Story originally published by UNEP Copenhagen Climate Centre. 

Stepping up climate commitments, climate transparency systems are showing tangible results in countries across Latin America and Africa

As countries step up efforts to meet their commitments under the Paris Agreement, a growing number turn to stronger transparency systems to ensure climate action is measurable, credible and effective. Work done under the Initiative for Climate Action Transparency (ICAT) is now showing tangible results in countries across Latin America and Africa, embedding climate data more firmly into national decision-making.

The work of ICAT in Argentina, Mozambique and Costa Rica moves beyond technical reporting. It focuses on integrating transparency directly into sectoral planning and policy cycles, strengthening monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) and monitoring and evaluation (M&E) frameworks so that emissions data and adaptation metrics actively inform policy design, implementation and review.

The UNEP Copenhagen Climate Centre has supported Mozambique, Argentina and Costa Rica in implementing ICAT activities. Their experiences highlight both progress and persistent challenges as countries expand national climate-data systems and refine institutional frameworks.

Argentina: Linking provincial action to national targets

In Argentina, the ICAT activities built on earlier ICAT groundwork to assess how provincial climate change response plans contribute to national mitigation goals. The project evaluated the impact of nine greenhouse gas mitigation measures adopted by provincial governments and analyzed how they align with Argentina’s commitments under its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC).

Using ICAT’s Climate Action Aggregation Tool Climate Action Aggregation Tool (CAAT), the initiative identified, quantified, and aggregated the impact of subnational and non-state actions. Rather than treating provincial measures as isolated efforts, CAAT makes it possible to assess their combined contribution to national targets—providing a clearer picture of progress and gaps.

The assessment also examined 30 emissions-reduction measures across the energy, transport and forestry sectors, which together account for 62.8 per cent of Argentina’s total emissions. By improving the aggregation and tracking of sectoral actions, the project has strengthened the country’s ability to evaluate existing policies and shape future mitigation commitments.

Mozambique: Strengthening institutions amid climate impacts

In Mozambique, where floods, cyclones and droughts are already intensifying, the government is working to mainstream climate transparency into national institutions. For policymakers, the questions are urgent: which measures cut emissions most effectively, which adaptation actions best protect communities, and how can institutional arrangements be improved?

Building on earlier ICAT support, the project activities helped Mozambique update its National MRV Subsystem (SSNMRV) and improve coordination among government agencies. The project also analyzed Local Adaptation Plans in two highly climate-vulnerable districts—Nicoadala and Morrumbala—to strengthen monitoring of adaptation outcomes.

In addition, ICAT provided recommendations on how Mozambique could establish criteria for selecting projects eligible for carbon markets under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.

At a final workshop late 2025, government and partner representatives highlighted progress in institutional coordination and technical capacity, while identifying next steps such as improving data access, expanding digital monitoring tools, and building capacity to manage carbon market activities. Together, these efforts are helping Mozambique move from fragmented reporting toward a more integrated and forward-looking climate transparency framework.

Opportunities moving forward include developing legislation on data collection, establishing integrated national databases for MRV and NDC tracking, expanding sectoral MRV systems, strengthening capacity to manage and verify carbon credit projects, and creating legal and regulatory frameworks—including a national registry—to track emissions reductions and carbon transactions.

ICAT workshop in Mozambique

Costa Rica: A model system attracting regional interest

Costa Rica, an early participant in ICAT since 2016, has continued to refine its National Climate Change Metrics System, known as SINAMECC. Costa Rica’s National Climate Change Metrics System, developed with ICAT support, serves as the country’s official platform for collecting and managing climate data.

During the recently concluded ICAT project activities (2024–2025), the system was upgraded to enable full functionality of modules that register, track and report progress on mitigation and adaptation measures. The improvements support both international reporting obligations and domestic monitoring of key climate actions.

Costa Rica’s approach has drawn attention across Latin America and the Caribbean. Countries including the Dominican Republic, El Salvador and Cuba have expressed interest in replicating elements of SINAMECC in their own MRV systems. ICAT has facilitated technical exchanges between Costa Rican experts and counterparts in the region to share lessons learned.

The project has also broadened access to SINAMECC among national stakeholders, including government officials, private-sector actors, NGOs and academia. Training on new system features has expanded the platform’s use and strengthened national ownership of climate data.

From reporting to decision-making

Across the three countries, the ICAT activities underscore a shift from transparency as a reporting exercise to transparency as a decision-making tool. By embedding data systems within sectoral planning and strengthening institutional coordination, countries are better positioned to assess what works, identify gaps, and raise ambition over time.

As climate commitments become more complex and expectations for accountability increase, these national experiences suggest that robust transparency systems are not only a compliance requirement—but a foundation for more effective climate action.