This working paper summarises the results of scoping research to assess capacity needs in six countries—Brazil, Colombia, Ethiopia, India, South Africa, and Thailand—related to greenhouse gas (GHG) measurement and performance tracking. The paper identifies common capacity challenges, as well as opportunities to overcome them.

The World Resources Institute (WRI) is working through the Measurement and Performance Tracking (MAPT) project to try and enhance national capacities in developing countries to measure GHG emissions and track performance toward low-carbon development goals, where needed.

The paper argues that supporting capacity building for measurement and tracking systems in a timely and targeted way is critical, as many countries are already developing such systems to meet a variety of objectives, such as enhancing GHG inventories, measuring GHG impacts of mitigation actions and policies, tracking progress toward national mitigation goals, facilitating climate finance, generating carbon credits, and preparing to meet international reporting requirements.