Transport experts to learn how to assess Green House gas emissions from transport, UNDP training

ASTANA. December 2. KAZINFORM The training "Methodology for calculating greenhouse gas (GHG) benefits for Global Environment Facility transportation projects" will take place in Almaty on December 7, 2011. The training will be conducted in the framework of GEF/UNDP project "City Almaty Sustainable Transport" (CAST).

The aim of the training is to familiarize Kazakhstani specialists with basic GEF requirements to the assessment of GHG emissions reduction from climatic projects, and also directly with GEF methodology, applicable for transport projects. During the training the key parameters, which monitoring is needed for assessing the climatic effect from transport projects will be presented and discussed, the UNDP's press service reports.

The key indicator of effectiveness of funding support for GEF projects in the "Climate Change" thematic area is the volume of reduction of GHG emissions, which provides GEF the opportunity to assess the cumulative contribution to prevent climate change made by GEF, and ipso facto assist to achieving the goals of Framework Convention on Climate Change.

That's why reliable assessment and monitoring of reduction of GHG emissions is an important task for each "climatic" GEF project. Basic Green House Gases, which reduction is a task of majority of GEF projects are carbon dioxide (СО₂), methane (СН₄) и nitrous oxide (N₂O).

The methodology that will be presented on the training is based on accepted GEF approaches, principals and terminology for the assessment of reduction of GHG emissions from the projects on renewable sources and power efficiency. GEF methodology in whole is less strict and loaded by information in comparison with other schemes of carbonic accountability, e.g. Clean Development Mechanism of Kyoto Protocol to Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Besides, during the training, local experts and CAST project team will discuss the issue of collection of primary data, further modeling and assessment of effectiveness of realization of demonstrative projects in the city, in the framework of GEF/UNDP project, and also other Akimat initiatives on modernization of bus fleet, integration of paid parking places, optimization of public transport roots.

Additional information about "City Almaty Sustainable Transport" project can be found here: http://www.undp.kz/