Background:

The technical analysis (TA) of the biennial update reports (BURs) submitted by developing country Parties is the first step of the international consultation and analysis (ICA) process. A team of technical experts (TTE) conducts a technical analysis of the BURs submitted by developing country Parties, and any additional technical information that may be provided by the Party concerned. The technical analysis under the ICA process aims to increase the transparency of the mitigation actions and their effects; discussion on the appropriateness of such domestic policies and measures is not part of the process.

Mandate for TTE:

• Identifying the extent to which the necessary information is included in the BUR;
• Undertaking a technical analysis of information contained in the BUR; and
• Identifying, in consultation with the Party concerned, capacity-building needs in order to facilitate: (i) reporting in accordance with annex III to decision 2/CP.17; and (ii) participation in the ICA process.

Timeline:

A duration of fifteen months depicts the technical analysis process as follows:

1. The technical analysis starts no later than six months after the submission of the BUR;
2. The TTE completes a draft summary report and shares it with the Party concerned, no later than three months after the start of the technical analysis;
3. The Party reviews and comments on the draft summary report within three months of receipt; and
4. The TTE responds to and incorporates comments from the Party and finalizes, in consultation with the Party, the summary report within three months of the receipt of the comments. 

The summary report, once finalized, is made publicly available on the UNFCCC website. The SBI, at its next session, takes note of the published summary reports.

Rounds of technical analyses:

The submission of BURs by developing country Parties began in December 2014 and the first round of technical analysis started in May 2015, and thereafter as a continuous process, with an individual summary report being prepared by the TTE, for each Party that is analysed. All the technical analysis rounds can be found here.