Governance mechanisms and institutional arrangements for preparing long‑term low‑emission development strategies - A technical guideline - Cloned

The window to limit global temperature increases to 1.5°C above pre‑industrial levels is about to close. Keeping it open requires large emission reductions in the short term, followed by even larger reductions in the mid‑and long‑term. Against this background, the Paris Agreement requires that all Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) formulate and implement Long‑Term Low Greenhouse Gas Emission Development Strategies (LTS).

This publication provides an in‑depth analysis of the institutional requirements associated with formulating and implementing LTS. In addition, the publication analyzes two elements that some Parties to the UNFCCC have included in their LTS: international cooperation aspects and short‑lived climate pollutants (SLCPs). The latter in particular are absent from the literature on LTS.

The publication uses a range of qualitative data‑analysis methods, including surveys and interviews, to illustrate challenges in countries' institutional arrangements. It does so while analyzing good practices and providing action‑oriented recommendations.

The document outlines six essential institutional capacities required to implement climate change management actions found in LTS. It identifies areas where developing country government capacities are limited for each capacity type and provides recommendations for building these capacities. The document is based on a 2018 publication titled “Institutional Capacities for NDC Implementation: A Guidance Document,” covering most of the same institutional categories.

Although the analysis in this document is general, different readers may find different parts of it useful. However, by identifying and consolidating the relevant issues into a comprehensive document, we aim to provide guidance that is applicable to a wide range of stakeholders such as developing country government officials, national policymakers, and the experts on which they rely to conduct background work for the LTS development.