Background 

Bhutan has consistently demonstrated leadership in environmental conservation and taking action on climate change among the international community. During the COP15 in Copenhagen, Bhutan made a significant announcement, declaring its commitment to achieving carbon neutrality indefinitely. Bhutan has submitted several reports to the UNFCCC, including its first BUR and three National Communications. These reports provide information on Bhutan's efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change, as well as its vulnerability to the impacts of climate change. As part of its efforts to transition to the Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF) referred to in Article 13 of the Paris Agreement, the Global Environment Facility (GEF) also approved the CBIT project in the country.

The ETF under the Paris Agreement builds on and enhances the existing measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) arrangements under the Convention. With the adoption of the modalities, procedures and guidelines (MPGs) for the ETF and the corresponding common reporting tables, common tabular formats and outlines, developing country Parties are already planning to, and some are already taking first steps to transition to the ETF. These MPGs provide specific details on the information that countries need to report, the format in which this information should be presented, and the process for reviewing the reported information. The agreements were reached by countries at COP24 in 2018 and were finalized at COP26 in 2021.

The Common Reporting Tables (CRTs) play a pivotal role in the accurate and consistent reporting of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to the UNFCCC. These tables serve as a standardized framework that enables countries to report their emissions data in a clear, transparent, and comparable manner. The CRTs are organized into a series of tables and sub tables, each designed to capture specific aspects of GHG emissions and removals. By using CRTs, countries are required to provide detailed information about their emissions sources, methodologies, and data quality. This transparency helps build trust among nations and allows for a thorough review of reported data.
The Common Tabular Format (CTF) tables facilitate the tracking and reporting of countries' efforts to reduce GHG emissions and achieve their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). CTF tables serve as the standardized reporting tool that enables countries to transparently communicate their progress in achieving their NDCs. These tables are a fundamental element of the ETF process under the UNFCCC. They provide a structured and consistent format for reporting emission reduced, emissions projection and other relevant data, ensuring that countries' efforts can be easily compared and assessed. The CTF is also used to report on the support needed and received under Articles 9-11 of the Paris Agreement, which relate to finance, technology transfer, and capacity-building.

The ETF provides flexibility in the implementation of its provisions to developing country Parties that need it in light of their capacities. This flexibility is aimed at ensuring that developing countries can effectively participate in the transparency process while considering their specific circumstances. The flexibility provisions are not meant to exempt developing countries from their reporting obligations, but rather to provide them with the necessary support and time to build their capacity to meet obligations. This approach recognizes the importance of a balanced and equitable global response to climate change, where all countries contribute according to their respective capabilities.

Objective

The training workshop aims at enhancing the technical capacities of national experts from Bhutan who are involved in the preparation of national reports under the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement, including NCs, NDCs and BURs/BTRs. Specifically, the event aims to familiarize participants with the MRV arrangements under the Convention and the ETF under the Paris Agreement, GHG inventory reporting through common reporting tables, understanding of reporting provisions on the tracking of progress of NDCs and support needed and received through common tabular format tables, and available flexibility provisions.