Some 90 parties to the Paris Agreement have already submitted their first Biennial Transparency Reports (BTRs), in what marks a significant milestone in the implementation of the Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF), the UNFCCC has said.
It added that transparent reporting is a ‘vital enabling tool’ for governments, providing the data necessary to inform evidence-based policymaking, enhance climate action, and align with broader development goals.
Some 57 developing countries, including 13 Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS), have submitted BTRs, which indicates a ‘strong commitment’ by climate vulnerable nations to respond to the climate crisis.
BTRs are ‘central to the climate ambition cycle’, UNFCCC added, enabling countries to prepare for the next round of NDCs in 2025.
‘Transparency is crucial’
“Transparency is crucial, not only because it highlights progress in climate action but because it spurs more action: enabling data-driven responses that build resilience and protect vulnerable populations by identifying risks and vulnerabilities, and leading to better resource allocation,” UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell commented at COP29.
“Every submission, every lesson learned, brings us closer to the goals of the Paris Agreement.”
Expert reviews
The submission of BTRs represents just one step in the broader transparency process, UNFCCC noted, with the reports undergoing independent technical expert reviews, which assess progress toward NDC targets, identify capacity-building needs, and offer guidance for enhancing future reporting.
The multilateral phase of the ETF, known as the Facilitative Multilateral Consideration of Progress (FMCP), will further encourage parties to exchange insights, successes, and challenges, promoting global cooperation and collaboration on climate action.
‘UN Climate Change plays a crucial role in supporting Parties through extensive training, including of expert reviewers, as well as joint capacity-building initiatives with partner organisations across regions,’ it added. ‘This enables countries to strengthen their transparency efforts and effectively meet reporting obligations.’ Read more here.
