Workshop on Enhanced Transparency Framework 

under the Paris Agreement

Organized by CBIT-GSP and UNFCCC in collaboration with the Government of Australia – the Pacific Transparency Program, the Regional Pacific NDC Hub, the NDC Partnership, hosted by the Government of the Cook Islands 

Venue: Crown Beach Resort & Spa, Rarotonga, Cook Islands

Date: 25-28 March 2025

Background and Context

Transparency is at the very core of the Paris Agreement. In the context of climate change, enhanced transparency framework (ETF) involves the reporting, review and facilitative multilateral consideration of progress of climate action and support. The ETF builds on and strengthens the existing measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) arrangements under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The ETF is now fully operational, and Parties to the Paris Agreement were to submit their first Biennial Transparency Report (BTR) latest by 31 December 2024, acknowledging that Small Islands Development States (SIDS) may submit at their discretion. 

At the global level, submitting climate information and data under the ETF helps to build trust and track progress toward objectives of the Paris Agreement. At the national level, transparency builds resilience for future climate action ensuring that response to the climate crisis is both robust and evidence based. Several Parties already took first steps to implement the ETF by submitting the first BTRs.[1] 

Governments in the Pacific Islands Countries (PICs)[2] (see Annex 1 indicators of PICs) are also making strides in enhancing their climate reporting efforts by taking initial steps in integrating transparency requirements into their national reporting framework. However, understanding and raising awareness of the ETF in the context of each PIC’s national circumstance are crucial with a view to facilitate preparation and submission of the BTRs and informing the preparation of the next Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). 

The comparative smallness, remote location and archipelagic character of the PICs with diverse and unique national circumstances (see Annex 2 PICs in the Pacific Ocean) present challenges and needs to implement the ETF. The findings from the latest technical paper[3] published by the Consultative Group of Experts (CGE) highlights that the challenges and needs associated with the preparation of the national GHG inventories has the largest share and these often relate to availability of quality data, data collection practices and technical capacity to apply IPCC methodologies. These challenges often relate to few human resources – a natural phenomenon in the context of PICs, agencies with multiple and competing roles and responsibilities, and technological limitations. Technological challenges include limited access to required technology, difficulties in accessing and using internet-based resources for transparency and recommended tools. These challenges are often exacerbated either by limited number of experts in the relevant teams or high turnover of experts and government officers.

To address this, a four-day in-person workshop will be offered, to assist Polynesian countries [4] in preparing BTRs, focusing on national GHG inventories and NDC tracking. The workshop will be delivered using a peer-to-peer exchanges and hands-on exercises.

Objectives

The overall objective of this workshop is to build momentum and support PICs to implement the ETF with a view to facilitate submission of their BTRs. The workshop aims to enhance awareness and understanding among stakeholders in PICs regarding the integration of transparency requirements and use of ETF reporting tools when preparing the BTRs. This will also strengthen the capacity of responsible agencies to address climate actions toward a climate-resilient future, foster collaboration with peers, and ultimately streamline the preparation and submission of BTRs. 

Expected outcomes 

• Raise awareness among national stakeholders about credible national reporting under the ETF;
• Provide in-depth technical advice on the application of the ETF modalities, procedures and guidelines, including use of common reporting tables (CRTs) and common tabular formats (CTFs), along with practical one-on-one coaching with a view to enhance technical knowledge on national inventory systems and NDC tracking. 
• Empower national stakeholders by sharing challenges and best practices to overcome difficulties and challenges and provide knowledge and skills needed to navigate transparency requirements and the ETF reporting tools;
• Foster collaboration among stakeholders and peers with trust and accountability;
• Build confidence of PICs to submit their BTRs as early as possible.

Target Audience 

The workshop will bring together professionals from government agencies in Polynesian countries who are responsible for preparing and submitting national transparency reports under the ETF.  It is expected that the participants will include focal points from relevant national agencies including those responsible for climate change reporting as well as for producing climate data and information. This capacity building workshop focuses on Polynesian countries, providing them with opportunities for peer-to-peer exchanges with the Cook Islands. Additionally, a sub-regional approach allows Polynesian countries to dive deeper into concepts that are particularly relevant to their national circumstances. 

Best practices for using the ETF tools and preparation of the BTR will be shared by selected Melanesian country and an atoll country[5], respectively. 

Maximum three participants per country will be invited from each participating Polynesian countries and one selected country from Melanesia. 

Total number of workshop participants is expected to be 40 (including approximately 20 participants from participating countries, experts, resources persons and the host country participants). Experts and resource persons will include specialised agencies from the region, including representatives from the Government of Cook Islands, UNEP-CCC and CBIT-GSP, UNFCCC, NDC Partnership and the Government of Australia [and New Zealand, tbc]. 

Organization of the event 

Organized by CBIT-GSP and UNFCCC in collaboration with the Government of Australia, the Regional Pacific NDC Hub and the NDC Partnership, the workshop is hosted by the Government of the Cook Islands. The workshop will be conducted as an in-person event, with no plans to host any online session, unless it is necessary. All presentations and background resources will be shared via a dedicated google drive. Workshop materials will be available via CBIT-GSP Platform and Regional Pacific NDC Hub’s web-portal. 

[1] https://unfccc.int/first-biennial-transparency-reports 

[2] PICs include 14 Pacific Islands Countries in three sub-regions – Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia, (please see Annex 1 for details of sub-regional country listing) 

[3] https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/bodies/constituted-bodies/consultative-group-of-experts-cge/transparency-needs-assessment#__24

[4] Polynesian countries are: Cook Islands, Niue, Samoa, Tonga and Tuvalu. The two other subregions are Micronesia (Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Nauru, Palau, and Republic of Marshall Islands) and Melanesia (Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu)

[5] An atoll is a coral island consisting of a reef surrounding a lagoon. Atoll countries are – Tuvalu, Kiribati and Republic of Marshall Islands