| | | | Group photo of the 2024 UNFCCC-GIR-CASTT Training Programme | 17/10/2024 10:56 | Yali Wang | 17/10/2024 10:59 | 17.10.2024 | The UNFCCC Climate Action and Support Transparency Training
(CASTT) Programme is a flagship initiative designed
to build the capacity of national experts from developing countries in key
areas related to climate action and transparency. Since its launch, CASTT has expanded
to include three critical sub-programmes, each targeting specific audiences and
focusing on key aspects of greenhouse gas (GHG) inventories, adaptation
reporting, and the Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF).
1. UNFCCC-GIR-CASTT Training Programme
Launched in partnership with the Greenhouse Gas Inventory
& Research Center of Korea (GIR), the
UNFCCC-GIR-CASTT Programme
offers a three-week intensive course held annually in Seoul, Republic of Korea since
2017. This program equips national GHG inventory experts and technical
professionals from developing countries with the necessary technical skills to
develop high-quality GHG inventories. The training focuses on the Measurement,
Reporting, and Verification (MRV) system and the ETF frameworks, ensuring
participants are prepared to report on their national climate actions under the
Paris Agreement. To date, 221 experts from 89 countries have successfully completed
this training, significantly bolstering the capacity of developing nations in
GHG reporting.
Watch videos from
the UNFCCC secretariat, GIR and programme alumni to gain a better understanding
of the training.
2. Adaptation Academy
Launched in 2021, the Adaptation
Academy supports developing countries in effectively
reporting climate adaptation actions. It focuses on training early- and
mid-career professionals involved in adaptation planning, policy development,
and evaluation, with particular emphasis on aligning national communications,
National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), and Nationally Determined Contributions
(NDCs). With over 170 experts trained from 82 countries, the Academy has facilitated
regional workshops, including recent sessions in South Africa (April 2024) and
Bangkok (September 2024). By adopting a holistic approach, the Academy ensures participants
acquire practical skills to enhance their countries' climate adaptation
reports.
3. ETF Blended Training
Initiated in 2021, the ETF Blended Training
combines in-person and online sessions aimed at empowering policymakers,
government officials, and experts responsible for climate mitigation and
transparency. This program demystifies the complexities of the ETF, focusing on
mitigation policies and sustainable development impacts. Over 240 experts from
89 countries have participated in this training, gaining hands-on experience in
climate transparency and reporting under the Paris Agreement. By equipping
national experts with the necessary skills, the ETF Blended Training enables developing
countries to meet their reporting obligations effectively.
Together, these sub-programmes under the CASTT initiative
play a vital role in strengthening the technical and institutional capacities
of developing nations, advancing global efforts to advance climate transparency
and adaptation goals.
An event focusing on the
UNFCCC-GASTT program will be held at COP29 on 19 November, 2024, from 9:00 to
10:45 AM. Please join the event and meet programme alumni, UNFCCC secretariat
and CASTT partners, to gain insights into the programme and future training opportunities.
For more details, an event page will be posted on the UNFCCC Transparency
Calendar website closer to the date at https://unfccc.int/transparency-calendar.
| | | | | Group photo of the 2024 UNFCCC-CASTT Adaptation Academy in Asia | 07/10/2024 22:01 | Yali Wang | 07/10/2024 22:03 | 07.10.2024 | The UNFCCC-CASTT Adaptation Academy in
Asia, held from 30 September to 4 October 2024 in Bangkok, Thailand, marked a
significant milestone in building the capacity of national experts and
stakeholder to meet their climate reporting obligations under the Enhanced
Transparency Framework (ETF). Co-organized by the Korea Environment Institute
(KEI), Korea Adaptation Center for Climate Change (KACCC), the Asian Institute
for Technology (AIT), UNEP and UNDP, as well as the RCC Bangkok and UNFCCC
Secretariat, the Academy brought together more than 20 participants from across
Asia to enhance their understanding of reporting on climate change impacts and
adaptation, and enhance their skills and technical knowledge in preparing the first
Biennial Transparency Reports (BTRs).
Driving Climate Transparency
Focused
on the theme “Climate Transparency and Adaptation Action: Preparing BTRs under
the ETF and Assessing Adaptation,” the Academy provided participants with
comprehensive technical knowledge through hands-on sessions, interactive
exercises, and country-specific case studies. As the deadline for the first BTR
submission approaches in December 2024, the Academy played a crucial role in
helping countries prepare high-quality reports that reflect their national
circumstances and adaptation priorities.
Paul
Desanker, Manager of the UNFCCC’s Adaptation Division, emphasized in his
opening remarks that “this Academy represents a vital step in ensuring that
adaptation reporting aligns with global climate goals while recognizing the
unique challenges faced by developing countries.”
Key Highlights
- Hands-on
Sessions for Practical Solutions: The Academy featured practical sessions
that cut through the complexity of BTR preparation, providing participants
with clear strategies for aligning their National Adaptation Plans (NAPs)
and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) with their BTRs.
Participants engaged in exercises that mapped data sources and identified
gaps in their national reporting systems, ensuring that their first BTRs
would be both robust and feasible to complete.
- Peer
Learning through Country Experiences: A highlight of the Academy was
the peer-to-peer exchange of adaptation challenges and solutions.
Participants from countries such as Mongolia, Nepal, and the Philippines
shared their unique approaches to adaptation reporting, fostering a rich
dialogue on common obstacles like data gaps and institutional
coordination. This interactive learning process provided participants with
fresh perspectives on overcoming their own reporting challenges.
- Innovative
Approaches to Data Collection and Adaptation Assessment: Throughout
the Academy, discussions centered on innovative methods to accelerate data
collection and improve climate resilience. Countries explored how to
institutionalize adaptation data management systems, develop centralized
databases, and enhance cross-ministerial coordination to streamline
reporting processes.
- Field Trip
to Community Water Resource Management: The Academy concluded with a
field trip to Rangsit, where participants witnessed firsthand how
community-based water resource management practices can serve as a model
for integrating local adaptation efforts into national reporting
frameworks. This real-world example of climate adaptation highlighted the
importance of including grassroots initiatives in BTRs.
- Regional
Collaboration for Climate Action: Collaboration across borders was a
recurring theme throughout the Academy. Participants were encouraged to
establish partnerships with regional organizations and international
support mechanisms to ensure long-term success in their climate reporting.
Moving Forward: A Foundation for
Future Reporting
As
countries in the Asia region move closer to the 2024 BTR submission deadline,
the outcomes of this Academy will play a pivotal role in shaping their
adaptation reporting strategies. With the technical skills gained during the
Academy, participants are better equipped to align their national adaptation
efforts with global climate commitments under the Paris Agreement.
The UNFCCC-CASTT Adaptation Academy
has not only enhanced participants' understanding of the ETF but has also
empowered them with practical, actionable strategies that will strengthen their
countries' capacity to address climate adaptation challenges. As we look ahead,
the success of the Asia Academy will serve as a model for future
capacity-building initiatives in other regions, reinforcing the importance of
transparency in the global fight against climate change.
| | | | | Group photo of the workshop | 09/09/2024 22:39 | Yali Wang | 09/09/2024 22:39 | 09.09.2024 | From August 27 to
30, 2024, a regional technical training workshop was held in Brazzaville to
support Central African – ECCAS countries in their climate transparency
efforts. Organized by The Economic Community of the Central African States
(ECCAS), US Forest Service (US FS), African Development Bank (AfDB), Initiative
for Climate Action Transparency (ICAT), and the UNFCCC Secretariat, the
workshop brought together representatives from 11 Central African countries to
enhance their technical capacity to prepare Biennial Transparency Reports
(BTRs) with a focus on tracking progress of Nationally Determined Contributions
(NDCs) and project greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The event addressed some of the
urgent challenges these nations face in meeting their reporting obligations
under the Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF) of the Paris Agreement.
The workshop began
with an opening ceremony led by Ms. Arlette Soudan-Nonault, Minister of
Environment, Sustainable Development, and the Congo Basin. Keynote speakers included
representatives from ECCAS, ICAT, AfDB, UNDP, the incoming COP29 Presidency,
and the UNFCCC Secretariat, who emphasized the critical role of African
countries in global climate action, the importance of climate transparency and
the urgency of preparing and submitting their first BTRs on time.
The first session
set the stage by outlining the workshop’s objectives: to strengthen national
capacities for BTR preparation, including by empowering relevant stakeholders,
in particular national experts, and providing them with in-depth technical
advice on how to prepare chapter on tracking progress of NDCs and projection of
GHG, including use of CRTs and CTFs, as well as sharing best practices and
promoting peer exchange and networking among participants and partners.
Participants shared
their countries’ progress and the key challenges they face, such as limited
financial resources, technical capacity gaps, difficulties in data collection,
and lack of coordination between ministries. The session underscored the
importance of accurate data collection and the use of appropriate methodologies
for GHG projections.
The next session
focused on the ETF and its modalities, procedures, and guidelines (MPGs) for
preparing the BTR. It highlighted key elements in relation to tracking progress
of NDCs and explored the flexibilities available to developing countries.
Participants discussed how to identify relevant indicators and reporting them
in the BTR. Through this session countries had an opportunity to learn from
each other’s experiences with a view to improve their national BTR processes.
Participants then
turned to the technical aspects of GHG inventories and projections. Each
country provided updates on their progress, followed by hands-on exercises
using tools like the ICAT guides and the Long-Range Energy Alternatives
Planning System (LEAP). These exercises helped identify data collection gaps
and the expertise needed to improve national reporting. An interactive session
introduced the NDC 3.0 Navigator tool, which supports the development of NDCs.
Participants shared their experiences with various tools for GHG inventories,
discussing their advantages, challenges, and practical applications.
The workshop also
covered reporting on adaptation and financial, technology, and
capacity-building support in BTRs. Through case studies, participants tackled
technical challenges and explored solutions for filling data gaps. This session
provided valuable insights into how to effectively communicate adaptation
efforts and the support needed and received in their BTR.
On the final day, the
presentation of Paris Agreement Implementation and Compliance Committee (PAICC)
Co-chair introduced the role of PAICC being to help countries meeting their
transparency obligations under the Paris Agreement. Participants learned about
the potential consequences of failing to meet reporting deadlines and how PAICC
can assist countries in overcoming obstacles with preparing and submitting their
BTRs.
The workshop
concluded with a session on the opportunities for preparing NDC 3.0 and
Long-Term Low Emission Development Strategies (LT-LEDS). Countries provided
updates on their progress, focusing on data mobilization, expert collaboration,
and the methodologies used, and the various partners provided an overview of
the opportunities available for helping Central African countries preparing
their LT LEDS. The session highlighted the ongoing efforts to ensure that
Central African countries are well-prepared to meet future climate commitments.
The outcomes of the
Brazzaville workshop demonstrate Central Africa’s strong commitment to
enhancing climate transparency and advancing regional climate reporting
efforts. The collaborative environment, practical exercises, and expert-led
sessions have enhanced participants’ technical capacity and equipped them with
the skills which will effectively contribute to the preparation of their BTRs.
This progress not only strengthens national efforts but also contributes to the
broader goals of the Paris Agreement, ensuring that Central African countries
remain active and accountable in global climate action.
| | | | | NDC 3.0 Regional Forum for Pacific Nations | 23/08/2024 10:11 | Yali Wang | 23/08/2024 10:11 | 23.08.2024 | The NDC
3.0 Regional Forum and Article 6 Training for the Pacific, held from
12-16 August 2024, in Apia, Samoa, made progress in strengthening the capacity
of 17 Pacific nations to fulfill their reporting obligations under the Paris
Agreement’s Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF). The forum, which brought
together representatives from countries including Australia, Cook Islands,
Fiji, French Polynesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Niue,
Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu,
and Vanuatu, addressed some of the specific challenges these nations face in
preparing their Biennial Transparency Reports (BTRs).
The
event was organized by the UNFCCC secretariat and its RCC Asia Pacific, the
Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) and the NDC
Partnership in cooperation with the UNEP and the Regional Pacific NDC Hub, with
support from the UNDP and Australia.
The event started with welcoming remarks
by Mr. Sefanaia Nawadra, SPREP, Mr. Themba Kalua, UN Multi-Country Office, Mr.
Perumal Arumugam, UNFCCC secretariat and Mr. Deo Gabinete, NDC Partnership, who
highlighted the importance of Pacific Islands' leadership in climate action,
highlighting their commitment to ambitious policies and resilience-building
despite limited resources, as well as the importance of NDCs 3.0 in advancing
global climate goals, focusing on their potential to drive transformational
implementation and ensure an inclusive transition.
The keynote speech on fast-tracking BTRs and
aligning with NDCs emphasized the urgency of accelerating BTR submissions,
particularly for LDCs and SIDS. With 2024 as the target for these submissions,
the call to action underlined the need for robust technical support and advice
to ensure that the Pacific nations can effectively communicate their progress
under the Paris Agreement.
The context-setting presentation on
Transparency Outlook highlighted the crucial outcomes from the
intergovernmental process, with a focus on the ETF. Key provisions regarding
ETF and BTRs were introduced, emphasizing the importance of reporting and the
role of BTRs in showcasing the commitment of Pacific region countries to Paris
Agreement goals. The presentation underscored the necessity of timely and
accurate submissions to meet the transparency requirements.
The
central focus of the hands-on transparency sessions organized during the forum
was the "Preparation of the BTRs - A Clinic Session," attended by 49
participants, where they assessed the status of their BTR preparation and
identified the key challenges they encounter. These included limited technical
capacity, difficulties in data collection, lack of institutional coordination and
stakeholder engagement and other. The session fostered a collaborative
atmosphere, allowing for critical reflection and the exchange of experiences
and strategies among the countries.
Building
on this, the subsequent session "Preparation of the BTRs: Hands-On Work
and Peer Exchange" offered practical exercises, including working with
Common Tabular Formats (CTFs) and in particular focusing on identifying the
relevant indicators for tracking progress of implementing the NDCs. Through
group work and peer exchanges, participants shared insights on their NDC
targets related to mitigation as well as adaptation and came up with indicators
to be used for tracking the progress, such as the number of trees planted over
the period, GHG emissions reduced compared to BaU and share of renewable energy
in the national energy mix. Participants also gained a deeper understanding of
the complexities involved in reporting on tracking progress of the NDCs.
In
addition, participants were introduced the ETF reporting tools, which were developed
to facilitate the countries’ BTR preparation. The introduction and short practical
demonstration of these tools provided participants a better understanding of
how the tools work in practice.
The
successful outcomes of these transparency sessions underscore the commitment of
Pacific nations to enhancing climate transparency and advancing their climate
reporting efforts. The knowledge-sharing and collaboration fostered during the
forum will contribute to the timely and effective submission of BTRs,
supporting the broader goals of the Paris Agreement.
| | | | | Group photo of the workshop | 01/08/2024 16:53 | Yali Wang | 01/08/2024 16:53 | 01.08.2024 | The LDC
Group and IIED organized a 3-day workshop, in collaboration with the secretariat,
to support the LDCs in implementing the ETF and preparing the BTRs, from 16 to
18 July 2024 in Lilongwe, Malawi. The workshop was attended by 33 participants
representing 24 LDCs (Benin, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia,
Comoros, Ethiopia, Haiti, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritania, Niger,
Republic of Guinea, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South
Sudan, Sudan, The Gambia, Togo, Uganda, Zambia).
During
the high-level remarks, Mr. Shahin Shahyarov, COP 29 Presidency, joined
virtually and highlighted the importance of transparency to unlock support for climate
action and the responsibility of LDC group to move the agenda forward at COP 29.
Evans Njewa, chair of the LDC Group and Dr. Yusuf Mkungula, Secretary for
Natural Resources and Climate Change in Malawi, provided sobering perspectives
on the impacts of climate change on LDCs and their difficultly to adapt or
contain that impact whilst encouraging participants to ensure they make best
use of the workshop and the knowledge of the resource persons available. Ms.
Tawonga Mbale-Luka, Director of Environmental Affairs and NFP for Malawi,
welcomed the participants to Lilongwe and called for more active participation
of LDCs in the climate change negotiations so their voice is strongly reflected
to all decisions. Mr. Donald Cooper, Director of Transparency Division, provided
a highly motivating and empowering talk recounting the valuable contributions
the LDC group made to the development of the MPGs, the simplicity and
accessibility of the ETF reporting tools to meet the needs of LDCs, the
necessity of LDCs to claim the funds made available through the GEF for
reporting and related capacity-building support especially for more than one
report in a single application, effectively engaging with GEF implementing
agencies to get the best outcomes, and using the information already
available to prepare and submit their first BTR. These remarks set a positive
tone for the rest of the workshop.
Robust
discussions were held on how to approach the task of preparing the first BTR
and understand the resources, technical expertise and institutional
arrangements needed over the longer term. An informative set of presentations, case
examples, exercises and plenary discussions helped the participants absorb the technical
background and flexibility provisions available for the LDCs. Participants discussed
how to develop and report on indicators to monitor the progress of NDCs; they
explored the fundamentals for reporting on GHG inventory, they learned about
the nuances in reporting on adaptation and loss and damage referencing
information from other documents such as National Adaptation Plans, Adaptation
Communications, NDCs; exploring institutional arrangement set-ups needed to
collect information on support needed and received; as well as understanding
the technical expert review and facilitative multilateral consideration of
progress processes. In addition, a demo session has been conducted on the use
of the ETF reporting tools with hands-on exercises.
Participants
expressed their appreciation to the UNFCCC team (Don Cooper, Tugba Icmeli,
Lornaliza Kogler and Marlan Pillay), IIED team (Fernanda Alcobe, Camilla More,
Anna Bishop) and Yamikani Idriss (master of ceremony and transparency
negotiator for LDCs) and expressed that they are leaving the workshop with more
confidence, focus and optimism that they can prepare their first BTRs.
| | | | | CGE BTR workshop in Victoria falls, Zimbabwe | 05/06/2024 11:08 | Yali Wang | 05/06/2024 11:08 | 05.06.2024 | The Consultative Group of Experts (CGE) with the support of the secretariat’s transparency division, UN Development Programme (UNDP), and the government of Zimbabwe, recently concluded a comprehensive workshop on the preparation of biennial transparency reports (BTRs) for developing countries in the Africa region.
Mr. Donald Cooper, the Director of the Transparency Division, commended the workshop, praising the diligent efforts of the parties involved in preparing their Biennial Transparency Reports (BTRs) for timely submission. He also emphasized the Secretariat’s commitment to supporting the Consultative Group of Experts (CGE) in fulfilling its responsibilities to developing country parties.
Held on 8-10 May, in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, the workshop aimed to equip national experts with the requisite skills and knowledge for the timely and accurate submission of their first BTRs, aligning with the enhanced transparency framework’s (ETF) modalities, procedures, and guidelines (MPGs).
Attended by 48 national experts from 35 countries, including BTR coordinators and greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory experts, the workshop provided a comprehensive learning experience through a blended approach of presentations, interactive group exercises, and practical sessions.
The hands-on nature of the workshop was well received, fostering a collaborative environment where participants engaged in fruitful peer discussions, shared lessons learned, and strengthened networks with countries that are more advanced in their BTR preparation.
Throughout the three days, participants intensely discussed the ETF, MPGs and the BTRs, and had the opportunity to engage with the Paris Agreement Implementation and Compliance Committee (PAIIC). This interaction provided valuable feedback on BTR submissions as well as the support available from the committee.
Additionally, experts had the opportunity to utilize a demo version of the UNFCCC ETF reporting tools which strengthened capacity to report progress on the implementation of nationally determined contributions (NDCs).
Overall, the workshop highlighted both strengths and areas for improvement. Participants collectively acknowledged the need to fully understand their NDCs and ensure they are written in a direct and clear manner. This would facilitate ease of use when compiling data and information for the BTRs.
Moving forward, countries were encouraged to use existing data effectively, apply flexibility provisions where necessary and engage with each other in this journey. The success of the hands-on training workshop marked a significant step towards bolstering the technical capacity of African countries, ensuring their readiness to fulfill transparency obligations under the Paris Agreement. | | | | | 2024 Adaptation Academy under the UNFCCC Climate Action and Support Transparency Training (CASTT), Pretoria, South Africa | 27/05/2024 11:27 | Tibor Lindovsky | 28/05/2024 12:14 | 27.05.2024 | Pretoria,
South Africa – From April 23 to 26, 2024, the Adaptation Academy under the UNFCCC Climate Action and Support Transparency
Training (CASTT) organized a pivotal workshop "Enhancing
Transparency, including National Climate Adaptation Policies and Financing
through the Broadened Water-Energy-Food (WEF+) Nexus."
Organized by the Southern African Development Community
(SADC) secretariat, the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA),
IHE-Delft, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Global Water Partnership and other partners in collaboration with the UNFCCC secretariat, the
workshop convened fifteen national experts from eleven countries in the SADC
region: Angola, Comoros, the Kingdom of Eswatini, Malawi, Mauritius,
Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. The aim
was to build and enhance their technical capacity and understanding of the
enhanced transparency framework (ETF) and the modalities, procedures, and
guidelines (MPGs), facilitating their preparation of biennial transparency
reports (BTRs).
The workshop specifically focused on BTR chapters addressing
climate change impacts and adaptation, as well as the financial, technological,
and capacity-building support needed and received. The discussions also delved
into integrating the WEF+ nexus into national adaptation plans and nationally
determined contributions (NDCs). Participants engaged in fruitful peer
discussions, shared experiences and lessons learned, and the event fostered
peer learning opportunities within the SADC region.
At the event, the participants highlighted the importance of
implementing the ETF and providing a platform for peer-to-peer learning. They
recognized the diverse starting points and national circumstances of each
developing country. This collaborative environment fostered a deeper
understanding and commitment to enhancing transparency and building confidence
in submitting BTRs in a timely manner.
Key messages underscored the significance of institutional
arrangements for improved BTRs over time with support, as well as communicating
national priorities, challenges, and needs, particularly regarding adaptation,
as a crucial priority for the entire continent.
For
more information on the workshop, click
here.
For more information on UNFCCC-CASTT, click here.
| | | | | Some of the participants of the workshop on 17 April 2024 | 09/05/2024 18:43 | Yali Wang | 09/05/2024 18:44 | 09.05.2024 | From 15 to 19 April 2024, four mandated regional online workshops
were convened to showcase the support available to developing country Parties for
enhanced transparency framework and to share insights on application process
for transparency-related projects. These workshops drew a significant number of
participants, with 378 transparency experts from 111 Parties and 14 support
providers. The success of these events has paved the way for an upcoming in-person
workshop at SB 60 on the same topic (registration link).
Nabeel Munir, SBI Chair, Shahin Shahyarov and Sarkhan
Ismayilov, Incoming COP Presidency, and Donald Cooper, Director of the
Transparency Division at the secretariat welcomed participants. They collectively
highlighted the crucial role of transparency in climate action and support and
importance of providing financial and technical support to developing
countries, especially in facilitating full implementation of the ETF.
The event served as a valuable a platform for various
support providers, including GEF, UNDP, UNEP and FAO, as well as CBIT-GSP, CGE,
GHGMI, ICAT, PATPA, Japan and US, to present on the financial and technical
support they are offering to developing countries. A compilation of more detailed background information
on ETF support was made available on the webpage.
The workshops also enabled discussions on best
practices and lessons learnt, as well as guidance on application for
transparency-related projects. Representatives from Belize, Brazil, Ghana,
South Africa, Georgia, China, Fiji and Cook Islands shared their valuable
insights, setting the scene for comprehensive and fruitful discussions among
all participants.
The engagement and discussions at the workshops resulted in
concrete collaboration opportunities between support providers and country
representatives, such as plans for in-country support and one-to-one consultations.
The
feedback received from the participants is very positive, appreciative of the
opportunity provided to engage with each other, and with demands to continue
organizing similar events.
The insights gathered from the online workshops will inform
the upcoming mandated in-person
workshop, scheduled for 15:00 – 18:00 on 4 June 2024 at SBI 60. To receive
information on the in-person workshop, please register here.
| | | | | Visual summary of the CGE 6th informal forum | 19/03/2024 17:45 | Yali Wang | 19/03/2024 17:45 | 19.03.2024 | This year is key for the implementation of the enhanced transparency framework (ETF) as countries must submit their first biennial transparency reports (BTRs). The 6th informal forum convened in February by the Consultative Group of Experts (CGE) brought together more than 150 participants from developing countries, national experts from Andorra, Armenia and Ghana, and support providers such as CBIT-GSP, FAO, ICAT and UNDP to exchange insights on BTR preparation. The discussions also informed the CGE’s 2024 workplan to support developing countries.
Under the ETF, Parties are required to submit BTRs every two years, with the first submission due by 31 December 2024. BTRs are crucial for tracking progress under the Paris Agreement and upholding commitments to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.“Support to developing countries is critical to facilitate successful implementation of the enhanced transparency framework, and the CGE will support developing countries in their transparency endeavours,” said Xiang Gao, CGE Chair.Nabeel Munir, Chair of the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI), said: “Transparency enables an honest global climate conversation about areas of progress and impactful results. It encourages all to do more.” He commended the CGE’s 25-year-long contribution to providing developing countries with transparency advice and support, and highlighted how critical it is for this support to continue.The forum showcased the most recent CGE capacity building needs assessment report, which highlights availability of quality data, collection processes and technical capacity, tools and institutional arrangements as the top challenges for developing countries when reporting on climate actions and support needs. Building institutional capacity, particularly for least developed countries and small island developing states, and providing practical tools and methods were also identified as crucial areas for improvement.The forum also highlighted presentations from developing countries and held brainstorming sessions with support providers. Emphasis was placed on aligning support with developing countries' challenges and priorities, fostering dialogue and avoiding duplication of efforts.Donald Cooper, Director of the UN Climate Change Transparency Division, praised the CGE for its commendable efforts over the years supporting developing countries on transparency matters, which has earned extensive appreciation from Parties. He encouraged the CGE to maintain the positive momentum of its work.
After drawing the informal forum to a close, the CGE held its 11th meeting and developed its 2024 workplan.The workplan sees the CGE’s technical support focusing on the use of ETF reporting tools and promoting peer learning and review for preparation and submission of the BTRs. The CGE will also strengthen its communications, outreach activities and collaborative efforts with other expert groups and organizations. As part of these efforts, the CGE will work with the Paris Agreement Implementation and Compliance Committee (PAICC) to ensure a clear understanding of BTR submission deadlines and associated procedures, for the timely completion of BTRs by developing countries.All of this will pave the way for developing countries to gain experience, improve the quality of their transparency reports and submit their BTRs before the end of 2024.Jigme, Manager of the Transparency Division, reaffirmed the secretariat’s commitment to helping the CGE advance its mandate.Established in 1999, the CGE is mandated to provide technical advice and support to developing country Parties for enhancing their institutional and technical capacity to prepare and submit national communications, biennial update reports, national greenhouse gas inventories and BTRs, as applicable, with a view to facilitating improvements in their reporting over time.
| | | | | Trainees of 2023 UNFCCC-GIR-CASTT Photo credit: Greenhouse Gas Inventory & Research Center of Korea | 30/08/2023 17:46 | Yali Wang | 30/08/2023 17:49 | 30.08.2023 | Following intense
three-week training in the Republic of Korea last month, a group of 26 national
experts from developing countries has been equipped with the knowledge and
skills needed to enhance their ability to prepare national greenhouse
gas inventories.
Such inventories are an important component of biennial
transparency reports (BTRs) under the Paris Agreement, due at the latest by December 2024.
The comprehensive training course was
a collaborative effort between the UN Climate Change secretariat and the
Greenhouse Gas Inventory & Research Center of Korea (GIR).
Speaking at the opening of the
event, Jigme, Manager of the Transparency Division of the UN Climate Change
secretariat noted that governments are now at a critical juncture for the
transparency of climate action.
“Transparency is one of the core
commitments embedded in the Convention and the Paris Agreement. It builds
mutual trust and confidence among Parties that the climate action commitments
and pledges that they put forward are being delivered on,” he said.
As part of the new biennial
transparency reports, all countries will provide a national inventory report of
their greenhouse gas emissions. Capacity building and technical support for
developing countries is crucial for this effort.
Jeong Eun-hae, President of the
Greenhouse Gas Inventory & Research Center of Korea, welcomed the trainees,
said: “Building upon the existing Measurement, Reporting, and Verification
(MRV) arrangements under the Convention, and moving towards the implementation
of the Enhanced Transparency Framework under the Paris Agreement, it is
imperative for the global community to make joint efforts to reduce greenhouse
gas by managing their national greenhouse gas inventories.”
“Having recognized such
international commitment, the partnership between GIR and the UNFCCC
Secretariat has significantly contributed to enhanced reporting capabilities of
developing countries,” she added.
It is noteworthy that among the
participants, 46% were from the Asia-Pacific, 23% from Latin America and the
Caribbean, and 31% from Africa regions. A solid gender balance was ensured. In
total, 58% of the participants were female.
The trainees were provided with knowledge
and insights on low carbon development, transparency arrangements, Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reporting requirements and methodologies and
tools for greenhouse gas emission calculation and projection for energy, waste, agriculture, forestry
and other land use (AFOLU), and industrial processes
and product use (IPPU) sectors.
Speakers and lectures included
experts from the IPCC, ICF International, George Mason University, Greenhouse Gas Inventory &
Research Center of Korea, Greenhouse Gas Management Institute, Hallym
University, Seoul Energy Corporation, Sookmyeong Women's University and the UN
Climate Change secretariat.
About the UNFCCC-GIR-CASTT training
programme
The UNFCCC-GIR-CASTT training
programme aims to equip national experts from developing countries with the
knowledge and tools necessary for preparing greenhouse gas inventories for
transparency reporting. In total, 196 trainees representing 86 developing countries
have successfully completed the UNFCCC-GIR-CASTT training programme between
2017 and 2023. The 13th professional training programme on
greenhouse gas inventories took place in Seoul 10 - 28 July.
More
information about UNFCCC-GIR-CASTT
and other CASTT training programme. | | | | | Participants of the 12th Group of Friends meeting | 06/04/2023 16:59 | Yali Wang | 06/04/2023 17:01 | 06.04.2023 | On 27 March 2023, the ETF Group of Friends virtually had its
12th meeting. The aim was to support developing countries more
effectively and efficiently in tracking the progress of the Paris Agreement.
36 representatives from 14 members attended the meeting,
including the European Commission, Food and Agriculture Organization, German
Environment Agency, Global Environment Facility, Greenhouse Gas Inventory &
Research Center of Korea, Initiative for Climate Action Transparency, Institute
for Global Environmental Strategies, International Institute for Environment
and Development, IPCC Task Force on National Greenhouse Gas Inventories, NDC
Partnership, Partnership on Transparency in the Paris Agreement, UNFCCC
secretariat, United Nations Development Programme, United Nations Environment
Programme Copenhagen Climate Centre.
The
ETF Group of Friends is an informal network of entities actively supporting
developing countries on transparency issues. The
primary aspiration of the ETF Group of Friends is to contribute to a successful
implementation of the enhanced transparency framework (ETF) under the Paris
Agreement.
At the 12th
group meeting, members recognized its critical role in assisting developing
countries implement the ETF and committed to continue exchanging information,
sharing lessons learned, and promoting coordination and collaboration in their
support of developing countries. In 2023, the group will collaborate to organize ETF
Dialogues alongside upcoming Regional Climate Weeks. These ETF Dialogues will
play a crucial role in advancing preparations for the submission of Parties'
first biennial transparency reports. For more information on the first ETF
Dialogue organized in 2022, please visit this article.
To sustain momentum for ETF implementation, the group will join
forces at SB58, regional climate weeks and COP28 under #Together4Transparency
initiative. The initiative will
· engage national and international leaders, as
well as senior policymakers on transparency to enhance political buy-in.
· provide a platform to allow key stakeholders
to showcase their success stories, share experiences and lessons learned, and
bring support opportunities closer to the ground (tools, approaches,
methodologies); and
· test the reporting tools and offer in-person
training opportunities.
More information on ETF dialogues and #Togther4Transparency will
be made available on the UNFCCC Transparency
landing page.
| | | | | Africa Dialogue opening with (from left to right) Mariana Castaño Cano, Bogolo Kenewendo, Gilberto Da Piedade Verissimo, Beatrice Atim Anywar, Ovais Sarmad, Henning Wuester, Jigme and Kavydass Ramano / Photo credit: UN Climate Change | 15/09/2022 17:41 | Yali Wang | 15/09/2022 17:41 | 15.09.2022 | The French version of the article can be found here.
For the first time, ministers, and other regional and international leaders met with policymakers at Africa Climate Week 2022 to advance the implementation of the new Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF) of the Paris Agreement.
Building on the measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) process under the UNFCCC and the Kyoto Protocol, the new universal ETF foresees that all countries will biennially report transparent information on climate action and support, including implementation and achievement of their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
The Africa Dialogue on the Enhanced Transparency Framework took place in Libreville, Gabon, on 31 August and 1 September. On the first day, ministers, and other regional and international leaders laid out their vision for ambitious implementation of the new transparency arrangements. They underlined that the ETF allows countries to not only comply with their international climate obligations but also to benefit from relevant data collected and reported under the UNFCCC reporting and verification processes. This will help them strengthen their mitigation and adaptation plans and be better equipped to mobilise financial support for their implementation.
On the second day, dozens of national policymakers and international experts exchanged experiences and perspectives about the challenges and opportunities for faster and stronger climate action offered by the ETF. They discussed various aspects of how transparency can foster the NDC process, including the monitoring and evaluation of adaptation and just transitions, tracking of climate finance and related capacity development.
With the negative impacts of the climate emergency accelerating everywhere, ministers underlined the urgency for nations to move forward in the implementation of their national climate plans while building robust transparency mechanisms.
“We take transparency seriously. At home, Uganda is accountable to its people, and we must be accountable to the global community as well. Transparency also enables countries to identify financial, technological development and transfers, and capacity building from different perspectives,” said Beatrice Atim Anywar, Minister of State for Environment, Uganda.
“The shared transparency data can be adequately used, and it also gives us an opportunity to have informed decision making as leaders. It also enhances the opportunity to access financial institutions and the capacity building that can support developing countries,” she added.
Gilberto Da Piedade Verissimo, President of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), said: "In light of the warnings of our scientists, strengthening our joint action against the adverse effects of climate change is no longer up for negotiation. This region of Africa and of the world is unique in its tropical forest ecosystems, and important projects are underway to provide sustainable solutions to the fight against climate change, including effective climate diplomacy."
"We need to strengthen our capacity for climate transparency. In this sense, the Regional Centre for Transparency, in partnership with ICAT, is a world first" he added.
The new Regional Climate Action Transparency Hub for Central Africa, hosted by the ECCAS with a centre in Douala, Cameroun, will support the 11 ECCAS member States.
Arlette Soudan-Nonault, Minister of Tourism and Environment of the Republic of Congo-Brazzaville, underlined the importance of enhancing transparency and thanked ICAT for financing the new regional hub.
The Congolese minister started by reminding participants of the importance of the Congo basin region for global climate stability.
"The peatlands of the central Congo Basin alone capture 31 billion tonnes of CO2 ー 30 times more than the Congo Basin forests; 20 times the annual emissions of the US; and three to four years of global greenhouse gas emissions. They are both a treasure for humanity and a time bomb. Hence the urgent need to break the lock on Africa's access to carbon finance,” she said.
Also speaking about the importance of climate finance, Lee White, Minister of Forests, Oceans, Environment and Climate Change, Gabon, urged for increased transparency to track the support from developed to developing countries.
"Not all developing countries have invested as much as Gabon, and need technical and capacity-building support from developed countries. We have a very clear policy of transparency in Gabon, some developed countries could be inspired by our position,” he said.
Kavydass Ramano, Minister of Environment, Solid Waste Management and Climate Change, Mauritius, also shared his vision for transparency underlining the need for tracking climate finance.
"We share everyone's concern about the issue of the enhanced transparency framework, transparency both in terms of NDCs, and in terms of financing tools. The legal framework, the engagement of the right people, capacity building and knowledge sharing are key ingredients to make things happen," he added.
Gilberto Silva, Minister for Agriculture and Environment, Cape Verde, explained
"Africa has a great opportunity to develop while maintaining itself as a low-emissions continent."
"To strengthen transparency and implement the enhanced transparency framework at home, we have some needs but there are achievements at the administration level. We think this is a good time for the more consolidated construction of the enhanced transparency framework while taking advantage of the opportunity for capacity building," he concluded.
“Without transparency, the implementation of all actions, promises and commitments do not hold value,” said Ovais Sarmad, UNFCCC Deputy Executive Secretary.
“What matters is not from where we start; but what matters is to take the steps that are necessary now. Special attention has to be placed on strengthening institutional arrangements and developing capacity and skills.”
Apart from reinforcing institutional capacities, governments need to engage all stakeholders in the implementation of their national climate plans. The importance of engaging the private sector was highlighted by Bogolo Kenewendo, Africa Director and Special Advisor to the High-Level Champions.
“The private sector is a very key requisite part of climate action in order to increase any ambition over time and reach any long-term goal that the continent has in relation to the Paris agreement. Africa has a share of only 0.4 per cent of the total world green bonds, we haven’t provided for private sector participation and mobilised climate finance on the continent.“
“It is very key in reporting by African countries that there is a very strong reference and call towards an overall finance climate strategy that includes domestic and international private sector finance, and have those investment plans in the NDCs,” she said.
Strengthening the institutional arrangements and stakeholder engagement in the region was one of the topics discussed in a roundtable with top country officials, who also talked about the national social and economic benefits of building strong transparency systems. National policymakers and international experts exchanged about the needs and the existing opportunities to access financial and capacity-building support for transparency.
At the closing of the Africa Dialogue, Jigme, Manager of the Transparency Division at the UNFCCC said: “The high-level policy exchange has created a space for national experts to hear first-hand from ministers, senior policymakers, and regional and international leaders about their vision for implementing the ETF and the co-benefits that transparency can bring to their countries. This first Africa regional dialogue has set a clear policy direction for universal participation in the ETF, with the goal of all countries submitting their climate action reports by 31 December 2024, as per the deadline established in the Paris Agreement.”
Henning Wuester, ICAT Director, said: “This is the year for Africa in the climate change process. Transparency is the backbone of the Paris Agreement, so it bodes well for the future of the Paris Agreement that this topic is discussed here in the heart of Africa, in a manner that resonates at the highest political levels. Transparency is an enabler, it is a service that will allow policy development to turn NDCs into a useful tool,” he said.
The Africa Dialogue kicked off a series of regional dialogues on the ETF, to be organized within the framework of the UNFCCC Regional Climate weeks. The UN Climate Change secretariat, the Initiative for Climate Action Transparency (ICAT) and the UN Development Programme (UNDP) with the support of regional organisations, such as COMESA and ECCAS, and PATPA, organised the first regional dialogue on the ETF during the 2022 Africa Climate Week. The next regional dialogues will take place at the 2023 MENA and Asia-Pacific Climate Weeks.
To learn more about the ETF, visit the UN Climate Change website and check the Enhanced Transparency Framework Handbook and Manual. | | | | | Ouverture du Dialogue Africain avec (de gauche à droite) Mariana Castaño Cano, Bogolo Kenewendo, Gilberto Da Piedade Verissimo, Beatrice Atim Anywar, Ovais Sarmad, Henning Wuester, Jigme et Kavydass Ramano / Crédit photo: UN Climate Change | 15/09/2022 17:35 | Yali Wang | 15/09/2022 17:38 | 15.09.2022 | ONU Climat Infos, 15 septembre 2022 - Des ministres et d’autres dirigeants régionaux et internationaux se sont réunis avec d’autres décideurs politiques à l'occasion de la Semaine Africaine du Climat 2022 à Libreville, Gabon, au début du mois, pour établir leur vision d’une mise en œuvre ambitieuse des nouvelles dispositions pour la transparence, en vertu de l'Accord de Paris.
Les discussions étaient conçues pour faciliter la mise en place du nouveau cadre de transparence renforcé (CTR) qui s’appuie sur le processus de mesures, de déclaration et de vérification de la CCNUCC et du protocole de Kyoto. Le nouveau CTR universel prévoit que tous les pays communiquent tous les deux ans des informations transparentes sur l'action et le soutien en faveur du climat, y compris la mise en œuvre et la réalisation de leurs Contributions Déterminées au niveau National (CDN), qui constituent des plans d’action climat de l’Accord de Paris.
Les ministres et d’autres dirigeants régionaux et internationaux ont souligné que le CTR permet aux pays non seulement de se conformer à leurs obligations internationales, mais aussi de bénéficier de données pertinentes recueillies et déclarées en vertu des processus de la CCNUCC et celui de vérification. Ceci les aidera à renforcer leurs plans pour réduire les émissions de gaz à effets de serre et s’adapter au changement climatique, et à être mieux armés pour mobiliser les moyens financiers et le support à leur mise en œuvre.
De plus, des dizaines de décideurs nationaux et d'experts internationaux ont échangé leurs expériences et leurs perspectives à propos des défis et des possibilités d'action climatique plus rapide et plus forte offerts par le CTR. Ils ont discuté des divers aspects de la façon dont la transparence peut favoriser le processus des CDN, notamment le suivi et l'évaluation de l'adaptation et des transitions justes, le suivi du financement climatique et le développement des capacités correspondantes.
Les impacts négatifs de l'urgence climatique s'accélérant partout, les ministres ont souligné l'urgence pour les nations d'avancer dans la mise en œuvre de leurs plans climatiques nationaux tout en mettant en place de solides mécanismes de transparence.
« Nous prenons la transparence au sérieux, l'Ouganda est responsable chez lui devant son peuple, nous devons être responsables devant la communauté mondiale. La transparence permet également aux pays d'identifier les financements, le développement technologique, les transferts, le renforcement des capacités sous différents angles », a déclaré Beatrice Atim Anywar, Ministre d'État chargée de l'Environnement en Ouganda.
« Les données partagées en matière de transparence peuvent être utilisées de manière adéquate, et elles nous donnent également, en tant que dirigeants, la possibilité de prendre des décisions en connaissance de cause. Elles améliorent également la possibilité d'accéder aux institutions financières et au renforcement des capacités qui peuvent soutenir les pays en développement », a-t-elle ajouté.
Gilberto Da Piedade Verissimo, Président de la Communauté Économique des États d'Afrique Centrale (CEEAC), a déclaré : « À la lumière des avertissements de nos scientifiques, le renforcement de notre action commune contre les effets néfastes du changement climatique n’est plus négociable. Cette région de l’Afrique et du monde se singularise par ses écosystèmes forestiers tropicaux, et d’importants projets sont engagés pour apporter des solutions durables à la lutte contre le changement climatique avec, entre autres, une diplomatie climatique efficace. »
« Nous avons besoin de renforcer nos capacités en matière de transparence climatique. Dans ce sens, le Centre Régional pour la Transparence, en partenariat avec l’ICAT, est une première mondiale. »
Le nouveau Centre Régional de Transparence de l'Action Climatique pour l'Afrique Centrale, hébergé par la CEEAC avec un centre à Douala au Cameroun, soutiendra les 11 États-membres de la CEEAC.
Arlette Soudan-Nonault, Ministre du Tourisme et de l'Environnement de la République du Congo-Brazzaville, a souligné l'importance de renforcer la transparence et a remercié l'ICAT pour le financement du nouveau centre régional.
La ministre congolaise a commencé par rappeler aux participants l'importance de la région du bassin du Congo pour la stabilité climatique mondiale.
« Les tourbières de la cuvette centrale du Congo séquestrent à elles seules 31 milliards de tonnes de CO2, soit 30 fois plus que les forêts du bassin du Congo, 20 fois les émissions annuelles des EU et 3 à 4 années d’émissions de gaz à effet de serre de la planète. Elles sont à la fois un trésor pour l’humanité et une bombe à retardement. D’où l’impérieuse nécessité de faire sauter le verrou de l’accession de l’Afrique à la finance carbone. »
S'exprimant également sur l'importance du financement du climat, Lee White, Ministre des Forêts, des Océans, de l'Environnement et du Changement Climatique du Gabon, a appelé à une plus grande transparence pour suivre le soutien des pays développés aux pays en développement.
« Tous les pays en voie de développement n’ont pas investi autant que le Gabon, et ont besoin d’appui technologique et de renforcement de leurs capacités de la part des pays développés. Nous avons au Gabon une politique très claire de transparence, certains pays développés pourraient s’inspirer de notre position. » a-t-il déclaré.
Kavydass Ramano, Ministre Mauricien de l'Environnement, de la Gestion des Déchets Solides et du Changement Climatique, a également partagé sa vision de la transparence en soulignant la nécessité de suivre le financement du climat.
« Nous partageons la préoccupation de tout un chacun en ce qui concerne la question du cadre de transparence renforcé, la transparence à la fois en termes de CDN, et en termes d’outils de financement. Le cadre juridique, l’engagement des personnes appropriées, le renforcement des capacités et le partage des connaissances sont des ingrédients clés pour faire bouger les choses, » a-t-il ajouté.
Gilberto Silva, Ministre de l'Agriculture et de l'Environnement du Cap-Vert, a expliqué que
« L’Afrique a une belle opportunité de se développer tout en se maintenant comme un continent de référence en matière de faibles émissions. »
« Pour renforcer la transparence et mettre en œuvre le mécanisme de transparence renforcé chez nous, nous avons quelques besoins mais il y a des acquis au niveau de l’administration. Nous pensons que c’est un bon moment pour la construction plus consolidée du cadre de transparence renforcé tout en profitant de l’opportunité de renforcement des capacités », a-t-il conclu.
« Sans transparence, la mise en œuvre de toutes les actions, promesses et engagements n'a aucune valeur » a déclaré Ovais Sarmad, Secrétaire Exécutif Adjoint de la CCNUCC.
« L'important n'est pas de savoir d'où l'on part, mais de prendre dès maintenant les mesures qui s'imposent. Une attention particulière doit être accordée au renforcement des dispositions institutionnelles et au développement des capacités et des compétences."
Outre le renforcement des capacités institutionnelles, les gouvernements doivent faire participer toutes les parties prenantes à la mise en œuvre de leurs plans climatiques nationaux. L'importance d'impliquer le secteur privé a été soulignée par Bogolo Kenewendo, Directrice Afrique et Conseillère Spéciale des Champions de Haut Niveau, qui a déclaré :
« Le secteur privé est une partie requise très importante de l'action climatique afin d'augmenter toute ambition dans la durée et d'atteindre tout objectif à long terme que le continent a en relation avec l'accord de Paris. L'Afrique n'a qu'une part de 0,4 % du total mondial des obligations vertes, nous n'avons pas prévu la participation du secteur privé ni mobilisé le financement climatique sur le continent."
« Il est très important dans les rapports émis par les pays africains qu'il y ait une référence très forte et un appel en faveur d’une stratégie globale de financement du climat qui inclut le financement de la part du secteur privé national et international, et avoir ces plans d'investissement dans les CDN. » a-t-elle ajouté.
Le renforcement des dispositions institutionnelles et de l'engagement des parties prenantes dans la région a été l'un des sujets abordés par les hauts représentants des pays, qui ont également parlé des avantages sociaux et économiques nationaux de la mise en place de systèmes de transparence solides. Les décideurs politiques nationaux et les experts internationaux ont échangé sur les besoins et les opportunités existantes pour accéder à un soutien financier et de renforcement des capacités pour la transparence.
Lors de la clôture du Dialogue Afrique, Jigme, Responsable de la Division de la Transparence à la CCNUCC a déclaré : « L'échange de politiques de haut niveau a créé un espace permettant aux experts nationaux d'entendre directement des ministres, des hauts responsables politiques et des dirigeants régionaux et internationaux leur vision de la mise en œuvre du CTR ainsi que les co-bénéfices que la transparence peut apporter à leurs pays. Ce premier dialogue régional africain a permis de définir une orientation politique claire en faveur d'une participation universelle au CTR, l'objectif étant que tous les pays soumettent leurs rapports sur l'action climatique d'ici au 31 décembre 2024, conformément à l'échéance fixée dans l'Accord de Paris. »
Henning Wuester, Director de l’ICAT, a dit : « C'est l'année de l'Afrique dans le processus de changement climatique. La transparence est l'épine dorsale de l'Accord de Paris. Il est donc de bon augure pour l'avenir de l'Accord de Paris que ce sujet soit discuté ici, au cœur de l'Afrique, d'une manière qui résonne aux plus hauts niveaux politiques. La transparence est un catalyseur ; c'est un service qui permettra de faire des CDN un outil utile à l'élaboration des politiques », a-t-il déclaré.
Le Dialogue Afrique a donné le coup d'envoi d'une série de dialogues régionaux sur le cadre de transparence renforcé, qui seront organisés dans le cadre des Semaines Climat Régionales du CCNUCC. Le Secrétariat des Nations Unies pour le Changement Climatique, l'Initiative pour la Transparence de l'Action Climatique (ICAT) et le Programme des Nations Unies pour le Développement (PNUD), avec le soutien d'organisations régionales, telles que le COMESA la CEEAC et PATPA, ont organisé le premier dialogue régional à propos du CTR durant la Semaine Climat Afrique 2022. Les prochains dialogues régionaux auront lieu lors des semaines du climat MENA et Asie-Pacifique de 2023.
Pour en savoir plus sur le cadre de transparence renforcé, visitez le site web des Nations unies sur le changement climatique et consultez le Manuel de référence et le Handbook du Cadre de Transparence Renforcé. | | | | | Meeting participants of the 8th CGE meeting | 15/09/2022 17:00 | Yali Wang | 15/09/2022 17:09 | 15.09.2022 | Building the capacity of developing countries to deal with climate change is a core part of the work of the Consultative Group of Experts (CGE), which met in Bonn earlier this month to take stock of its progress.
The CGE provides technical advice and support to developing country Parties. It does this by helping developing countries prepare and submit national communications, biennial update reports and biennial transparency reports.
Following the adoption of CGE’s revised terms of reference at COP26 and the development of its work programme for 2022–2026 and 2022 workplan, the 8th meeting of the CGE took place in Bonn on 1 and 2 September 2022. The meeting reviewed the progress of implementation of the CGE’s annual workplan and considered the submission of its progress report to the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI).
Key highlights among the achievements of the CGE in 2022 include:
Upcoming CGE events include:
- Regional hands-on training workshops on tracking progress of nationally determined contributions under the enhanced transparency framework. One workshop will be organized for the Asia-Pacific region from 19 to 21 October 2022 in Yerevan, Armenia. Two workshops will be organized for the Africa, and Latin America and Caribbean regions from 6 to 8 December 2022 in Bonn.
- A side event at COP27 in November and the 5th informal forum of the CGE in December to showcase its achievements and to learn from the experiences of Parties in their transition to the enhanced transparency framework and preparation of biannual transparency reports.
More information on the outcomes of the 8th meeting of the CGE can be found here.
| | | | | Aperçu du programme Dialogue Africain | 26/08/2022 14:41 | Yali Wang | 26/08/2022 15:42 | 26.08.2022 | Les plans
climatiques nationaux, également connus sous le nom de Contributions
Déterminées au niveau National (CDN), sont au cœur même de l'Accord de Paris.
De façon similaire, un cadre de transparence solide constitue l'épine dorsale
des efforts déployés par les nations du monde pour atteindre leurs objectifs
dans le cadre de l'accord, et pour s'attaquer ensemble à l'urgence climatique.
S'appuyant sur
les dispositifs de mesure, de reporting et de vérification de la CCNUCC et du
protocole de Kyoto, l'accord de Paris a établi en 2015 un cadre universel de transparence renforcé (Enhanced Transparency Framework - ETF) exigeant
de tous les pays qu'ils communiquent régulièrement des informations
transparentes sur la mise en œuvre et la réalisation de leurs CDN.
La période
2022-2024 est cruciale pour que les pays consolident des systèmes robustes de
collecte et de communication des données climatiques au niveau national, qui
incluent également les contributions à l'action climatique de la part des
acteurs non étatiques.
Les avantages
d'une mise en œuvre solide de l'ETF sont clairs. Un cadre de transparence bien
structuré n'est pas seulement une condition de base pour la responsabilisation
et l'instauration de la confiance entre les nations, mais c'est aussi un outil
puissant qui à l’avenir permettra aux gouvernements d'élaborer des
contributions déterminées au niveau national efficaces et fondées sur des
données.
Pour renforcer
les capacités nationales en matière de transparence, un Dialogue Africain interactif
à propos du Cadre de Transparence Renforcé aura lieu les 31 août et 1er
septembre, lors de la Semaine Africaine du Climat à Libreville, au Gabon.
Des dirigeants
internationaux, des ministres, des points focaux nationaux et des experts se
réuniront pour fournir des idées sur les politiques en la matière, apprendre de
leurs expériences respectives et écouter des experts internationaux travaillant
dans toutes les régions du monde.
Participer en ligne
Le Dialogue Africain
sera un événement hybride avec des participants en personne à Libreville, au
Gabon, et d'autres se connectant en ligne depuis toute la région.
Inscrivez-vous ici pour recevoir des informations actualisées et le
lien de connexion pour la participation en ligne.
À propos des Dialogues Régionaux sur le Climat
concernant le Cadre de Transparence Renforcée
Le Dialogue Africain
fait partie d'une série de dialogues régionaux sur le cadre de transparence
renforcée, organisés par le secrétariat des Nations unies pour le
changement climatique, l'Initiative pour la transparence de l'action climatique (ICAT) et le Programme des Nations unies pour le développement (PNUD), avec le soutien d'organisations
régionales, telles que le COMESA et la CEEAC dans le cas du Dialogue Africain. Le prochain dialogue régional aura lieu
lors de la semaine du climat Asie-Pacifique de 2023.
En savoir plus
Site web de l'ONU
sur le changement climatique
Manuel du Cadre de Transparence Renforcée
| | | | | Programme overview | 26/08/2022 14:33 | Yali Wang | 26/08/2022 14:59 | 26.08.2022 | National climate plans also
known as nationally determined contributions (NDCs) are the beating heart of
the Paris Agreement. In the same way, a robust transparency framework is the
backbone of world nations’ efforts to achieve their goals under the agreement
and tackle the climate emergency together.
Building on the
monitoring, reporting and verification process under the UNFCCC and the Kyoto Protocol,
in 2015 the Paris Agreement established a new universal enhanced
transparency framework (ETF)
requiring all countries to regularly report transparent information on the
implementation and achievement of their NDCs.
The 2022-2024 period
is critical for countries to consolidate robust climate data collection and
reporting systems at the national level that also include non-State actors'
contributions to climate action.
The benefits of solid
implementation of the ETF are clear. A strong transparency framework is not
only a basic condition for accountability and trust building among nations, but
it is also a powerful tool for governments to develop impactful and
data-supported nationally determined contributions moving forward.
To reinforce national
capacities on transparency, an interactive Africa Dialogue on the Enhanced Transparency
Framework will take place on 31 August and 1 September, at the Africa Climate
Week in Libreville, Gabon.
International leaders,
ministers, national focal points and experts will gather to provide policy
insights, learn from each other’s experiences and hear from international
experts working across all world regions.
Join online
The Africa Dialogue
will be a hybrid event with participants in person in Libreville, Gabon, and
more connecting online from across the region. Register here to receive updated information and the
connection link for online participation.
About the Regional
Climate Dialogues on the Enhanced Transparency Framework
The Africa Dialogue is
part of a series of regional dialogues on the enhanced transparency framework
organised by the UN Climate Change
secretariat, the Initiative for Climate Action Transparency (ICAT) and the UN Development Programme (UNDP) with the support of regional
organisations, such as COMESA and ECCAS in the case of the Africa Dialogue. The next regional dialogue will
take place at the 2023 Asia-Pacific Climate Week.
Learn more
UN Climate Change website
Enhanced Transparency
Framework Manual
| | | | | Figure 1 Participants of the 11th Group of Friends meeting | 05/07/2022 13:13 | Sharon Kirabo-Steffens | 26/08/2022 15:48 | 05.07.2022 | The ETF Group of Friends (formerly referred to as the "Group of
Friends on the MRV/Transparency") is an informal network of entities
actively supporting developing countries on transparency issues. Since 2016, the group has served as a platform
to exchange information, lessons learned and experiences in engaging with and
assisting developing countries and promote coordination and collaboration
amongst support providers.
As Parties transition from the existing measurement,
reporting and verification (MRV) arrangements under the Convention to the enhanced
transparency framework (ETF) under the Paris Agreement, support for developing
countries is viewed as a critical factor in the successful implementation of
the ETF. In this context, the group gathered for the 11th time on the margins of the
just-concluded Bonn Climate Change Conference in June 2022.
At this meeting, the group reaffirmed its current and ongoing aspiration is to contribute to a successful implementation of
the ETF by ensuring that no country is left behind and achieve universal
participation by 31 December 2024. The group identified some
strategies to strengthen its network: developing a common vision and consistent
messaging; improving information sharing on transparency; engaging with
regional climate networks and hubs; continuing meeting at the global and
regional level to create an enabling environment for facilitated coordination
when supporting developing countries.
35 representatives from 24 member entities attended
the meeting: Canada, Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA),
German Environment Agency, Global Environment Facility (GEF), Global Green
Growth Institute (GGGI), GRA Inventories and NDC Research Network, Greenhouse
Gas Inventory Office of Japan (GIO), Greenhouse Gas Management Institute
(GHGMI), Initiative for Climate Action Transparency (ICAT), Institute for
Global Environmental Strategies (IGES), International Institute for Environment
and Development (IIED), Korea - Greenhouse Gas Inventory and Research Center
(GIR), Latin American Network on National GHG Inventories (RedINGEI), Ministry
of Environment Japan, NDC Partnership, NDC Support Network, Partnership on
Transparency in the Paris Agreement (PATPA), Singapore, Switzerland, UNFCCC
secretariat, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations
Environment Programme (UNEP), United States, and World Resources Institute
(WRI).
| | | | | Some of the participants at the ETF Group of Friends meetings for the Latin America and the Caribbean. | 28/04/2022 16:03 | Sharon Kirabo-Steffens | 05/07/2022 13:15 | 28.04.2022 | The existing measurement,
reporting and verification (MRV) arrangements under the Convention and the enhanced
transparency framework (ETF) under the Paris Agreement are important tools for
countries to assess the implementation and achievement of their national climate
objectives. The ETF will also provide a snapshot of global efforts in achieving
the Paris Agreement goal of limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees.
The ETF Group of
Friends (formerly referred to as the "Group of Friends on the
MRV/Transparency") is an informal network of stakeholders providing
financial, technical, and capacity-building support to developing countries on
MRV and transparency issues. Between 7 December
2021 and 5 April 2022, the Group has met at the regional level for
Asia-Pacific, Africa, and Latin America and the Caribbean to foster
collaboration and synergies amongst themselves in these regions.
The messages coming
out of these regional discussions were clear - a high level of interest in continued
exchange of information,
experiences and lessons learned on previous, ongoing and planned MRV/ETF
activities. They were also keen on exploring collaboration opportunities and
synergies amongst themselves. They noted more coordinated and systematic
approaches would help the efficiency and effectiveness of the support provided to
developing countries. The participants also brainstormed on possible ways to
strengthen the use of the ETF Group of Friends as a tool for coordination and
promoting synergies.
These three regional meetings convened 79
participants from 19 institutions. These institutions
include Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, European Commission,
Food and Agriculture Organization, German Federal Foreign Office, GIZ, Global
Green Growth Institute, Greenhouse Gas Management Institute, Initiative for
Climate Action Transparency, Institute for Global Environmental Strategies,
IPCC Task Force on National Greenhouse Gas Inventories, Latin American Network
on National GHG Inventories, Ministry of the Environment (Japan), NDC
Partnership, New Zealand Agricultural GHG Research Centre, Partnership on
Transparency in the Paris Agreement, the UNFCCC secretariat, United Nations Development Programme, United Nations Environment Programme and the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
In
conjunction with the 56th session of the Subsidiary Bodies, the Group
will have its global meeting in June 2022 in Bonn, Germany.
| | | | | Some of the participants at the ETF Group of Friends Meeting for the Africa region. | 29/03/2022 17:43 | Sharon Kirabo-Steffens | 30/03/2022 14:41 | 29.03.2022 | COP26 in Glasgow finalized
the remaining technical details to bring the enhanced transparency framework
(ETF) under the Paris Agreement to life. The final biennial update reports under
the existing measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) arrangements under
the Convention by developing countries shall be submitted no later than 31
December 2024. On the other hand, the
first biennial transparency reports and national inventory report, if submitted
as a stand-alone report, under the ETF shall be submitted at the latest by 31
December 2024. As Parties transition from the existing MRV arrangements to the ETF,
support to developing countries is viewed as a critical factor to achieve universal
participation in the ETF.
The ETF Group of
Friends (formerly referred to as the "Group of Friends on the
MRV/Transparency") is an informal network of stakeholders providing
financial, technical, and capacity-building support to developing countries on
MRV and transparency issues. To better
support developing country Parties in this critical period, the Group has been meeting
at the regional level to foster collaboration and synergies amongst themselves.
Following the meeting organized for the Asia-Pacific region in December 2021,
the Group met again on 17 March with a focus on the Africa region.
The UNFCCC secretariat and Global Green Growth
Institute co-organized this meeting. Meeting participants exchanged experiences
and lessons learned on ongoing and planned support activities in the field of
MRV/ETF system building, discussed collaboration opportunities and challenges,
and brainstormed potential solutions to address these challenges.
Many participants were
of the view that the support needs on MRV and ETF from the developing country
Parties are enormous. Synergies among different support activities will increase
their effectiveness, and active information sharing is a crucial enabling
factor for improved synergies. Some participants proposed that the Group of
Friends should meet more frequently at the regional level to better coordinate
support activities in each region.
28 participants from 10 institutions attended
this meeting. These institutions include Common Market for Eastern and Southern
Africa, Food and Agriculture Organization, German Federal Foreign Office, Global
Green Growth Institute, Greenhouse Gas Management Institute, Partnership on Transparency
in the Paris Agreement, Initiative for Climate Action Transparency, IPCC Task
Force on National Greenhouse Gas Inventories, United Nations Environment
Programme, and the UNFCCC secretariat.
The next Group of Friend regional meeting is for
Latin America and the Caribbean and will be held on 5 April 2022.
| | | | | Dr Arunabha Ghosh, CEO of the CEEW and Mr. Ovais Sarmad, Deputy Executive Secretary UNFCCC at the MoU signing ceremony in New Delhi. | 23/03/2022 12:11 | Sharon Kirabo-Steffens | 07/09/2022 16:12 | 23.03.2022 | The
United Nations Climate Change secretariat and the Council
on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) are pleased to announce their strategic partnership to
develop a framework and tools that will enhance the capacity of developing
countries to report on climate change as part of the Climate Change Convention and
Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF) under the Paris Agreement.
The ETF modalities, procedures and guidelines (MPGs) emphasise the
need for developing country Parties to ascertain their capacity constraints
and requirements for reporting climate action and support. It urges them
to better understand their national circumstances, develop a continuous
improvement plan and use the flexibility provisions in the MPGs in light of
their capacities.
The UN Climate Change secretariat-CEEW
partnership is premised on the recognition that developing countries that are Party to the Paris Agreement are at
different starting points with respect to their capabilities and the
institutional arrangements to effectively report on climate action and support
in accordance with the MPGs. Building
on the research done previously by CEEW, the partnership envisions to develop a
framework and tool that can be used by developing country Parties to enhance
their capacity to report on climate change.
“Developing
country Parties need support
to transition to the
ETF MPGs. We look forward to working with the UN Climate Change secretariat to support
developing country Parties to
enhance their climate change reporting as a critical pillar of building confidence,
and highlighting their capacity needs and the challenges so that commensurate
resources can be provided to them,”
said Dr Arunabha Ghosh, CEO of the Council on Energy, Environment and Water.
‘’We welcome this collaboration with CEEW to
help developing country Parties to identify their capacity needs as well as access support opportunities to enhance and submit their biennial transparency reports,’’ said Mr
Ovais Sarmad, Deputy Executive Secretary of UN Climate Change secretariat.
It is envisaged that the framework and tool
should be ready for piloting within the next 12 months.
For more information, please contact:
Transparency
Division, CGE/ETF Support Unit, tisu@unfccc.int
| | | | | The 7th CGE meeting took place from 28 February to 1 March 2022 in a virtual format. At the meeting, the group successfully revised their mission vision and strategic priorities (taking into consideration the revised terms of reference from COP 26), and they also successful developed their work program in addition to the key activities for 2022. | 15/03/2022 08:52 | Sharon Kirabo-Steffens | 07/09/2022 16:13 | 15.03.2022 | COP 26 in Glasgow demonstrated a strong political
signal from the global community of the urgent need to fight against climate
change. For the enhanced transparency framework (ETF), COP 26 adopted further
technical work on the modalities, procedures and guidelines for the ETF, with
tables, outlines and other formats for the reports agreed. It also committed enhanced
support for implementing the ETF, including guidance to the role of Consultative Group of Experts (CGE).
At the seventh meeting of
the CGE, the
group successfully
developed its work
programme for 2022 – 2026 based on its revised terms
of reference, and also identified its key
activities for 2022. The meeting of the CGE took place virtually on 28 February and 1
March 2022 and
elected Mr. Alpha Kaloga (Guinea) as the Chair and Ms. Tian Wang (China) as the
Rapporteur for 2022.
The CGE has so far played a leading
role in supporting the implementation of the measurement, reporting and
verification (MRV) arrangements under the
Convention and facilitating the transition to the ETF under the Paris
Agreement. The outcomes of COP 26 can further inform and strengthen the role of
the CGE in providing technical advice and support to developing country Parties
through its strategic priorities and activities in accordance with its work
plan. For example, the CGE agreed to organize its regional hands-on training
workshops focusing on tracking progress of NDCs under the ETF, including
mitigation assessment, tracking progress of implementation and achievement of
NDCs through use of indicators, and support needed and received in relation to
tracking progress of NDCs.
In the coming years, the CGE will continue supporting the
developing country Parties in implementing the existing MRV arrangements under
the Convention and facilitating transition to and implementation of the ETF
under the Paris Agreement. It will also stock take the lessons learned and good
practices, understand the areas of improvement, refine the approaches and tools
used to provide technical advice and support in facilitating the implementation
of the existing MRV arrangements and the ETF. Meanwhile, the CGE will promote
collaboration and engagement with key stakeholders and enhance outreach
activities.
| | | | | Visual summary of the 4th informal forum of the Consultative Group of Experts | 17/12/2021 11:21 | Bhava Dhungana | 17/12/2021 11:23 | 17.12.2021 | The Glasgow COP26 outcomes
demonstrate a strong political signal from the global community of the urgent
need to accelerate progress to ensure that the world can fulfil the fundamental
goals of the Paris Agreement. For the enhanced transparency framework (ETF), further
technical work on the modalities, procedures and guidelines for the ETF was
completed, with tables, outlines and other formats for the reports agreed.
With the recent conclusion of the terms of
reference of the Consultative Group of Experts (CGE) at COP26, CGE is now poised to play its
role in making further progress and enhancing international collaboration so
that countries are in a position to implement the enhanced transparency
framework. To inform the key stakeholders on its current and future work and seek
their feedbacks, the CGE virtually organized its fourth informal forum on 8
December 2021. More than 100 experts worldwide participated in this forum. They
included both country experts and support providers
from various organizations involved in the implementation of the existing measurement, reporting and verification
(MRV) arrangements under the Convention and the ETF under the Paris Agreement. The
discussions will
feed into the development of CGE’s work programme for 2022 – 2026.
The Deputy Executive Secretary of the
UNFCCC secretariat, Mr. Ovais Sarmad, the Chair of the CGE, Ms. Virginia Sena, and
the Chair of the Subsidiary Body for the Implementation, Ms. Marianne
Karlsen laid out the key messages and ETF-related achievements at COP 26 and
shared their expectations on this informal forum and the CGE’s future work.
The CGE used innovative approaches and
methods to successfully implement its workplans for 2020 and 2021, which
resulted in:
- Training
609 national experts through 14 virtual regional hands-on training workshops;
- Reaching
709 experts, through webinars on key thematic issues;
- Developing,
translating and disseminating online training resources, which included
animation videos, technical handbooks, and hands-on exercises; and
- Compiling
and summarizing capacity-building needs for the preparation of national communications
and biennial update reports.
Participants shared their reflections on the
achievements and lessons learnt of the CGE, and requested the CGE to continue
its support on MRV and ETF in 2022 and beyond. One participant highlighted the added
value of the virtual webinars/workshops organized by the CGE in the last two
years. According to her, these virtual
events helped broaden the engagement of national experts from line agencies which
would not have been possible otherwise due to the limited number of
participants from each country when the events were organized as in-person. The
sharing of materials and recordings also allowed more people to benefit from
these events. She hopes the CGE can organize more of such webinars/workshops in
future.
Participants also informally
reflected and exchanged views around the experiences on domestic political
buy-in, capacity-building and access to finance, which are critical to
sustaining national efforts to enhance reporting under the Convention and the
Paris Agreement. For example, participants shared some emerging needs for
capacity building, such as training on the reporting tables, outlines and other formats for ETF agreed at
COP26. One country shared how they received financial support from their
international MRV/ETF support provider partners by conducting a need assessment
of the governmental agencies and request for very specific supports, etc.
Participants
also proposed some areas that they wish the CGE to take into consideration for
the development of its workplan. The key messages from this forum will be
utilized to inform the CGE’s future
workplan thereby ensuring that the activities rolled out respond to the needs
of developing country Parties on their important journey to implement the MRV
arrangements and use that as a foundation to prepare for and implement the ETF.
Event video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ex2FRH2ZNmc
More info: https://unfccc.int/event/4th-informal-forum-of-the-consultative-group-of-experts
| | | | | The MRV Group of Friends organized a virtual meeting for the Asia-Pacific regional meeting on 7 December 2021. | 16/12/2021 12:20 | Sharon Kirabo-Steffens | 16/12/2021 12:29 | 16.12.2021 | Measurement,
reporting and verification (MRV) and enhanced transparency framework (ETF) are
critical in achieving the objectives of the Convention and the Paris Agreement.
Despite the shadow cast by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the international
community continues supporting the implementation of MRV and ETF with great
effort.
The
Group of Friends on the MRV/Transparency is an informal network of stakeholders
providing financial, technical, and capacity-building support to developing
countries on MRV and transparency issues.
On
7 December, the UNFCCC secretariat and Institute for Global Environmental
Strategies co-organized the first Group of Friends regional meeting in the Asia
Pacific. This meeting provided international and regional MRV and ETF support
providers, that are active in the Asia-Pacific region, a platform to exchange
experiences and lessons learned on ongoing and planned MRV and ETF support
activities. 29 participants from 15 organizations/programmes shared their
project updates and exchanged their views and experience.
For
example, the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies is implementing a Mutual
Learning Program for Enhanced Transparency with support from the Ministry of the
Environment, Japan. This program aims to support countries and organizations in
learning and practising reporting of climate actions over a 7-month period or
longer. The program’s current objectives are to understand how to apply the
reporting guidance under the Paris Agreement, explore what areas to improve in
the reports, including the first biennial transparency report (BTR), and
strengthen the network of institutions and individuals that are working on
BTRs. In 2021, eight organizations from five countries (Chile, Indonesia,
Mongolia, Japan, Thailand) participated in the program and worked on reporting
topics under Article 6.2 and Article 13 of the Paris Agreement.
To overcome COVID limitations, FAO developed and
rolled out a one-to-one 'mentoring modality' to support countries in addressing
the Enhanced Transparency Framework. This modality is featured
with weekly/bi-weekly calls over three to five months and training a dedicated
team on country-specific challenges with practical application and validation.
FAO has applied this modality in Madagascar, Papua New Guinea, Mongolia,
Guinea, Sudan and Mexico and produced tangible outcomes. For example, FAO
supported Papua New Guinea in setting up a transparent climate data archiving
system. Other
participating organizations and programmes include European Commission, GIZ,
Global Green Growth Institute, Greenhouse Gas Management Institute, Initiative
for Climate Action Transparency, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change,
Ministry of the Environment Japan, NDC Partnership, New Zealand Agricultural
GHG Research Centre, Partnership on Transparency in the Paris Agreement/GIZ,
IPCC Task Force on National Greenhouse Gas Inventories, United Nations
Environment Programme and the UNFCCC secretariat.
In
2022, the secretariat will organize a series of informal Group of Friends
regional meetings to bring together and provide a platform for exchange for
Group of Friends members and other organizations active in the respective
region to support developing countries in MRV and transitioning to the ETF. | | | | | Over 300 participants from across the globe, joined the 3rd Informal Forum of the Consultative Group of Experts, held during the ongoing Climate Dialogues. | 27/11/2020 13:08 | Mutisungilire Kachulu | 27/11/2020 13:08 | 27.11.2020 | As part of the ongoing
Climate Dialogues, the Consultative Group of Experts (CGE) held its 2020 informal
forum on 26 November 2020 to showcase its achievements in 2020, and engage with
and seek feedback from its key stakeholders.
In opening the forum, both the Chair of
the Subsidiary Body of Implementation (SBI), Ms. Marianne Karlsen and the
Deputy Executive Secretary for UNFCCC, Mr. Ovais Sarmad, highlighted the
important role played by the CGE in building capacities of developing country Parties
to implement the measurement, reporting
and verification (MRV) arrangements under the Convention and to prepare for the
transition to the enhanced transparency framework (ETF) under the Paris Agreement.
They noted that as countries prepare for enhanced climate ambition,
transparency will play a greater role towards accelerated implementation. As
such, they iterated the importance of the informal forum, where participants
would learn more about the work of the CGE, and the CGE would receive feedback and
suggestions from key stakeholders, in particular on how the CGE could improve
the provision of its support to developing country Parties.
Ms. Jenny Mager, representing COP 25 Presidency,
also appreciated the important role and the work undertaken by the CGE as being
critical to the achievement of the Paris Agreement goals. On her part, Ms. Eve
Deaken, who represented the incoming COP 26 Presidency, indicated that the UK
would seek and urge the Parties to finalise the outstanding work (negotiations)
on the ETF, and clearly define the kind and level of support required for
developing countries to participate in the ETF processes.
The informal forum attracted over 300 participants
from across the globe. The participants included country experts
and policy makers who are the key drivers of MRV/transparency efforts at the
national level, and the key bilateral and multilateral agencies, who provide
financial and/or technical support on MRV/transparency.
The CGE showcased its achievements in 2020,
which included the knowledge products it developed, and the virtual training workshops, webinars and platforms for peer exchange it offered.
The CGE also shared the key findings from its assessment on needs and gaps of developing
country Parties. Some of needs expressed by participants during the session included:
continued technical support on enhancing institutional arrangements and data
management systems; formulation of indicators for tracking progress of
implementing and achieving NDCs; preparation of BTRs; technical support in
using the 2006 IPCC guidelines for national GHG inventories; and development of
M&E system for NAPs.
In closing
the forum, the Chair of the CGE, Mr. Arif Goheer, expressed his appreciation to
the participants for joining the event and sharing their views. Mr. Goheer noted
that the informal forum had provided important feedback directly from the CGE
target audiences, which would help the CGE in ensuring that its technical
support addresses the state of play, priorities, constraints, gaps and needs.
He assured the participants that the CGE would consider the suggestions
provided, when formulating its annual work plan for 2021.
A channel to provide
your suggestions to the CGE remains open until 4 December 2020. Go to www.menti.com and use the code 3012323. Presentations made
during the informal forum and its recording will be shared here, and a procedural
summary of CGE informal forum will also be shared on the CGE webpage https://unfccc.int/CGE soon. | | | | | The GHG inventories are a critical component of the National Communications and Biennial Update Reports, which are important in tracking climate action progress under the Convention. Photo - Unsplash Scott Graham
| 25/06/2020 14:36 | Bhava Dhungana | 29/06/2020 17:09 | 25.06.2020 | Despite the COVID-19
crisis, the Consultative Group of Experts (CGE), an expert group under the
Convention and the Paris Agreement mandated to provide technical support to developing
Parties in meeting their reporting requirements under the Convention and the
Paris Agreement, has during the first half of 2020, engaged with over 200
experts on national GHG inventories.
The CGE is determined to minimize the impacts of the
corona virus to its 2020 work plan and is therefore
fully committed to implementing its activities, including enhancing capacity of
developing countries on methodologies to prepare national GHG inventories. The regional
webinar series target greenhouse gas inventory compilers and sector experts to
discuss technical issues and share lessons regarding transitioning from the Revised 1996 to 2006 IPCC guidelines for national
GHG inventories.
The first webinar
targeted the Asia-Pacific region and was held on 22 April where 47 experts from
23 countries participated. The second
session was for the African and Eastern Europe regions and took place on 20 May
with 52 participants from 34 countries. The
third webinar was held in Spanish for the Latin America and Caribbean region on
18 June with 122 participants from 30 countries. The participants appreciated
the timeliness and relevance of the webinars, and the informative exchange during
the QA sessions.
| | | | | The enhanced transparency framework for action and support established by Article 13 of the Paris Agreement. | 19/06/2020 14:41 | Mutisungilire Kachulu | 19/06/2020 14:41 | 19.06.2020 | The
Consultative Group of Experts (CGE), mandated to provide technical support and
advice to developing country Parties to improve capacities to implement the
existing measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) arrangements under the
Convention and the enhanced transparency framework (ETF) under the Paris
Agreement, has published a technical
handbook on preparing for implementation of the ETF.
The
handbook aims to improve awareness and understanding of the ETF and its MPGs by
national experts and practitioners from developing country Parties, so that they
may consider opportunities to improve current reporting and start planning for
the establishment of institutional arrangements and reporting under the ETF. In
this regard, the technical handbook among others, provides and explains in
detail the information to be reported; describes the technical expert review
(TER) and the Facilitative Multilateral Consideration Progress (FMCP) processes.
Learn more about the EFT processes and access the handbook here
and its addendum here.
| | | | | CGE reinforces committment to its mandate and convenes an ad-hoc virtual meeting to assess the potential impact of COVID-19 on its 2020 workplan. | 11/05/2020 13:07 | Mutisungilire Kachulu | 11/05/2020 14:07 | 11.05.2020 | The
Consultative Group of Experts (CGE), mandated to provide technical support and
advice to developing countries improve their capacities to implement the
existing MRV arrangements under the Convention and the ETF under the Paris
Agreement has underlined its commitment to
deliver its mandate and work despite the COVID-19 pandemic. To this extent, The CGE convened an ad-hoc virtual meeting on 14 April 2020 from 14:30 –
16:30 CET (Bonn time) to assess
the potential impact of on-going worldwide effects of COVID-19 on its 2020 work plan and discussed how the potential impacts could be
managed. The CGE will continue assessing such potential impacts as the
situation unfolds and take necessary measures to ensure successful
implementation of its workplan.
This
level of commitment is critically important given that the current MRV system
is set to transition to ETF under the
Paris Agreement, which will increasingly require more detailed reporting by all
countries. Learn more about the CGE continued commitment here and the adjustments made to its 2020 workplan in the
light of COVID-19 is here. | | | | | The UNFCCC secretariat conducts virtual review of 16 developed country Party BRs. | 11/05/2020 12:26 | Mutisungilire Kachulu | 11/05/2020 12:26 | 11.05.2020 | Determined
to continue its crucial mandated work even during the COVID-19 pandemic, the UN
Climate Change secretariat conducted a virtual review of the climate policy and
climate action reports from 16 developed country Parties in March and April
2020.
The
virtual review included Biennial Reports from Austria, Canada, France,
Greece, Ireland, Spain, Australia, Germany, Finland, the EU, Italy, Netherlands,
Norway Portugal, Sweden and Switzerland and was conducted by 67 international
experts, who performed their function as reviewers.
The
virtual review found that due to climate policies and actions implemented, and
based on 2017 factual greenhouse gas emissions data, almost all of the 16
developed countries are reaching their 2020 climate targets. The UN
Climate Change will publish reports on the review in due course. Learn more
about the review here. | | | | | The Consultative Group of Experts (CGE), has rolled out some of the planned capacity building initiatives for 2020 despite the COVID-19 crisis | 11/05/2020 11:41 | Mutisungilire Kachulu | 11/05/2020 11:41 | 11.05.2020 | The
Consultative Group of Experts (CGE), an expert group under the Convention and
the Paris Agreement mandated to provide technical support and advice to
developing countries on MRV and transparency has rolled out some of the planned
capacity building initiatives for 2020 despite the COVID-19 crisis.
The CGE planned a number of capacity building initiatives for its
2020 workplan such as regional webinar training sessions on transitioning from
the revised 1996 to 2006 IPCC guidelines for national GHG inventories, regional
webinar trainings on ICTU and NDC progress tracking; training session on
institutional arrangement to support MRV and ETF process. To this
extent the CGE has already conducted webinars on transitioning from the revised
1996 to 2006 IPCC guidelines for national GHG inventories for the Asia-Pacific
region, which was conducted on 22 April 2020. A total of 44 experts attended
the webinar and this presents an example of concrete effort by the CGE to
assist developing countries enhance their technical capacity to prepare for and
implement reporting requirement under the Convention and Paris Agreement.
| | | | | The Consultative Group of Experts held its 3rd Meeting from 18 to 19 February 2020 in Bonn, Germany. | 11/05/2020 10:45 | Mutisungilire Kachulu | 11/05/2020 10:55 | 11.05.2020 | The Consultative Group of Experts (CGE), mandated to
provide technical support and advice to developing countries to improve
capacities to implement the existing MRV arrangements under the Convention and
the ETF under the Paris Agreement, held its 3rd Meeting from 18 to 19 February 2020
in Bonn, Germany. To this end, the CGE formulated its Vision, Mission statement and Strategic objectives to guide its work up to 2026. The CGE’s Vision
is to comprehensively achieve its mandate of assisting developing country
Parties improve their capacities to implement the existing MRV arrangements
under the Convention and the ETF under the Paris Agreement in a timely and
sustainable manner. The CGE’s Mission Statement seeks to provide targeted technical support
and advice, consistent with its mandate, to developing country Parties that
responds to their technical assistance needs to implement, in a timely manner,
the existing MRV arrangements under the Convention and the enhanced
transparency framework under the Paris Agreement, including putting in place
sustainable institutional arrangements and data management systems.
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