Background paper: methodology and criteria for assessing multilateral initiatives to close the global 2030 climate ambition and action gap

A broad range of mitigation options have been identified and assessed in the literature that enable countries to close the existing gap between 2030 emission projections resulting from the aggregate efforts of countries to achieve their Nationally Determined Contributions to the Paris Agreement and the emissions level consistent with the Paris Agreement 1.5°C limit. This report documents the methodology chosen and the criteria applied for selecting and assessing promising options for intergovernmental cooperation in the G20 countries with relevance for closing the ambition gap in four key policy areas: 1) energy transition (from fossil to renewable energy sources), 2) synthetic e-fuels (production, trade, use of fuels from renewable energies), 3) sustainable food systems (reduction of post-harvest losses, food waste, animal products), and 4) forest protection (conservation and restoration of forests). The report presents the overall approach of the analysis by sketching its four working steps: Step 1 describes the status quo and the selection of initiatives to be reviewed. Step 2 constitutes an evaluation of selected initiatives, based on a number of criteria, including chances of success and effectiveness, efficiency and costs, transparency and institutional structures, sustainability and environmental integrity, and scope for improvements and need for additional multilateral cooperation. Step 3 aims at identifying options for closing policy gaps found in step 2. These options are further elaborated, and recommendations are formulated to support the options. Finally, step 4 provides a summary and conclusions regarding the options presented in an evaluation table.