The presentation looks at the origins of the OECD DAC Rio markers for biodiversity, climate change mitigation, climate change adaptation and desertification were described. Using concrete examples, their concept, methodology and application was explained. On-going work by the ENVIRONET and WP-STAT Task Team on improving Rio markers, environment and development finance statistics, is also provided.

1. Introduction to the
OECD DAC Rio markers
Training workshop on accessing and using OECD DAC Rio
marker and environmental-related development finance statistics
18 September, Paris

2. Introduction to the Rio markers
1. Why do the Rio markers exist?
2. What is a policy marker?
3. What are the Rio markers and how are they defined?
4. How the marker methodology indicates policy
objectives?
5. To what, and how are the markers applied?
6. The key features and caveats to note
7. Future improvements are under discussion

3. Why do the Rio markers exist?
 Following the 1992 Rio “Earth Summit”,
three Rio conventions established on:
• Biodiversity
• Climate Change
• Desertification
 “Rio markers” introduced in 1998 to:
• measure and monitor financial support provided to developing
countries targeting the implementation of the Rio conventions
• support members in their reporting to the Conventions (e.g. as an
input to their National Comms/National Reports).
• situate these flows within the overall development co-operation
portfolio, and to track mainstreaming

4. What is a policy marker ?
 marker = a variable to identify and filter data
according to certain characteristics
 markers indicate policy objectives
• i.e. if the Rio conventions are the principal or a
significant objective of an activity reported
 markers track activities targeting environmental
objectives cutting across a range of sectors >
preferable to sector codes

5. What are the Rio markers & how
are they defined ?
• 4 Rio markers:
• Climate Change Adaptation
• Climate Change Mitigation
• Biodiversity
• Desertification + 1 Environmental Marker
• To ensure common understanding among reporters,
application of each marker guided by:
• Definition
• Eligibility criteria,
• Typical examples, and guidance
• Recorded in CRS reporting directive & Handbook

6. How does the marker methodology
indicate policy objectives?
Activities are screend and
identified and marked as
either, targeting the Rio
conventions as a:
• 2 = Principal
objective
• 1 = significant
objective, or
• 0 = not targeted

7. To what & how are the markers applied?
Coverage
• Bilateral flows only
• Official Development
Assistance (ODA)
– Since 1998 for biodiversity,
climate mitigation and
desertification
– Mandatory from 2006 flows
– Adaptation introduce and
mandatory from 2010 flows
• Other Official Flows (OOF)
– Voluntary basis since 2012
(excl. export credits)
Application
• Every activity screened
• Excluding:
– general budget support
imputed student costs,
– debt relief except debt
swaps,
– administrative costs,
– development awareness,
and,
– refugees in donor countries
• Commitments basis

8. Key features and caveats:
Marker presentation and quantification
• The Rio markers are descriptive rather than strictly
quantitative.
• They allow for an approximate quantification of financial
flows targeting the objectives of the Rio conventions.
Principal +significant data
= Upper bound or total estimate
Principal data only
= Flows specifically targeting Rio conventions
• Finance reported by Parties to the conventions is often based on,
but may not be directly comparable to, Rio marker data

9. Key features and caveats:
Tracking of Multiple
• Allows tracking of multiple objectives
simultaneously whilst avoiding double counting
Figure 18.2. The multiple objectives of environmental development co-operation
3 year annual average, 2010-2012, bilateral commitments, USD billion, constant 2012 prices
Source: OECD DAC Creditor Reporting System statistics, July 2014.

10. The Joint ENVIRONET-WP-STAT Task Team on
the Improvement of Rio markers, environment
and development finance statistics
Goal:
DAC methodologies and data remain a point of reference on Official
Development Assistance & Other Official Flows targeting environmental
objectives
Areas for improvement :
• Quality - the application of Rio markers and data
• Coverage - reconciliation of “green ” multilateral finance flows
• Communication - including user access and training workshops
• Use - supporting transparency and harmonisation in reporting
*non-export credit

11. Summary of Key points:
• Rio markers measure and monitor external development
finance in support of the Rio conventions
• 4 Rio markers (climate adaptation, mitigation, biodiversity and
desertification) + 1 environment marker
• Markers tracks policy objectives – principal and significant
• Marking guided by definitions, eligibility criteria, typical
examples and guidance
• Markers applied to bilateral ODA and OOF (voluntarily, 2012)
• Data track mainstreaming and allow for an approximate
quantification of finance flows targeting the Rio conventions

12. OECD DAC CRS Rio marker statistics and analysis
www.oecd.org/dac/stats/rioconventions.htm
Joint ENVIRONET-WP-STAT Task Team:
Stephanie.Ockenden@OECD.org and Valerie.Gaveau@OECD.org