A new handbook on institutional arrangements to support transparent reporting of climate actions has been published by the Consultative Group of Experts (CGE). The handbook aims to support developing countries to improve their capacities to implement the existing measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) arrangements under the climate change convention, in view of the transition to the more stringent enhanced transparency framework (ETF) under the Paris Agreement.
In publishing the handbook, the CGE is aiming to fulfill its mandate of support to developing countries in the transparent reporting of their climate actions.
On occasion of the launch, Mr. Arif Goheer, Chair of the CGE said: “The Paris Agreement necessitates the establishment of robust mechanisms that ensure transparency of climate action and support. I do hope that this handbook will serve as a valuable resource for policy-makers, MRV experts and practitioners in improving their national institutional arrangements from the current ad-hoc based to a more robust and sustainable arrangement”.
MRV and transparency of action and support are critical elements in achieving the objectives of the Convention and the Paris Agreement. To prepare reliable, transparent and comprehensive information on greenhouse gas emissions, national climate actions and support, and to report such information regularly, countries need strong and well-functioning institutional arrangements. Well-functioning institutional arrangement will become even more critical with the implementation of the enhanced transparency framework in 2024.
The aim of the handbook is to provide guidance on enhancing institutional arrangements that promote transparency in climate action and support.
More specifically, the handbook offers practical tips on transitioning from project-based national institutional arrangements that focus on producing individual reports, which lack continuity and adequate resources, to long-term national arrangements that establish permanent teams to ensure regular, continuous data flows that provide robust information for formulating national reports and guiding decision makers.
Readers and users will find the handbook useful as it further provides information that:
- Clarifies concepts and framework of MRV/transparency institutional arrangements;
- Outlines processes and steps, including quick guides on setting up MRV/transparency institutional arrangements;
- Highlights ways to ensure sustainability of national MRV/transparency institutional arrangements, and;
- Offers reporting guidance on institutional arrangements for both national and international reports.
What are the benefits of strong national institutional arrangements?
Strong and sustainable institutional arrangements have many benefits as they:
- Provide long-term sustainable framework for smooth collection, data analysis and formulation of reports;
- Inform national decision makers on progress on climate action and the level of climate ambition;
- Equip decision makers with the continually improved evidence to make informed decisions, actions and investments that are in harmony with national development strategies and the SDGs;
- Fulfill international reporting requirements in a timely manner and on a sustainable basis, and;
- Provide reliable information to the international community through regular national reporting which, among others, show national achievements in planning and implementation of climate action, contributes to building trust, and attracts public and private investments.
Learn more about the institutional arrangements by accessing the handbook here and other related materials and tools here.
Source: United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, 14.09.2020