global-stocktake
Assignment 2 – Class Presentation: Mitigation and adaptation
Paris Agreement Implementation: multistakeholder engagement(Article 10, 11 and 12)
Outline: This lecture covers technology, capacity building, and implementation of climate
actions on the ground through international cooperation and domestic actions. It touches
upon the technology mechanism, technology needs assessment, Durban forum on capacity
building, Paris Committee on capacity building, and case examples of technical assistance.
Recommended readings:
1. Capacity building in the Paris Agreement: https://unfccc.int/topics/capacitybuilding/introduction/capacity-building-in-the-unfcccprocess#:~:text=Paris%20Agreement%20Article%2011&text=It%20calls%20on%20develo
ped%20country,%2C%20policies%2C%20actions%20or%20measures.
2. Technologicalinnovation(andneeds):
https://unfccc.int/ttclear/misc_/StaticFiles/gnwoerk_static/brief10/8c3ce94c20144fd5a8b0c06fefff6633/57440a5fa1244fd8b8cd13eb4413b4f6.pdf
Market mechanisms under the Paris Agreement (Article 6)
Outline: This lecture presents an overview of the market mechanisms under the Paris
Agreement, carbon pricing, and standards such as VERRA, Gold Standard, and others. It
sheds light on operationalization of new mechanisms under Article 6 of PA, and trends ofcarbon credits trading. Covering key negotiations under this article, it presents its relevancefor bringing down emissions.

13

14

Recommended readings:
1. A guide to UN market-based mechanisms: https://unfccc.int/blog/a-guide-to-un-marketbased-mechanisms
2. What you need to know about Article 6 of the Paris Agreement:
https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2022/05/17/what-you-need-to-know-aboutarticle-6-of-the-paris-agreement
International cooperation of climate change - Example of Japan International Cooperation
Agency (JICA) - Article 10, 11 and 12
Outline: This lecture explains finance and investment, grant aid, and technical cooperation,in the context of climate change mitigation and adaptation. It sheds light on multiple
benefits that can be achieved through climate action, including SDGs. Various examples from
JICA’s implementation in developing countries are presented.
Recommended readings:
1. JICA’s efforts to combat climate change:
https://www.jica.go.jp/Resource/english/publications/reports/annual/2021/fp4rrb000000sk
y0-att/2021_25.pdf
Decarbonization and sustainable societies in the context of net-zero targets under the PA
Outline: This lecture sheds light on decarbonization and its relevance for sustainability.
Recommended readings:
1. Decarbonization and sustainable development:
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/09749101241251618
2. Determinants of decarbonization: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/9/2640

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3. Roadmap for rapid decarbonization:
https://www.science.org/doi/full/10.1126/science.aah3443
15

Climate finance and role of Private sector (Article 2.1.(c) and 9)
Outline: Climate finance is one of the most highly debated agenda items in climate
negotiations. This lecture will shed light on finance related concerns under the Paris
Agreement, and opportunities that can spearhead climate action. It covers climate financediscussions focused on international cooperation for developing countries, such as the GCF
and GEF funding, and broader discussions on climate finance under Paris Agreement 2.1(c).
Recommended readings:
1. Introduction to climate finance:
https://unfccc.int/topics/introduction-to-climate-finance
2. Biennial Assessment and Overview of Climate Finance Flows:
https://unfccc.int/topics/climate-finance/resources/biennial-assessment-and-overview-ofclimate-finance-flows
3. Climate Policy Initiative - Global Landscape of Climate Finance: A Decade of Data:
https://www.climatepolicyinitiative.org/publication/global-landscape-of-climate-finance-adecade-of-data/

Important Information
Class Conduct & Etiquette
Students are expected to arrive on time and not to engage in disruptive behaviour during class.
This includes, among other things, private side conversations, the use of cellphones and otherelectronic devices, or the reading of newspapers. Cellphones should be switched off and stored in
the bag. We wish to create an atmosphere of open and tolerant discussion in the classroom andrequest students to recognize every individual’s right to have an opinion. The lecturer and otherstudents should be treated with dignity and respect in discussions on contentious political issues
where a diversity of opinion is likely to arise. However, we also recognize that there are limits totolerance and the lecturer reserves the right to request disciplinary action against any student
who violates this policy or repeatedly shows disruptive behavior in class.
Plagiarism & Academic Misconduct
Please be aware that the consequences of plagiarism are severe, and students found guilty ofacademic misconduct will be punished in accordance with UNU’s academic honesty policies. The
lecturer reserves the right to run all assignments through an anti-plagiarism software provided
by the UNU. If evidence of academic misconduct on the assigned presentations, the mid-term
exam or the final essay should be found, the assignment will receive a failing grade. In case of
repeated violations of academic conduct, the student may receive a failing grade for the entire
course and will be reported to the appropriate authorities for disciplinary action.

Invited Speakers/Lecturers Bio
9To be provided before the lecture10