COP29 is taking place in Baku, Azerbaijan, on 11-22 November 2024. In this year’s global meeting on climate change, transparency takes center stage.
To succeed in global climate efforts, intensified commitment to transparency is needed. Last year’s global stocktake showed that the world is not on track to keep global warming to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels. Transparency can help countries be better prepared to put the Paris Agreement on track and set the foundations for long-term effective climate action. Show-casing examples of how this is done and enabling an exchange between national experts will be the focus of our activities in Baku. Click here to see our messaging for COP29 and explore why transparency is essential for the success of the Paris Agreement.
Find out about all ICAT events below and click here to add them to your calendar. For more information, feel free to contact us at icat@unops.org. Follow us on X (Twitter) and LinkedIn to stay up-to-date on the latest ICAT news.
Aligning transparency: Navigating BTRs and NDCs for enhanced climate action
Saturday, 16 November 2024, 12:00-13:00 | Faith Pavilion & live streaming Co-hosted with: UNEP-CCC, CBIT-GSP
The submission of the first biennial transparency reports (BTRs) marks a crucial step in tracking progress toward climate goals. While countries are actively preparing their BTRs, they must also begin preparing their next Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), due in 2025. With these two interconnected processes happening simultaneously, countries need to find ways to create synergies between them, as the preparation of both the first BTR and the next NDC involve significant challenges for many nations.
The side event will introduce the work done with developing countries under two global initiatives, ICAT and CBIT-GSP, in supporting countries with their BTR and NDC. It will highlight tools, methodologies and guidance developed under the two initiatives, and showcase country experiences related to the interlinked preparation of BTRs and NDCs.
Speakers: Cuba, Ghana, Philippines, ICAT, CBIT-GSP, UNFCCC (TBC),GEF (TBC)
Live streaming link here.
Experiences of ECCAS member countries in the preparation of transparency frameworks as a basis for BTRs, NDCs, and LT-LEDS
Tuesday, 19 November 2024, 13:30-15:30 | CCBC/F2BC Pavilion Co-hosted with: The Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS)
This event is organized by ICAT’s regional climate action transparency hub in Central Africa, hosted by ECCAS. Since its creation in 2022, the hub has been supporting Central African States to strengthen their transparency frameworks to enhance domestic climate action capacity and meet their Paris Agreement commitments.
The event will serve as a platform to present the efforts made by ECCAS member countries in preparing reports and policy documents to be submitted to the UNFCCC, including BTRs, NDCs and LT-LEDS. It will feature country experiences in preparing transparency frameworks and progress in implementing transparency improvement plans. It will also highlight opportunities and challenges identified during workshops organized in the region, take stock of the support provided to mobilize resources to implement climate action transparency action plans, and identify elements for a roadmap for next steps.
Speakers: Ministers from ECCAS member states, ICAT, ECCAS, Fokabs, GEF, CI, USFS, and UNDP.
The event will be conducted in French.
Live streaming link here and here.
Next generation NDCs: Catalyzing economy-wide transformation
Tuesday, 19 November 2024, 18:30-20:00 | Side-event room 2 & livestreaming Co-hosted with: Chile, UK, WRI, We Mean Business Coalition
The next generation of NDCs, due early next year, presents a crucial opportunity for countries to drive climate action for years to come. Limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celcius requires transforming nearly every sector globally. That’s why countries should aim for setting ambitious emission reduction targets for 2030 and 2035, and jumpstart a strategic planning process within ministries for sectoral transformation. A data-driven approach, founded in transparency, enables countries to develop ambitious and realistic NDC targets, and sets the path for informed decision making at the national level.
This COP29 side event will bring together leading voices from the public and private spheres to reflect on the upcoming NDC updates and how they can guide the transformation of economies and societies to meet the Paris Agreement’s objectives. Speakers will discuss the importance of different sectors, such as energy, agriculture and transport, to speed up the transition away from fossil fuels and create economic growth. It will also shed light on the power of engaging cities and the private sector.
Speakers: H.E. Juan Carlos Muñoz Abogabir, Transportation and Telecommunications Minister of Chile, H.E. Edward Miliband, Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero of the UK, representatives from Kenya, Rwanda, WRI, WMB Coalition (TBC)
Live streaming:
Please note that attendance online requires you to register online as a virtual COP29 participant. Once registered, live streaming will be available on the COP29 digital platform accessible to virtual conference participants.
Strengthening climate action transparency in Central Asia: Lessons, needs, and future directions
Wednesday, 20 November 2024, 11:30 – 13:00 | Kazakhstan Pavilion & online Co-hosted with: The Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC)
This event is organized by ICAT’s regional climate action transparency hub in Central Asia, hosted by CAREC. It will review key achievements from the first three years of the hub, highlighting capacity building of national and regional experts on greenhouse gas inventory management, adaptation tracking, and climate finance. It will also discuss needs in advancing climate transparency across the countries of Central Asia and outline plans for expanding the hub into new areas of engagement and deeper in-country support.
The event will engage regional experts, government representatives, and international stakeholders to continue enhancing transparency systems in an effort to enable Central Asian countries to meet their climate obligations and effectively contribute to global climate action.
Speakers: Mansur Oshurbaev, Vice-Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Zafar Makhmudov, CAREC Executive Director, Henning Wuester, ICAT Director, representatives from Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan
The event will be held in Russian with simultaneous interpretation to English.
Link for online participant registration: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwrcuigqzgvHdZ5zrOgll9AmSlY61wuxjfq
Transparency for effectively managing climate finance
Wednesday, 20 November 2024, 19:00-20:00 | Shirvan Special Event Room, Area B Co-hosted with: Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, CCAP
Climate finance transparency enhances countries’ capacity to effectively manage resources for climate change mitigation and adaptation, including estimating financial needs for climate actions and associated impact towards national climate targets. Additionally, it helps report domestically and internationally on climate finance flows, building trust among countries and stakeholders.
The event will explore how data can be used to effectively manage and attract funds for climate action. It will mark the launch of the ICAT Climate Finance Transparency Guide, developed with support by the Center for Clean Air Policy (CCAP), which provides guidance to developing countries in establishing and implementing national climate finance transparency frameworks. The event will also showcase country experiences with setting up transparency frameworks to mobilize, track and allocate climate finance for maximum impact.
Speakers: Belize, Côte d’Ivoire, Morocco, Senegal, ICAT, CCAP, Gauss, IMF (TBC)
Monitoring, reporting and verification systems as a transparency tool for climate management
Thursday, 21 November 2024, 10:00-11:00 | El Salvador Pavilion Co-hosted with: El Salvador
In order to determine the level of progress in the implementation of NDCs, it is necessary to develop monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) systems that allow for transparency to improve implementation of climate action, mobilize finance and increase the ambition of mitigation, adaptation and resilience. This event will provide an opportunity to learn about experiences, challenges and lessons learned in MRV for NDC tracking, as well as to identify needs and opportunities for collaboration and access to climate finance.
Speakers will analyze how MRV systems generate information on the progress of climate actions for decision making, supporting the improvement of policies and programs. It will further identify how MRV systems can support access to climate finance mechanisms for the achievement of climate targets.
Speakers: El Salvador, Bolivia, Costa Rica ICAT, GHGMI
The event will be conducted in Spanish.
Strengthening greenhouse gas data management and mitigation in the Pacific: Lessons learned and future pathways under the ETF, Paris Agreement, and the Global Methane Pledge
Tuesday, 12 November 2024, 12:30-13:30 | NDC Partnership Pavilion & live streaming Hosted by Fiji, Vanuatu, the Greenhouse Gas Management Institute, and the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) Participation by ICAT in panel discussion
The event will provide an opportunity to discuss the potential pathways for the improvement of methane reporting from the agriculture and waste sectors under the Paris Agreement’s enhanced transparency framework (ETF). It will showcase Fiji’s pilot search and analysis of methane mitigation potential for wastewater and manure management and enable a discussion with fellow experts in Oceania and other developing countries. The event will also provide an opportunity for mainstreaming mitigation of short-lived climate pollutants into sectoral policies and upcoming NDCs.
Speakers: H.E. MP Ralph Regenvanu, Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, Vanuatu (TBC), representatives of Fiji, Vanuatu, ICAT, CCAC, GHGMI
Live streaming available here.
Peer-to-peer exchange event for the Pacific region on the current state and the perspectives of capacity building under the ETF and the Paris Agreement using advanced data management platforms
Wednesday, 13 November 2024, 11:00-12:00 | Moana Pavilion Hosted by Fiji, Vanuatu, the Greenhouse Gas Management Institute , and the Climate and Clean Air Coalition Presentation of ICAT project results and experiences in Fiji and Vanuatu
The event will promote a peer-to-peer exchange on the current state and perspectives of capacity building under the ETF of the Paris Agreement, using advanced data management platforms. This will include discussion of meeting commitments to enhance the ambition of the next generation of NDCs to the Paris Agreement by integrating super pollutants, and especially short-lived climate pollutants. This side event will also serve as a platform for a discussion on the different approaches to capacity building in Pacific countries, and the domestic priorities related to strengthening national MRV systems.
Speakers: Fiji, Vanuatu, CCAC, GHGMI
Strengthening holistic approaches for NDC 3.0 and Paris Agreement implementation
Thursday, 14 November 2024, 11:30-13:00 | Side event room 7 & live streaming Hosted by UNFCCC and NDC-Partnership Participation by ICAT in panel discussion
The UNFCCC/NDC-Partnership Holistic Approach Project seeks to promote a holistic and sustainable approach to implementing key substantive areas of the Paris Agreement, including NDCs, Long-term, low greenhouse emission development strategies and the ETF, through the development of institutional arrangements and the provision of capacity-building tools. Drawing on the experience of Cambodia, Jordan, and Saint Vincent & the Grenadines, this event will highlight the importance of sustainable institutional arrangements and capacity building in the implementation of the Paris Agreement, as well as the integration of climate action planning into long-term development planning. It will seek to demonstrate a systemic approach to identifying and addressing capacity-building challenges to such goals, thus encouraging participants to consider applying similar efforts in their respective countries.
From commitments to action: mobilizing climate finance for effective implementation
Thursday, 14 November 2024, 15:00-16:30 | Side event room 8 & live streaming Hosted by UNOPS and UNEP
The window to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 °C is closing fast. New NDCs in 2025 need to be backed by solid technical and financial support and enhanced implementation capacity, particularly for most vulnerable countries. The anticipated adoption of the New Collective Quantified Goal at COP29, along with advancements in tools such as carbon markets, present opportunities to guide and meet climate finance needs. This event will bring together key stakeholders from climate initiatives representing the entire climate finance chain, to identify the opportunities for partnerships and actions that can build on the momentum of COP29. It will also spotlight actionable steps to secure climate finance, while identifying key areas for collaboration, both current and prospective, to amplify impact.
Speakers: H.E. Joyce Banda, former President of Malawi, Jorge Moreira da Silva, Under-Secretary General and UNOPS Executive Director, representatives from governments, international donors and the private sector
Vision of the transparency professional training programme for developing countries
Tuesday, 19 November 2024, 10:30-11:30 | UNFCCC Pavilion & online Hosted by the UNFCCC secretariat Presentation of the ICAT blended course on transparency and the ETF
The UNFCCC Climate Action and Support Transparency Training, or UNFCCC-CASTT, is a professional training programme with the primary aim to promote effective and universal participation of countries to the MRV arrangements under the Convention and the ETF under the Paris Agreement, through a targeted, professional and comprehensive capacity-building programme. The objective of this side event is to raise awareness of the UNFCCC-CASTT Programme’s three training initiatives: (i) The UNFCCC-GIR-CASTT programme on greenhouse gases; (ii) the Adaptation Academy on best practices for climate risk assessment and reduction, adaptation planning and reporting; and (iii) The ETF Blended Training focusing on transparency arrangements and mitigation policy assessment.
Speakers: UNFCCC secretariat, GIR, ICAT
Towards increased financial support for methane reduction in Nigeria
Tuesday, 19 November 2024, 12:00-13:00 | Nigeria Pavilion Hosted by Nigeria Participation by ICAT in panel discussion
Methane, a potent greenhouse gas, is responsible for approximately half a degree Celsius of current global warming, with a warming potential 80 times greater than carbon dioxide over its first 20 years in the atmosphere. Nigeria, as a Global Methane Champion, is committed to reducing methane emissions, especially from the oil and gas sector, through collaborative efforts with various international organizations and regulatory bodies. This side event at COP29 will serve as a platform to discuss strategies for increasing financial support to sustain and accelerate methane reduction efforts, showcase achievements to date, and highlight areas requiring urgent intervention to ensure Nigeria’s methane reduction goals are met.
Speakers: Nigeria, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, CCAC, Global Methane Hub, Clean Air Task Force, UNEP-International Methane Emissions Observatory, ICAT and Carbonlimits
Advancing Climate Transparency: Opportunities through Action for Climate Empowerment
Tuesday, 19 November 2024, 15:00-18:00 | Plenary – Caspian, Area D & online Hosted by the UNFCCC secretariat ICAT presentation
This event responds to the Glasgow work programme on Action for Climate Empowerment (ACE) adopted at COP26, which promotes policy coherence and international cooperation by inviting the Presidencies, with the support of the secretariat, to convene an in-session event focused on a thematic area relevant to the Convention and the Paris Agreement. This year, the ACE Presidency event will focus on “Advancing Climate Transparency: Opportunities through Action for Climate Empowerment.” The event is a timely opportunity for policymakers, practitioners, businesses, and civil society to exchange on the role that the ACE toolbox plays in fostering collaboration among diverse stakeholders to support climate transparency processes through its six elements: education and public awareness, training, public access to information and participation, and international cooperation in these areas.
Experiences and lessons learned in delivering support to facilitate BTR1 preparation and to enhance capacities to implement the ETF
Tuesday, 19 November 2024, 17:00-18:30 | Special Event Room – Buta, Area B Hosted by the UNFCCC secretariat Presentation of ICAT’s offer of support
As developing countries continue monitoring progress and achievement of their NDCs and gear up to submit their first BTRs and fully implement the ETF at country level, a key focus for them will be to continue enhancing their existing capacities. Many of them have tapped into support opportunities available and there is a momentum towards ensuring that no one is left behind in the implementation of the ETF. This event will give an opportunity to discuss the support provided and contemplate any best practices and lessons learned that could be shared for countries to continually improve climate change report preparation and enhance capacities to implement the ETF.
Speakers: UNFCCC secretariat, ICAT, GEF (TBC), UNEP-CCC, UNEP, UNDP (TBC) FAO (TBC), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Council on Energy, Environment and Water
Illuminating equity: Technical in-session dialogue on gender in transparency
Thursday, 21 November 15:00-17:00 | Room MR11 & livestreaming Hosted by the UNFCCC secretariat Presentation of the ICAT working paper “Good practices for integrating gender into transparency frameworks”
By including gender data and disaggregating data, governments and stakeholders can better assess the differential impacts of climate policies, identify gaps in implementation, and track progress. Integrating gender into reporting can lead to more comprehensive and effective policy planning, as well as help to identify and unlock required support and resources for implementation. This technical dialogue will highlight the importance and benefits of including gender considerations within transparency frameworks. In complementarity to the high-level segment on gender day, the technical dialogue will delve into detail on: (i) Recent findings of gender integration in reporting under the UNFCCC; (ii) Enhancing data availability for reporting; and (iii) Available support for mainstreaming gender in transparency.
Speakers: UNFCCC secretariat, ICAT, UNDP/UNEP Global Support Programme, GEF
The event will be conducted in English, with interpretation in French and Spanish.
Access the webcast here.
Across the two weeks of COP29, the ICAT secretariat will meet with representatives of its partner countries and regional institutions to discuss the progress of ongoing ICAT activities and preparation of new projects. ICAT is happy to meet with any other partners, representatives of governments, climate change organizations, members of the press and the media and other interested stakeholders. Please contact us if you want to schedule a meeting with the ICAT Secretariat.
We are excited to celebrate the submission of the first BTRs by ICAT partner countries! If your country is submitting or is close to submitting the first BTR by the end of the year or by COP29, please contact us and we’ll give you a platform to share your experiences.
