Governance & Policy

Technical Expert Review (TER)

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Definition

The technical expert review is the review process under Article 13 of the Paris Agreement in which teams of technical experts assess each party's biennial transparency report: the consistency of its greenhouse gas inventory with IPCC methodologies, progress made in implementing and achieving its NDC, and support provided or received. Conducted as desk, centralised, in-country or simplified reviews, the process identifies areas for improvement and capacity-building needs rather than punishing non-compliance.

References

UNFCCCPetersberg Climate Dialogue context

This reference provides supporting context for how “Technical Expert Review (TER)” is defined and used.

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Source imported for editorial provenance.

Overview

How it is used

The review structures transparency cycle operations, expert nominations and training, and the improvement trajectories of national reporting systems.

Why it matters

In a regime built on pledges, the TER is what turns self-reporting into accountable reporting.