The iGST ‘Designing a Robust Stocktake’ Discussion Series

Updated 9/29/2020

This discussion series, ‘Designing a Robust Stocktake,’ is part of a multi-part research effort organized by the ClimateWorks Foundation and seven partner organizations within the independent Global Stocktake (iGST) initiative, each of whom are publishing their findings as a Discussion Series paper. A first set of papers was released in December 2019; a second set in mid-2020; and a synthesis report will be published in fall 2020. Please find links to the currently available reports below. (Note that there may be topics not covered in the individual Discussion Series papers that will be addressed in the synthesis report). We hope this report series enriches our collective understanding of the transformative potential for the Global Stocktake and the ways in which the independent community can push it to be as effective as possible!

Approaching the Global Stocktake from a variety of angles

Working groups exploring the three long-term goals of the Paris Agreement—mitigation, adaptation, and finance—have sought to determine how existing data sources can inform the Global Stocktake, and the potential role for the independent community in supporting stocktaking. Equity was also considered as a cross-cutting issue. Lead organizations have combined their own expertise with that of the broader community through interviews, discussion webinars, and written feedback on draft materials.

Finance
Understanding Finance in the Global Stocktake
Watson, C, Roberts, L. (2019)
This report considers the implications and gaps in guidance for the finance discussions of the GST. In doing so it considers both the means of support and implementation for climate action in developing countries, as well as the consistency of all finance flows with climate objectives.
Overseas Development Institute

Equity
Equity in the Global Stocktake and Independent Global Stocktake
Holz, C, T Athanasiou, S Kartha (2019)
This report explores the myriad ways in which the GST as well as other informal stocktaking exercises could take equity into account, to fulfill the “in the light of equity” mandate of the Paris Agreement and to facilitate more ambition overall.
Climate Equity Reference Project

Mitigation
Mitigation Information and the Independent Global Stocktake
Clark, L, Hultman N. (2020)
This short discussion paper summarizes the status of information currently available to support mitigation in the context of the global stocktake. It highlights some immediate steps that could fill gaps and organize the community around the stocktake.
University of Maryland Center for Global Sustainability

Adaptation
Understanding Adaptation in the Global Stocktake
Christiansen, L, Dale, T, Olhoff A. (2020)
This report explores what the official sources for the Global Stocktake on adaptation are likely to tell us (and not tell us), especially in relation to the four functions of the Global Stocktake for adaptation as defined in the Paris Agreement. It takes this premise as a starting point for discussing the areas in which independent initiatives, such as the iGST, could add value.
United Nations Environment Program Technical University of Denmark Partnership

Additional experts have sought, through desk research, targeted interviews, and inputs from the working groups above, to answer a set of discrete questions related to the Global Stocktake.

Success Factors
Success Factors for the Global Stocktake under the Paris Agreement
Obergassel, W, L Hermwille, A Siemons, H Förster (2019)
This report explores how the Global Stocktake may contribute to providing guidance and signal to Parties and other actors, promote transparency and accountability, and foster knowledge and learning.
Wuppertal Institute

Guiding Questions
Guiding Questions for the Global Stocktake: What we know and what we don’t
Hohne, N, L Jeffery, A Nilsson, H Fekete (2019)
This report aims to identify knowledge gaps as well as potential areas of focus for a successful GST to take place. It finds that some questions are adequately covered in the existing literature, however, significant knowledge gaps remain to achieve a successful Global Stocktake, specifically in the areas of adaptation and finance.
NewClimate Institute

Reviewing Lessons from Other Collaborative Processes
Design Options for the Global Stocktake: Lessons from other review processes
Beuermann, C, W Obergassel & H Wang-Helmreich (2020)
This report surveys a number of review processes within and outside the UNFCCC. This includes the Talanoa Dialogue, the Agenda 2030 High Level Political Forum, the UN Human Rights System, and the review processes under the Montreal Protocol. The authors identify some lessons for the design of the GST in order to maximize its potential impact.
Wuppertal Institute

Making the GST Most Effective
A Vision for a Robust Global Stocktake
Dagnet, Y, N. Leprince-Ringuet, J. Mendoza, J. Thwaites. (2020)
This issue brief reviews ways to make the Global Stocktake (GST), the process established under the Paris Agreement to periodically take stock of collective progress, most effective within the confines of the structure already negotiated.
World Resources Institute