Practicum Training for Specialisation on the Paris
Agreement (Intensive Course)
Understanding transparency & GHG MRV towards
enhanced climate action
United Nations University (UNU-IAS)
July 22nd - August 1st 2024
Location: Lecture room, 6th floor in the UNU building
Time: 14:00-15:40 and 15:50-17:301
Lecturer: Dr Akio Takemoto and Dr. Atsushi Sato2
Contact Information: atakemoto@unu.edu, atsushi.sato@unu.edu
Office Hours: 9:30-17:30 (by appointment)

Course Description“Transparency” is regarded as a vital element to ensure the Paris Agreement under the United
Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to function as a vehicle where
government parties and stakeholders to implement their climate action committed. In a narrowinterpretation, “transparency” means the set of rules and arrangement under Art.13 of the Paris
Agreement. The Parties are responsible for reporting on the progress of the implementation of
their nationally determined contributions (NDCs) together with the quantitative and qualitative
information such as the national greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory, biennial transparency report(BTR) with common tabular format (CTF) under the Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF)
At the same time, the concept of “transparency” can be found in many areas of work forpractitioners of climate actions, and often, they are not explained how they are different, andrelated with each other. As to the measurement, report , and verification (MRV) or modalities,
procedures and guidelines (MPGs) , which are often used synonym for transparency, there aredifferent sets of rules operated in layers, which are relevant with each other, i.e. international,
national, sector, entity or facility-level, as well as project level.
The course will provide an explanation on how these MRVs in layers work on climate actions ofmultiple stakeholders towards the implementation of the Paris Agreement. At the same time, theSee Course Outline below for the exact time of each class
The course is delivered in collaboration with Overseas Environmental Cooperation Centre (OECC) which
participates in all the classes as a secretariat.
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Course particularly shed a light on GHG emissions and climate action at entity or facility-level,
bearing in mind that there are accelerated efforts to drive the private sector engagement inclimate action while considering relevant articles of the Paris Agreement and its implementationand governance mechanism in detail.
The course is provided by lectures by professionals and practitioners in the field,
demonstration/hands on training of GHG emissions calculation applying relevant methodologies,
site visits to observe actual efforts by the private sector to reduce GHG emissions throughinstallation of decarbonization technologies and their MRV, and group work/presentation.
Participants are expected to develop an analytical essay for enhancement of transparency with
their selected case studies.

Course Objectives and Learning Goals
This course will aim at enhancing the understanding of the participants on the theory andpractices of transparency of climate action operated in different levels. At the completion of thecourse, participants are expected to build their capacity to integrate information andknowledge gained through lectures and hands-on practices on transparency and GHG MRV andto develop strategies to enhance and lead climate actions at various levels.
The course is comprised of the five Components as follows:• Component 1: An overview of relevant transparency will be provided, explaining
function of MRV and institutional frameworks pertaining to stakeholders in actions indifferent levels.
• Component 2: Theory and practices of transparency at national level including policy
measures, support and finance as well as methodological aspects of GHG inventory (e.g.
data collection procedures sourced from national statistics in line with theIntergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) guidelines) will be provided
referring to the rules, modalities and procedures under the Paris Agreement.
• Component 3: Theory and practices of transparency at entity/facility level including
policy measures, support and finance as well as methodological aspects of GHG
inventory (e.g. scopes and data collection procedures incl. measurement and estimation)
will be provided referring to requirements by standards (e.g. ISO and GHG protocol),legislations (e.g. EU-ETS) as well as initiatives (e.g. SBTi, TCFD).
• Component 4: Site visit is conducted to some facilities of the private sector to provide
hands on experiences and dialogue with corporate practitioners on the efforts oftransparency and GHG MRV at entity/facility level and on their GHG mitigation actions
and initiatives.
• Component 5: Presentations and discussion on the roles of transparency and GHG MRV
and relevant policy measures, support and finance as important driving forces towards
strengthened climate actions.

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 (40%)
Assignment 1: Short report (10%)
2•Assignment 2: Analytical essay (50%)

Class Participation
The course requires students to attend all classes, to arrive on time, to complete the readings andto participate actively in class discussions3. 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 discourseand developments on climate change, as these will be reflected in the class discussions. Relevant
news sites and reporting archives will be shared by the instructor during the class.
Assignment 1: Short report
Participants who will join the site visit per the Lecture 14 are requested to submit a short reporton the site visit focusing on the practice of the private sector and how good practices ontransparency and GHG MRV as well as mitigation actions can be replicated.
For online participants who will not participate in the Lecture 14 will be assigned to submit ashort report on a good practice of the GHG MRV and mitigation action by a company in theircountry and how such climate action can be replicated.
Format:• Arial 12, 1.5 space, justified alignment, double side, references (in-text citation andbibliography can include both reports and academic articles)• Harvard referencing style• Maximum of 800 words (excluding references)
Submission deadline of the Assignment 1: Thursday, August 8th, 2024
Assignment 2: Analytical essay:
Participants are requested to analyse status quo and gaps in performance of mitigation actions
including aspects of policy and measures, capacity, finance and incentives at national, sectoral,
or entity/facility level and propose recommendations for measures including technology, financeand capacity building for enhanced transparency and GHG MRV towards strengthened climate
actions.
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)
Submission deadline of the Assignment 2: Thursday, August 15th, 2024

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Participation to the site visit is exempted for online participants, if any.

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Course Outline
Title

Date

Introduction to the concept oftransparency, its objectives, essential
elements and functions

Monday, July 22nd,
2024 ~ 14:00-15:40

2

Overview of the National GHG
Inventory System and Transparency
Reporting and Assessment

Monday, July 22nd,
2024 ~ 15:50-17:30

Dr. Atsushi Sato

3

Methodological aspects of national
inventory system – Energy sector

Tuesday, July 23rd,
2024 ~ 14:00-15:40

Dr. Atsushi Sato

Methodological aspects of national
inventory system – Industrial Process
and Product Use (IPPU), and Waste
sectors
Methodological aspects of national
inventory system – Agriculture, andLand Use, Land-Use Change andForestry (LULUCF) sectors
Policy measures for mitigation andadaptation, support and financerelated to transparency and reporting
under the UNFCCC
Basics of entity/facility leveltransparency and GHG MRV including
Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions

Tuesday, July 23rd,
2024 ~ 15:50-17:30

Dr. Atsushi Sato

Wednesday, July 24th,
2024 ~ 14:00-15:40

Dr. Atsushi Sato

Wednesday, July 24th,
2024 ~ 15:50-17:30

Dr. Atsushi Sato

Thursday, July 25th,
2024 ~ 15:50-17:30

Mr. Makoto Kato,and Mr. Akihiro
Tamai, OECC

Details of entity/facility leveltransparency and GHG MRV including
mandatory reporting system of GHG
emissions
The incentive mechanisms and carbon
disclosure - Task force on Climaterelated Financial Disclosures(TCFD),
Science Based Target Initiative (SBTi)and International Sustainability
Standards Board (ISSB) – Part 1
The incentive mechanisms and carbon
disclosure - Task force on Climaterelated Financial Disclosures(TCFD),
Science Based Target Initiative (SBTi)and International Sustainability
Standards Board (ISSB) – Part 2

Friday, July 26th,
2024 ~ 14:00-15:40

Mr. Makoto Kato,and Mr. Akihiro
Tamai, OECC

Friday, July 26th,
2024 ~ 15:50-17:30

Mr. Kimihiro
Kuromizu, and Mr.
Kunihiko
Kobayashi, OECC

Monday, July 29th,
2024 ~ 14:00-15:40

Mr. Kazuo
Takayama, OECC
andInvited speaker(s)from financial
institutions (TBD)4

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5

Transparency at national level

Frame
work
Introduction

Lecture
No.
1

6

7

9

10

Transparency at entity/facility level

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Instructors/Invited
Speakers if any
Dr. Akio Takemotoand Dr. Atsushi
Sato

Bio of the invited speakers will be shared with the participants upon confirmation of availability during thecourse.
4411Linkage of transparency and GHG MRV
to carbon markets - Part 1: ETS andcrediting mechanisms

Monday, July 29th,
2024 ~ 15:50-17:30

Mr. Makoto Katoand Jun Watanabe,
OECC

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Linkage of transparency and GHG MRV
to carbon markets - Part 2: Integrity
standards Core Carbon Principle,
VCMI’s code of practice, and the SBTi’s
Corporate Net-Zero Standard
Incorporation of GHG MRV into
practice towards enhanced climate
action and expanded business profile

Tuesday, July 30th,
2024 ~ 14:00-15:40

Mr. Jun Watanabe,
OECC

Tuesday, July 30th,
2024 ~ 15:50-17:30

Observing corporates’ efforts to GHG
MRV and enhanced mitigation actions5

Wednesday, July 31st,
2024 ~ 14:00-15:40

Mr. Kimihiro
Kuromizu, and Ms.
Kisato Nagakuro,
OECC
OECC

Discussion and presentation Transparency and MRV as driving
forces for enhanced climate action will
be explained discussed

Thursday, August 1st,
2024 ~ 14:00-15:40

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Transparency for climate action and growth15

Site visit

14

Dr. Akio Takemotoand Dr. Atsushi
Sato

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.
Course Readings by major framework components
Frame
work
1

Recommended Readings
Introduction

The exact place(s) of the site visit will be announced upon confirmation of availability during the course.
Participation to the site visit is exempted for online participants, if any.
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• UNFCCC – History of the Conventions:
https://unfccc.int/process/the-convention/history-of-the-convention#ClimateChange-in-context• UNFCCC – What is transparency?
https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/transparency-and-reporting/abouttransparency/what-is-transparency
Transparency at national level• All about the NDCs
https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/all-about-ndcs• Moving towards implementing an Enhanced Transparency Framework
https://unfccc.int/enhanced-transparency-framework• FAQs of Task Force on National Greenhouse Gas Inventories - IPCC
https://www.ipcc-nggip.iges.or.jp/faq/faq.html
Transparency at entity/facility level• Partnership to Strengthen Transparency for Co-Innovation (PaSTI)
https://www.env.go.jp/earth/ondanka/pasti/en/index.html• MRV Information Platform for ASEAN Member States
https://mrv-info.com/index.html• GREEN HOUSE GAS PROTOCOL
https://ghgprotocol.org/• Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures
https://www.fsb-tcfd.org/• The International Financial Reporting Standards Foundation
https://www.ifrs.org/

Important Information
Class Conduct & Etiquette
Participants are expected to arrive on time and not to engage in disruptive behavior during class.
This includes, among other things, private side conversations, the use of cell-phones and otherelectronic devices, or the reading of newspapers. Cell-phones should be switched off and stored in
the bag. We wish to create an atmosphere of open and tolerant discussion in the classroom andrequest participants to recognize every individual’s right to have an opinion. The lecturer andother participants should be treated with dignity and respect, in particular in discussions oncontentious political issues where a diversity of opinion is likely to arise. However, we also
recognize that there are limits to tolerance and the lecturer reserves the right to request
disciplinary action against any student who violates this policy or repeatedly shows disruptive
behavior in class.
Any disruption of the class by cell phones, instant messaging programs or other communication
devices will not be tolerated. The lecturer reserves the right to revoke this permission if a student
is found using a computer for any non-course related activities.
Plagiarism & Academic Misconduct

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Please be aware that the consequences of plagiarism are severe and participants 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 assignments should be found, they will
receive a failing grade. In case of repeated violations of academic conduct, the participants may
receive a failing grade for the entire course and will be reported to the appropriate authorities
for disciplinary action.

Invited Speakers/Lecturers Bio
Kato Makoto (Lecture 7, 8 & 11)
Member, Board of Directors
Overseas Environmental Cooperation Center, Japan
Makoto Kato has engaged in international cooperation on climate change and sustainable
development in developing countries through programmes and projects under ministries andagencies of the Government of Japan, UN agencies and international financial institutions. Key
areas of his work include capacity development of formulation of laws and policies, and plans
related to climate change mitigation, greenhouse gas (GHG) accounting, private sector engagement
etc. In parallel with his work at OECC, he has participated in UN climate change negotiation since2004 as part of the Delegation of Japan and taken the lead for the agenda item of capacity-building
in developing countries. He has taught international students as a visiting lecgture at the Graduate
School of Media and Governance, Keio University. He holds a Master of Laws in International Law
from the Kobe University, Graduate School of International Cooperation.
Akihiro Tamai (Lecture 7 & 8)
Senior Researcher
Overseas Environmental Cooperation Center, Japan
Mr. Akihiro Tamai has engaged in capacity development support on measurement, report, andverification (MRV) of GHG emissions and mitigation actions at national and sectoral level, which
contributes to nationally determined contributions (NDCs). He has extensive knowledge on GHG
accounting on GHG accounting, including national GHG inventory. Prior to joining in OECC, he
has worked as a member of the GHG Inventory Office, National Institute for Environmental Studies(NIES), Japan, as the JICA Expert in the Project for National GHG Inventory in Vietnam, Projectto Support for Planning and Implementation of Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Action (SPINAMA) in Viet Nam, Project for capacity development to establish a national GHG inventory cycleof continuous improvement in Mongolia. He holds a Master of Science in Environment from the
University of Tokyo, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, and a Certificate of the Team ofTechnical Experts under International Consultation and Analysis, form UNFCCC.
Jun Watanabe (Lecture 11 & 12)
Senior Researcher
Overseas Environmental Cooperation Center, Japan7

Mr. Jun Watanabe has focused on research & analysis, as well as information dissemination ofcarbon market mechanisms under the Paris Agreement, such as the Joint Crediting Mechanism(JCM), as well as voluntary carbon crediting schemes. He has also engaged development of JCM
project in Indonesia, Sri Lanka and others, and provided project formulation, mobilization of carbon
finance, as well as quantification of GHG emissions reductions from methodological perspectives.
He has an extensive knowledge also about carbon market situations and project development inJapan. He worked as a member of secretariat of the Carbon Offset Network, Japan (CO-Net).
Currently, he is the OECC’ s focal point of the Green Transformation League (GX League) , Japan.
He holds a Master of Science in Environment Engineering from Tokyo University of Marine Scienceand Technology.
Kunihiko Kobayashi (Lecture 9)
Researcher
Overseas Environmental Cooperation Center, Japan
Mr. Kunihiko Kobayashi has engaged in cooperation with Southeast Asian Countries in developmentof GHG measurement, report and verification system. He took the lead in publication of the
Guidelines for Development and Implementation of Facility Level Monitoring and Reporting (M&R)
Framework for Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions in ASEAN Member States (AMS) in 2022. He
has been also working on research and analysis of recent development of information disclosure
requirements in the finance sector, such as those issued by International Financial ReportingStandards (IFRS). He also has extensive knowledge in the international framework provided by theConvention on Biological Diversity (CBD). He has participated in the CBD COP and UNFCCC
COP as part of the Delegation of Japan and supported the negotiation. Prior to joining in OECC,
he worked as a Researcher, at Research Institute for Humanity and Nature, Japan, Special Lecturer,
Gifu University, and Assistant Administrative Staff at the Nature Conservation Bureau of the
Ministry of the Environment, Japan. He holds a Master of Environmental Studies at Sophia
University, Japan.
Kazuo Takayama (Lecture 10)
Finance and Investment Specialist
Overseas Environmental Cooperation Center, Japan
Mr. Kazuo Takayama has advised on mobilization of finance on climate change mitigation projects
and technology transfer, such as through the Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM). He also worked on
capacity development activities in development of policy framework on introducing incentive
mechanisms through ESG finance in development countries. Prior to joining in OECC, he has
worked in financial industry for approximately 40 years, as Director of International Finance,
Barclays Bank (London Headquarters and Tokyo Branch), Chief Manager at HSBC Midland Bank
(Tokyo Branch) and Vice President & Director at Toronto Dominion Bank (Tokyo Branch) etc. He
holds Diploma at Foundation for Advanced Studies on International Development and Master ofArts in Economics at the Graduate School of Economics, Hosei University.
Kimihiro Kuromizu (Lecture 9 & 13)
Specialist in Climate Change Planning and Cities
Overseas Environmental Cooperation Center, Japan8

Mr. Kimihiro has been engaged in developing country support in development and implementationof climate change mitigation plans and projects, in particular at local government level. Also, hesupport Japanese privates sectors operation overseas in GHG accounting and disclosure, including
supply chain management. Prior to joining in OECC, he was a local government official for the Cityof Yokohama, as Director General of the Policy Bureau (International Cooperation), DirectorGeneral of the Transportation Bureau. Also, he was dispatched as a JICA Expert of the Project on
Strengthening Capacity of Planning and Implementation of the Bangkok Master Plan on Climate
Change 2013-2023, in Bangkok, Thailand.
Kisato Nagakuro (Lecture 13)
Researcher
Overseas Environmental Cooperation Center, Japan
Ms. Kisato Nagakuro has engaged in development cooperation on GHG accounting under thePartnership to Strengthen Transparency for Co-Innovation (PaSTI) in ASEAN countries, includinginternational dissemination of relevant information. Also, she devoted the launch of the Programme
for the model project for international supply chain GHG management for Japanese companies
operating in Southeast Asia. She has also worked on technology transfer and mobilizing climate
finance through implementing the projects of the Climate Technology Centre & Network (CTCN),
such as the Pre-Feasibility Project on Low Emission Land Transport Sector in Vanuatu and the
Project on Feasibility study of a combined heat and power supply using green hydrogen.

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