By Faridat Salifu
A forum on Global Climate Transparency has advocates transparency as the key to.xlimate action and introduced the COP29 Transparency Declaration.
The forum was organised by the incoming COP29 Presidency to be led by Mukhtar Babayev alongside UN Climate Change and international partners. They emphasized on transparency as a critical tool for tracking climate progress.
The event which took place in New York during the UN General Assembly called on countries to submit their Biennial Transparency Reports (BTRs) by the end of the year.
The forum aimed to build momentum toward the 31 December 2024 deadline for BTR submissions.
These reports are essential for ensuring countries meet their climate commitments, as they provide vital data to help shape policies, attract funding, and evaluate global progress.
Speakers at the event highlighted how transparent reporting can foster trust and drive data-based decisions.
Nations submitting their reports will offer insights into their climate actions, financing needs, and overall progress. This will help assess whether global efforts are on track to limit warming to 1.5°C.
In the meantime, several countries face challenges in meeting the deadline due to limited institutional capacity, data management issues, and unfamiliarity with new reporting methods.
To address this, the incoming COP29 Presidency and its partners are offering support through training and the newly launched Baku Global Climate Transparency Platform (BTP), which aims to streamline assistance for countries needing help with BTR submissions.
While addressing the gathering, Babayev underscored the importance of this reporting cycle saying, “These first-ever BTRs will enable us to track progress, build trust, and assess financial gaps. With more than 100 countries expected to submit their reports by year’s end, we are seeing real momentum.”
Despite challenges, Babayev reassured that support is available. “Workshops, training, and coordinated support under the BTP are in place to help countries meet the deadline. We encourage all nations to take advantage of this effort, and we will formalize this commitment in a new Transparency Declaration at COP29,” he said.
Francesco Corvaro of Italy, a newly appointed High-Level Transparency Pair for COP29, echoed the message of unity. He said: “We are here to support you. Our goal is to help speed up the process so all countries can present their BTRs on time.”
Countries that attending the forum shared their experiences and challenges in preparing their reports and welcomed both the BTP and the upcoming Transparency Declaration.
The BTRs will also be reviewed through technical expert reviews and synthesis reports, providing a global picture of climate progress ahead of the next round of national climate plans in 2025.
The UN Climate Change Senior Director, Daniele Violetti, urged nations to view BTR submissions as an opportunity to enhance their climate actions: “By embracing transparency, we can accelerate the ambitious efforts needed to protect our planet,”Violetti said.
