The 2025 ICAT Partner Forum brought together nearly 300 participants from over 50 countries for three days of dynamic virtual dialogue, reaffirming the critical role of transparency in global climate action. Held from March 25 to 27, the Forum served as a milestone moment in the lead-up to the next round of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), known as NDC 3.0.

Building on the success of previous editions and community meetings, this year’s Forum was centred on the theme “Strengthening NDC 3.0 through Transparency.” It provided a collaborative space for countries, implementing partners, and stakeholders from across the climate transparency ecosystem to exchange insights, share lessons learned, and chart a path forward. Hosted virtually in interactive three-hour sessions, the Forum also ensured broad participation through full interpretation in French and Spanish and dedicated sessions in those languages.

Throughout the event, discussions focused on three core areas: enhancing NDCs through data and evaluation, developing robust climate finance transparency frameworks, and integrating principles of sustainable development and just transition into national climate strategies. The Forum reflected both the diversity and the shared priorities of its participants, creating a vibrant space for learning and peer exchange.

One of the standout achievements highlighted was the impressive contribution of ICAT-supported countries to global transparency efforts. By the end of 2024, 66 percent of all Biennial Transparency Reports (BTRs) submitted by developing countries had received ICAT support. This milestone underscores the growing maturity of transparency frameworks in these nations. However, speakers emphasized the importance of better aligning BTR submissions with NDC updates to maximize policy coherence and effectiveness.

The shift from simply collecting climate data to building integrated national data systems was another major theme. Many countries are now grappling with the “positive problem” of managing increasing volumes of climate data. This shift brings with it a demand for shared learning on how to design, manage, and sustain such systems in a way that supports real-time policy development.

Forum participants also stressed that evaluating NDC implementation is no longer optional. Evaluation is now recognized as a strategic tool for measuring policy effectiveness, optimizing resource use, and ensuring that climate policies remain on track. With countries now able to use transparency frameworks to assess their progress, there is a growing opportunity to identify what is working, where gaps remain, and how to set realistic, data-driven targets.

The importance of climate finance transparency emerged as a key message, particularly the need to involve Ministries of Finance and financial institutions in climate action planning. Participants agreed that developing credible, transparent frameworks for climate finance is vital for mobilizing both domestic and international funding, and for integrating climate priorities into national budgets and long-term development planning.

Another strong message from the Forum was the role of transparency in fostering inclusive climate action. Transparency frameworks not only support inter-ministerial collaboration but also create space for broader stakeholder engagement, especially among traditionally marginalized groups. This approach ensures that climate policies are not only effective but also equitable and socially just.

In his opening remarks, ICAT Director Dr. Henning Wuester emphasized that transparency should be seen as  the backbone of the Paris Agreement. With the first Global Stocktake showing that the world is off track to meet its climate goals, he argued that strong transparency offers a route to course-correct by building trust, driving accountability, and identifying investment opportunities. Transparency, he noted, is foundational to mobilizing finance and aligning climate policies with development objectives, and a crucial foundation for meaningful NDCs.

The Forum concluded with a high-level session featuring Ms. Ursula Fuentes Hutfilter, Chair of the ICAT Donor Steering Committee and Head of Climate Diplomacy and International Climate Policy at the German Federal Foreign Office. She highlighted the alignment between the ICAT Forum and the ministerial Petersberg Dialogue, which wrapped up the same day, noting that both events underscored a renewed global commitment to transparency and accelerated implementation of the Paris Agreement. Ms. Fuentes Hutfilter also praised ICAT’s contributions to global climate transparency and stressed the importance of connecting outcomes from the Forum to wider international dialogues.

As the Forum came to a close, Dr. Wuester reflected on the significant progress made by partner countries in establishing national transparency platforms. He underscored the importance of continuing to strengthen engagement with key stakeholders—especially Ministries of Finance—and integrating climate action transparency into core national processes. He concluded by encouraging all partners to build on the momentum of the Forum and guide support providers in adapting to countries’ evolving needs.

Looking ahead, ICAT will use the lessons and feedback from the 2025 Forum to shape future support and capacity-building efforts. Plans are already underway for the 2026 ICAT Partner Forum, which is expected to return to an in-person format to deepen collaboration and peer exchange.

As countries move toward their NDC 3.0 submissions, the 2025 ICAT Partner Forum stands as a timely and powerful reminder: transparency is not only a technical necessity—it is the cornerstone of trust, ambition, and lasting impact in global climate action.