Overview of Support Provided for Developing Countries
To promoting an effective participation by all Parties in the measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) arrangements under the Convention, and in the enhanced transparency framework (ETF) under the Paris Agreement, concrete and effective support to developing countries is fundamental.
In that context, the Consultative Group of Experts (CGE) is an expert group under the Convention which also serves the Paris Agreement, with a primary mandate to provide technical assistance and advice to developing country Parties on the process and the preparation of climate change reports (national communications (NCs), biennial update reports (BURs) and biennial transparency reports (BTRs), in a timely and sustainable manner. Furthermore, the CGE is responsible for training the team of technical experts to conduct technical analysis of BURs under the Convention and it is expected to provide technical advice to the secretariat on the implementation of the training of technical experts to conduct technical expert reviews of BTRs under the Paris Agreement.
Likewise, one of the functions of the secretariat is to promote effective and universal participation of countries in the transparency arrangements under the Convention and the Paris Agreement, and to facilitate assistance to developing country Parties in preparing their NCs and BURs, and BTRs. This includes facilitating the work of the CGE, organizing training workshops, developing appropriate tools and guidance materials, collaborating with bilateral and multilateral support programmes, disseminating information on transparency arrangements under the Convention and the Paris Agreement, promoting exchange of information, lessons learned and experiences, and conducting needs assessment.
Submitted Reports - NC and BUR
Reporting for developing countries is implemented through national communications (NCs) and biennial update reports (BURs). Developing country Parties are required to submit their first NC within three years of entering the Convention, and every four years thereafter.
Consistent with their capabilities and the level of support provided for reporting, developing countries should submit their first BUR by December 2014, and every two years thereafter. For the developing country Parties to the Paris Agreement, the MPGs of the ETF will supersede the MRV system under the Convention (established by decision 1/CP.16), with the BTRs replacing the BURs. In that context, the final BUR will be those submitted no later than 31 December 2024, and the first BTR no later than 31 December 2024.
Consideration of Reports
Verification of reports is addressed at the international level through the process of international consultation and analysis of BURs. This is to increase the transparency of mitigation actions and their effects as well as support needed and received.
Information contained in initial NCs submitted by non-Annex I Parties up to April 1, 2005 is compiled and synthesized into one comprehensive document. The most recent is the sixth Compilation and Synthesis report.
Related decisions
Key documents, decisions and conclusions including provisions for NCs, BURs and BTRs can be reached through the links provided below;