UNFCCC CPIA interface for Policy Literacy: Making Complex Models Accessible

ID: 1646

Presenting Author: Kusum Lata

Session: 622 - “Science isn’t just for scientists”: IA and advancing technical literacy

Status: pending


Summary Statement

Use of user-friendly CPIA interface, powered by CGE model, empowers policymakers, creates analytical ownership, strengthen public trust, and enable evidence-based climate communication.


Abstract

Traditional assessments of the impacts of climate policies included by countries in their NDCs often create trust gaps, as expert-driven CGE models produce results that policymakers cannot independently verify. This limits government ownership, weakens alignment with national development priorities, and constrains the effective communication of climate policy outcomes to citizens. This paper examines how a user-friendly modelling interface, used alongside core model results, can transform the relationship between technical analysis, policy ownership, and public acceptability. The UNFCCC-developed interface enables policymakers to independently run CGE-based scenarios without coding expertise, making economy-wide results transparent and comprehensible through interactive visualizations. By allowing governments to directly explore trade-offs, test policy combinations, and interpret outcomes, the tool strengthens analytical confidence and embeds impact assessment within domestic decision-making. Applications across ex-ante and ex-post evaluations show that democratizing access to modelling enhances national ownership, improves the integration of socioeconomic considerations, and supports more effective, evidence-based communication with stakeholders. The study demonstrates that co-developed tools can bridge technical complexity and policy needs, ultimately improving both the design and social acceptance of climate actions.


Author Bio

Kusum Lata is the team lead in mitigation division of the UNFCCC leading work related to the impacts of the implementation of response measures (climate mitigation policies).


Coauthor 1: William Agyemang Bonsu

Coauthor 2: Agung Adhiasto

Coauthor 3: Lindsay Shutes

Coauthor 4: Dorothee Flaig

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