Article 6 and Carbon Pricing Expert

**Background**

In 2021, the third session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement (CMA) set out the framework for voluntary participation by Parties and other stakeholders in market and non-market approaches that support the implementation of nationally determined contributions (NDCs) through the following decisions:

- 2/CMA.3 Guidance on cooperative approaches referred to in Article 6, paragraph 2, of the Paris Agreement
- 3/CMA.3 Rules, modalities and procedures for the mechanism established by Article 6, paragraph 4, of the Paris Agreement
- 4/CMA.3 Work programme under the framework for non-market approaches referred to in Article 6, paragraph 8, of the Paris Agreement

The decisions set out the framework for voluntary participation by Parties and other stakeholders in market and non-market approaches that support the implementation of nationally determined contributions (NDCs). In the annexes to the decisions, the Parties elaborated on participation requirements and governance matters, the rule basis for implementation, infrastructure requirements, and necessary operative provisions. Through the same decisions, Parties requested the Secretariat to design and implement a capacity-building program, including through its Regional Collaboration Centers, to assist Parties wishing to voluntarily participate in the mechanism established under Article 6.4 of the Paris Agreement.

The UN Climate Change Regional Collaboration Centers (RCCs) support national climate action through capacity-building, technical assistance, and strategic networking – sourcing know-how and resources to help developing countries participate in efforts to address climate change. They were initially established to support the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) but have since evolved to support relevant workstreams under the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement.

UN Climate Change partners with organizations in operating six RCCs globally covering Asia and the Pacific: RCC Asia Pacific in Bangkok, Thailand; Middle East, North Africa and South Asia: RCC MENA-SA in Dubai, UAE; Eastern and Southern Africa: RCC EASA in Kampala, Uganda; Western and Francophone Africa: RCC WACA in Lome, Togo; Caribbean: RCC Caribbean in St Georges, Grenada; and Latin America: RCC Latin America in Panama City, Panama. The regional partners that act as conduit legal entities of the respective RCCs include the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES); the World Green Economy Organization (WGEO); the East African Development Bank (EADB); the Banque Ouest Africaine de Développement (BOAD); and the Windward Islands Research & Education Foundation (WINDREF).

**Purpose of the Position**

Under the direct supervision of the Regional Lead of RCC Asia Pacific, the expert will deliver on a work plan assigned by the relevant teams in the Markets, Non-Markets, and Stakeholder Interaction subdivisions in Bonn to support Parties in Asia and the Pacific in implementing Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.

Tasks expected to be undertaken by the expert in the Asia-Pacific region will include:

- Proactively identifying, prioritizing, and developing targeted opportunities for collaboration and partnerships. Managing and implementing these opportunities in line with the mandate, strategic direction, and guidance from the Regional Lead and relevant teams at the UNFCCC Secretariat.
- Gathering, analyzing and compiling information from various sources (including those presented in NDCs) on the current and proposed use of market and non-market approaches for the implementation of NDCs, including performing qualitative and quantitative analysis on GHG mitigation impacts and other macroeconomic, fiscal, trade, social and broader environmental impacts, and creating a repository of information in coordination with substantive teams in Bonn;
- Supporting Parties and Non-Party stakeholders in using market and non-market approaches for the implementation of NDCs, through cooperative approaches under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, including supporting countries in establishing domestic carbon pricing (policies or instruments), carbon market mechanisms, voluntary carbon markets, potential use of offsets, internationally-linked Emissions Trading Systems, that would support the implementation of Article 6 of the Paris Agreement;
- Supporting RCC activities in reaching out to countries in the Asia-Pacific region to develop understanding on the needs for capacity building on Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, including through establishing and strengthening relationships with policymakers, multilateral and bilateral development agencies, collaboration with national focal points in raising awareness on the benefits of cooperative and collaborative instruments of climate action and assessing the political appetite for implementing market and non-market policy approaches for the achievement of their NDCs;
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