Designing review processes under the Paris Agreement

The document argues that non-state actors—including cities, companies, and non-profits—can provide independent expertise and accountability to strengthen the Paris Agreement's review mechanisms. It specifically examines the enhanced transparency framework, the implementation and compliance mechanism, and the global stocktake, suggesting that formalizing the role of non-state actors through public access, written submissions, and oral interventions would improve the effectiveness of these processes.

• The Paris Agreement establishes three primary review mechanisms: an "enhanced transparency framework" (Article 13) for assessing pledge implementation and support, a facilitative and non-punitive implementation and compliance mechanism (Article 15), and a "global stocktake" (Article 14) starting in 2023 to assess collective progress every five years.
• Non-state actors can enhance the enhanced transparency framework by providing inputs during technical reviews—either through separate meetings during in-country visits or via submissions for desk-based reviews—and by participating in multilateral considerations through public access, webcasting, and the ability to submit written or oral questions.
• While the non-punitive nature of the Article 15 implementation and compliance mechanism likely prevents non-state actors from taking an adversarial role, such as filing complaints, they could still contribute by providing relevant information, accessing documentation, and helping Parties overcome barriers related to financing, capacity-building, or technical knowledge.
• Non-state actors can contribute to the global stocktake and the 2018 facilitative dialogue by providing scientific insights to the IPCC, submitting reports from credible organizations like the United Nations Environment Programme, and offering data on the climate efforts of cities and companies that define the "upper bound of ambition".
• Beyond formal mechanisms, non-state actors perform a critical informal role by analyzing intended nationally determined contributions (INDCs) for ambition, equity, and fairness—metrics rarely assessed in formal processes—and by mobilizing national change agents such as parliamentarians.
• The document suggests that the UNFCCC can draw on other international regimes to involve non-state actors, citing the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora's reliance on NGOs like TRAFFIC, and the UN Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review which considers information from relevant stakeholders.

APA

van Asselt, H., & Hale, T. (2016). Designing review processes under the Paris Agreement. Stockholm Environment Institute. https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/Climate/SEI-PB-2016-Non-state-actors-Paris-Agreement.pdf

Chicago

van Asselt, Harro, and Thomas Hale. Designing review processes under the Paris Agreement. Stockholm Environment Institute, 2016. https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/Climate/SEI-PB-2016-Non-state-actors-Paris-Agreement.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=van Asselt |first1=Harro |last2=Hale |first2=Thomas |title=Designing review processes under the Paris Agreement |publisher=Stockholm Environment Institute |date=2016 |url=https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/Climate/SEI-PB-2016-Non-state-actors-Paris-Agreement.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{vanasselt2016designing, author = {van Asselt, Harro and Hale, Thomas}, title = {{Designing review processes under the Paris Agreement}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2016}, url = {https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/Climate/SEI-PB-2016-Non-state-actors-Paris-Agreement.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }