UN Climate Change News, 1 October 2026 - Turning climate reporting into stronger policies, clearer investment priorities and measurable results was at the heart of the high-level dialogue on Transparency during Climate Week 4 in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Participants highlighted how the enhanced transparency framework (ETF) can help countries advance implementation of the Paris Agreement, while calling for sustained support to build the national systems that make effective reporting possible.
The dialogue brought together COP Presidency representatives, national practitioners and support providers to address challenges in preparing biennial transparency reports (BTRs) and examine how transparency can inform climate action and support. A clear priority emerged: connecting reporting more closely with national decision-making, and investing in the people, institutions and data systems needed to sustain this work over time.
Yalchin Rafiyev, Azerbaijan's Deputy Foreign Minister and COP29 Lead Negotiator, opened the dialogue by highlighting transparency as vital to the shift from climate commitments to delivery: "We are entering a new phase of climate diplomacy. The central question is no longer what we have promised; increasingly, it is what we have delivered. That is why transparency is not a technical end of the climate process; it is a bridge between negotiation and implementation."
Fatma Varank, Türkiye's Deputy Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, and Chief Climate Negotiator of the COP31 Presidency, underscored the importance of transparency in strengthening national policies and building trust:
"Transparency is the backbone of the Paris Agreement and is essential for the credibility of climate action. It is also a fundamental pillar for building trust, strengthening national policymaking processes, identifying and communicating needs, and supporting the effective implementation of the Paris Agreement."
David Higgins, Deputy Executive Director for Australia's President of Negotiations, highlighted the value of countries' engagement: "Participation in the ETF is the most effective way to further improve reporting and allow countries to reap the benefits of better understanding the tangible impacts of their climate policies, as well as highlighting where further support can catalyze strong climate action."
Ana Toni, COP30 CEO, summed up the importance of good data for effective policymaking: "If you don't have the right data, you cannot do the right policies to get you where you need to be."
Connecting transparency with implementation
The first panel explored how countries are using the ETF to inform policymaking, advance implementation of nationally determined contributions (NDCs), and better target climate finance.
Diana Acconcia, Director for International Affairs and Climate Finance at the European Commission's Directorate-General for Climate Action and Head of its UNFCCC delegation, emphasized the link between reporting and action: "Transparency should not be the end of the climate policy cycle, it should be the cornerstone of implementation."
She highlighted the importance of strong governance, institutional arrangements, continuous capacity development and closer cooperation between experts and data providers.
Experiences from Costa Rica, Turkmenistan and Lebanon showed how transparency can support national decision-making and climate finance by clarifying baselines, investment needs and priorities.
Addressing challenges and strengthening support
Ruel Yamuna, Pacific COP31 Envoy for Access to Climate Finance, stressed the need to keep support at the centre of ETF implementation: "As we continue to implement the ETF, we should make sure we continue to focus not only on what countries are required to report, but also on what support countries need to report effectively and sustainably."
A presentation by the Consultative Group of Experts (CGE) on challenges faced by developing countries in collecting data and preparing and submitting BTRs was followed by perspectives from UNEP, UNEP-CBIT GSP, UNDP, GEF, FAO and ICAT on how support providers are helping address these gaps.
The discussion underscored the need for sustained investment in national systems across reporting cycles, alongside strong coordination among support providers.
Xuehong Wang, Director of Transparency at UN Climate Change, closed the dialogue by reinforcing the link between implementation and support: "Transparency turns climate commitments into stronger policies, investable plans and measurable results. It enables countries to understand where they stand, what is working and where further action is needed; and build the trust required for stronger international cooperation."
Around 85 participants attended the dialogue, bringing together perspectives from Parties, support providers and the wider transparency community.
Explore the full photo gallery for highlights from the event.
