Resource Topic Summary:
Revising and raising the ambition of NDCs is the key to reaching the Paris Agreement’s goal. At the same time, accounting for every single effort leading to GHG emissions reductions is crucial and should be monitored. Article 13 of the Paris Agreement established an Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF) for action and support in order to build mutual trust and confidence among the Parties and to promote the effective implementation of the Paris Agreement. The ETF is designed with built-in flexibility, which takes into account Parties’ different capacities and builds upon the collective experience of transparency under the Convention (UNFCCC). At COP24 in Katowice in December 2018, the Parties adopted the “Katowice Climate Package”, which provides details for making the Paris Agreement operational. The Katowice Climate Package provides, among other things, the Modalities, Procedures and Guidelines (MPGs) for the ETF (UNFCCC, 2019). After two years of intensive technical dialogue on the content and principles, the MPGs provide operational details on the functioning of the ETF, including what information should be reported in relation to Article 13, as well as on the ETF’s timing and processes, including a review and consideration of progress.
Resource Chapter Layout:
Chapter 2 targets all readers and aims to provide an overview of the ETF and of the new transparency guidelines issued as part of the Katowice Climate Package. It describes the links between Article 13, the ETF and the other articles of the Paris Agreement, explaining how the MPGs affect the ETF. Furthermore, it presents the timeline for reporting before and after the introduction of the ETF.
Chapters 3 to 7 are directed at MRV practitioners.
Chapter 3 focuses on the BTR and explains its main features, including its links with other reporting vehicles such as the National Communication (NC) and Biennial Update Report (BUR), its time frame, and the main information to be reported within it.
Chapters 4 to 7 take a closer look at the information which will be part of the BTR, including the Adaptation Communication (AC). These chapters discuss the requirements set out by the MPGs, drawing links with other elements of the Convention and Paris Agreement, such as the NDC, BUR and NC.