Background 

Preparation of Iraq First Biennial Transparency Report (BTR1) Enhanced Transparency Framework Training Concept Note and Agenda March 4-5, 2025 Erbil, Iraq The Paris Agreement’s Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF) for Action and Support aims to build mutual trust and confidence between Parties under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). At the center of the Paris Agreement’s ETF is the Biennial Transparency Report (BTR), which replaces the Biennial Update Report under the UNFCCC. Under the ETF, Parties to the Paris Agreement are required to submit their BTR every two years. According to the modalities, procedures, and guidelines (MPGs) for the ETF, the BTR includes information on national inventory reports (NIR), progress towards nationally determined contributions (NDCs), policies and measures, climate change impacts and adaptation, levels of financial, technology development and transfer and capacity-building support (IFTC), and capacity-building needs and areas of improvement. 

The Government of Iraq, through support provided by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Regional Office for West Asia (ROWA), is actively responding to the requirements of the UNFCCC. It has prepared its first BTR under the BTR Top-Up Focus for countries completing national communication and a BUR. The first Iraq BTR extends the greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory to cover additional years up to 2022; expands reporting on mitigation actions to report NDC progress, expands existing adaptation reporting to address climate change adaptation as per Article 7 of the Paris Agreement, including reporting on loss and damage; and expands reporting on technology transfer and financial, technology, and capacity needs to address financial, technology, and capacity-building needs and support received as per Articles 9, 10, and 11 of the Paris Agreement. In 2024, two capacity building workshops were implemented by UNEP ROWA for Iraqi experts and national focal points working on the BTR. The first workshop was on adaptation, loss and damage, and support received, the second workshop was on NIR and NDC preparation. 

Further, the government of Iraq has requested support in training experts involved in BTR preparation on the use of the ETF platform. As such, UNEP ROWA in collaboration with Ministry of Environment of Iraq, is organizing a capacity building workshop to increase technical knowledge of Iraqi experts on use of ETF platform. The workshop will be held on March 4 and 5, 2025 in Erbil Iraq. 

II. Objectives 

The main objective of training is to build the technical capacity of Iraqi experts on the ETF platform and equip them with the necessary skills to prepare and submit BTRs in compliance with the requirements of the Paris Agreement. These include: 

• Provide an overview of the ETF and its key reporting requirements. 
• Build technical knowledge on GHG inventories, mitigation actions, and adaptation measures. 
• Enhance understanding of reporting tools and methodologies under the ETF. 

III. Date and Place 

The workshop will be held on Tuesday 4 March and Wednesday 5 March 2025, in Erbil, Iraq. 

IV. Participation 

The event is aimed towards Iraqi experts and national focal points that worked on the BTR. 

V. Language 

Arabic language will be communicated during the session.