Submission to the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (“SBSTA”) Methodological guidance and modalities for measuring, reporting and verifying (“MRV”) of REDD+

This submission, made on behalf of the Ecosystems Climate Alliance and various partner organizations, provides recommendations to the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) on the methodological guidance and modalities for the measuring, reporting, and verifying (MRV) of REDD+ activities.

• The submission argues that an MRV system for REDD+ must be results-based, country-driven, and consistent with environmental integrity, while respecting national sovereignty and sustainable development goals. It emphasizes that the system should be supported by "adequate and predictable financial and technology support, including support for capacity-building".
• The authors stress the urgent need for clear, standardized definitions of 'forest' and the five REDD+ activities to prevent misunderstandings and ensure safeguards against conversion are implemented. They propose using FAO categories to distinguish between primary forests, naturally regenerated forests, and planted forests.
• The document advocates for a balanced MRV approach that combines remote sensing with ground-based forest carbon inventory approaches. It specifically highlights the need for the latest IPCC guidelines, noting that recent science has modified emission factors for peatlands, which is critical for accuracy in regions like SE Asia.
• The submission calls for the full and effective participation of stakeholders, particularly indigenous peoples and local communities, in both the design and implementation of MRV. It suggests that civil society's current "unofficial status" in UNFCCC processes should be changed to allow for official consideration of their data and direct representation in MRV processes.
• Regarding finance, the submission identifies significant gaps in current reporting, such as the failure to distinguish between funding for climate change and general funding to multilateral institutions. It calls for a common reporting format for REDD+ finance that distinguishes between grants, loans, and guarantees, and between public and private funding.
• The document emphasizes that MRV must extend beyond carbon to include the monitoring of social, environmental, and governance safeguards. It proposes that the REDD+ Safeguards Information System should be integrated with the Green Climate Fund (GCF) framework to ensure accountability and prevent social and environmental harm.

APA

Center for International Environmental Law (n.d.). Submission to the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (“SBSTA”) Methodological guidance and modalities for measuring, reporting and verifying (“MRV”) of REDD+. https://www.ciel.org/Publications/SBSTA_Submission_MRV_Nov11.pdf

Chicago

Center for International Environmental Law. Submission to the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (“SBSTA”) Methodological guidance and modalities for measuring, reporting and verifying (“MRV”) of REDD+. n.d. https://www.ciel.org/Publications/SBSTA_Submission_MRV_Nov11.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Center for International Environmental Law |title=Submission to the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (“SBSTA”) Methodological guidance and modalities for measuring, reporting and verifying (“MRV”) of REDD+ |url=https://www.ciel.org/Publications/SBSTA_Submission_MRV_Nov11.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{centerforinternationalenvironmentallawndsubmission, author = {{Center for International Environmental Law}}, title = {{Submission to the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (“SBSTA”) Methodological guidance and modalities for measuring, reporting and verifying (“MRV”) of REDD+}}, publisher = {Center for International Environmental Law}, url = {https://www.ciel.org/Publications/SBSTA_Submission_MRV_Nov11.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }