Why A Framework?

Climate governance and capacity building are inherently difficult to assess, as they often do not have immediately quantifiable outputs. Hence, detangling clear lines of cause and effect from investment to effective climate action is often not possible. However, there are research supported models of system change which provide insight into the connections between climate action and the various aspects of governance and capacity building embedded in ACE.6 The challenges in measuring ACE often impede efforts to strengthen it, thus, a framework approach would allow for actions to be reported and measured more efficiently in order to manage, mobilize support and connect parallel efforts occurring globally.

The ACE Observatory Assessment Framework provides a simple way to understand the capacities needed to achieve the multilaterally co-designed ACE benchmarks, providing a clear model for identifying what to assess. It proposes a mechanism to identify strengths and gaps between countries that can spark knowledge-exchange and collaboration. The ACE Observatory sees ACE through a procedural lens that improves the process of how climate decision-making is made. This document serves as a first draft to be further discussed through technical and community review.