At COP 21 (2015), Parties, aiming to strengthen the global response to the threat of climate change, adopted the Paris Agreement and through it established an enhanced transparency framework (ETF) designed to build trust and confidence that all countries are contributing their share to the global effort. The core arrangements of the enhanced transparency framework are illustrated in the figure below.
Building on the existing MRV arrangements under the Convention, the Katowice conference (COP24, Dec. 2018) fleshed out a framework that is applicable to all countries by adopting decision 18/CMA.1 on a detailed set of modalities, procedures and guidelines (MPGs) that make it operational.
In that context, the final biennial update reports for developing countries are those submitted no later than 31 December 2024 and Parties under the Paris Agreement are required to submit their first biennial transparency report (BTR1) and national inventory report, if submitted as a stand-alone report, in accordance with the MPGs, at the latest by 31 December 2024.
For further information, please refer to the ETF Training Material.
At COP 13, through the Bali Action Plan, Parties agreed on the principle of applying measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) for developing country Parties, which laid the foundation for the subsequent elaboration of the existing comprehensive MRV framework for developing country Parties. MRV occurs at the international level, but can also be voluntary at the national level.
Measurement (M) for non-Annex I Parties applies both to efforts to address climate change and to the impacts of these efforts. It occurs at the national level and refers to GHG emissions, mitigation actions and their effects, and the support needed and received;
Reporting (R) for non-Annex I Parties is implemented through the national communications and BURs, where Parties report on their actions to address climate change in their national communications;
Verification (V) is addressed at the international level, through the ICA of BURs; It can also occur at the national level, but is voluntary.
As per the reporting requirements under the Convention, the developing countries submit their National Communications (NCs) and Biennial Update Reports (BURs) to the secretariat, where BURs go through the ICA process including a technical analysis by a team of technical experts (TTE) and facilitative sharing of views (FSV).
For more information please refer to MRV training material.
The development of effective climate strategies to implement appropriate and cost-effective mitigation actions rests upon the availability of comprehensive data and the application of sound assessment methods for emission reduction potentials. Unfortunately, many countries lack comprehensive sector-specific emission inventories and mitigation scenario analysis to inform sound climate action planning. The UNFCCC together with partner organizations are addressing this in the form of the development of a Compendium on national and sector specific GHG Baselines and Monitoring that countries could use to better estimate and report on greenhouse emission reductions/removals arising from implementation of mitigation actions. The latest documents are available below:
- Compendium on GHG emissions baselines and monitoring:National-Level Mitigation actions
- Compendium on GHG emissions baselines and monitoring:Passenger and Freight Transport
- Compendium on GHG emissions baselines and monitoring:Building and Construction Sector
In response to Parties expressing ongoing challenges surrounding the process to establish and apply quality assurance and quality control procedures (QA/QC), the secretariat, with the support of the Global Support Programme (GSP) for National Communications and Biennial Update Reports (GSP), prepared this guide to with a view to overcoming these challenges. The guide along with the downloadable worksheet can be used for this exercise.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) assesses the scientific, technical and socioeconomic information relevant for the understanding of the risk of human-induced climate change.
The IPCC is an independent body founded under the auspices of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The IPCC is best known for its comprehensive assessment reports, incorporating summaries for policymakers from a synthesis report and from all three Working Groups, which are widely recognized as the most credible sources of scientific information on climate change. In October 2014, the latest and Fifth Assessment Report of the IPCC (AR5) was finalized.
- 2019 Refinement to the 2006 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories
- 2013 Supplement to the 2006 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories: Wetlands
- 2013 Revised Supplementary Methods and Good Practice Guidance Arising from the Kyoto Protocol
- 2006 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories
- Revised 1996 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories
- IPCC Good Practice Guidance and Uncertainty Management in National Greenhouse Gas Inventories (2000)
- IPCC Good Practice Guidance for Land Use, Land Use Change, and Forestry (2003)
- IPCC FAQ on Greenhouse Gas Inventories