BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT

With the recent launch of the enhanced transparency framework under the Paris Agreement, all countries are now required to submit their first biennial transparency report (BTR) by December 2024. 

The primary purpose of the ETF is to foster trust and clarity among participating Parties of the Paris Agreement while monitoring progress toward achieving the Agreement’s objectives. The modalities, procedures, and guidelines (MPGs) for the ETF, outlined in decision 18/CMA.1, apply universally to all Parties, albeit with consideration for their varying capacities.

BTRs, which will replace Biennial Update Reports (BURs), will provide information on actions taken and progress made on mitigation, adaptation, and support provided, required, or received. This information gathered through the BTRs will feed into the Global Stocktake, which will assess collective progress toward long-term climate goals. As countries transition to BTRs and adhere to the MPGs, they will need to enhance the quantity, detail, and stringency of the information they provide—particularly for developing countries. 

To facilitate this process, the Capacity-building Initiative for Transparency (CBIT-GSP) aims to support countries by building capacities of national experts focusing on key ETF provisions and  reporting requirements within BTRs. As of now, Republic of North Macedonia has submitted four national communications and 3 BURs (including 3 inventory reports) to the UNFCCC. In 2022 the country completed the CBIT project on improving transparency reporting of the country. Institutions included in the process of preparing of recent GHG inventory reports were Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts and Institute for Agriculture. Now, the country team is preparing for their first BTR. 

OBJECTIVES 

The primary goal of the virtual webinar is to enhance the capacity of national institutions to carry out transparency reporting according to ETF provisions and align with national priorities, improve the institutional arrangements and capacities to fulfil the requirements outlined in Article 13 of the Paris Agreement. 

TARGET AUDIENCE

This activity is intended for national experts for transparency reporting of the Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning, Nort Macedonia who are involved in the preparation of national reports under the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement, including NCs, NDCs and BURs/BTRs.

PLANNED ACTIVITIES and IMPLEMENTATION TIMEFRAME 

The support is planned to be implemented in three stages:

1. Introductory meeting: to discuss current status of transparency reporting of North Macedonia, status of preparation of BTR1 and presentation of CBIT GSP Transparency Platform,
2. Webinar: Capacity building on ETF and BTR provisions and climate reporting requirements to UNFCCC for representatives of North Macedonia and Q/A session on questions provided in advance by the Macedonian team.
3. Peer to peer exchange with Montenegro on Institutional arrangements for development of BTR

IMPLEMENTATION TIMEFRAME

  March- May, 2024.