UN Climate Change News, 6 July 2023 - During the Bonn UN Climate Change Conference last month, 18 events took place under the #Together4Transparency initiative that aims to bring together Party and non-Party stakeholders - from countries to NGOs, media, youth, and the private sector - to raise awareness about the importance of transparency in climate action.
Over the course of the two-week conference, both in negotiating rooms and at side-events, 'trust' emerged as a recurring theme in relation to climate action and support. #Together4Transparency events highlighted how transparency enables a global conversation about climate progress and ambition, and how it feeds into the Global Stocktake - a crucial milestone in assessing whether our collective efforts are fulfilling commitments of the Paris Agreement, and, if not, encourage all to do more.
Reporting and review of climate actions are crucial to ensure information-sharing among governments, build trust among stakeholders, and support collective progress towards the goals of the Paris Agreement. Moreover, transparency helps countries make informed decisions, set meaningful targets, and develop adequate policies that enable more ambitious, long-term climate action. Experience shows that, when progress is regularly measured and transparent information is publicly shared, Parties strive to meet and even exceed their goals.
During the Bonn UN Climate Change Conference, Transparency Division Manager Xuehong Wang reflected on how better information and data can enhance climate ambition, noting: "The Enhanced Transparency Framework provides verified data and insights to guide and inform climate policy and action, improve the tracking of progress, and mobilize resources and support. It also provides platforms for mutual learning, collaboration, and trust-building. Ultimately, enhanced transparency will benefit younger generations whose futures depend on the success or failure of the UN Climate Change process."
Across the various #Together4Transparency events, topics of discussion ranged from the critical role of training for review experts under the Enhanced Transparency Framework to the importance of developing timely and effective reporting tools or the need to engage with all interested stakeholders, among others. Some highlights shared during the events included:
- Updates from 15 developing countries on their progress to strengthen national plans, implement climate action, and prepare for reviews and reporting under the Paris Agreement, as part of the Facilitative Sharing of Views process.
- An update on the training programmes available for those wishing to become technical experts and be eligible to review Biennial Transparency Reports.
- An update on the development of online tools for the submission of reporting data.
- An update on the development of greenhouse gas inventory software by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change to support reporting on emissions and removals for countries with limited reporting experience.
- A report from the Consultative Group of Experts on its work to promote collaboration on data collection between Party and non-Party stakeholders.
- An overview from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) on support to developing countries to build up their national reporting capacities.
In the following months, additional #Together4Transparency events will take place at the upcoming Regional Climate Weeks in Kenya, Malaysia, Panama, and Saudi Arabia, as well as during COP28 in the United Arab Emirates.
