The world’s nations are gathering at COP30 in Belém, Brazil, on 10-21 November 2025 to advance the future of climate action. Ten years after the adoption of the Paris Agreement, all eyes are on the next generation of national climate plans, the NDC 3.0, and whether or not they are ambitious and solid enough to keep the 1.5°C goal within reach.
Transparency is a critical enabler of more ambitious, realistic, and actionable NDCs. More than a reporting requirement, transparency, and the data and insights that it provides, lay the strategic foundations for strengthening the quality of NDCs and their implementation. It ensures policies are based on sound data and analysis, and supports engagement of sectors, finance mobilization, and the monitoring of progress.
As ICAT celebrates a decade of impact, our activities in Belém will spotlight real-world examples and foster knowledge exchange among national experts. Click here to explore our messaging for COP30 and explore why transparency is essential for putting the Paris Agreement on track to meet its objectives.
Find out about all ICAT events below. For more information, feel free to contact us at icat@unops.org. Follow us on LinkedIn and X (Twitter) to stay up-to-date on the latest ICAT news.
ICAT at 10: A decade of support to climate action transparency and the road ahead to 2030
Monday, 17 November 2025, 10:45-11:30 | Canada Pavilion
This event will celebrate ICAT’s 10th anniversary and mark the launch of ICAT 2.1, a new phase extending support for climate transparency through 2030. Over the past decade, ICAT has partnered with more than 70 countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Caribbean, and the Pacific, strengthening institutional capacity, informing policy, and fostering inclusive climate governance. The event will bring together senior government representatives from donor and partner countries to share their experiences, reflect on lessons learned, and discuss the challenges faced in advancing transparency. It will also showcase how ICAT 2.1 builds on these insights to empower countries to implement more effective and ambitious climate action, supporting the goals of the Paris Agreement and the effective implementation of NDCs.
Speakers: Canada, Germany, El Salvador, Haiti, Zimbabwe (TBC), ICAT Secretariat
Transparency for effective, realistic and trackable NDC 3.0
Wednesday, 12 November 2025, 14:00-15:30 | Special Event Room 4: Parana
Co-hosted with: UNFCCC
This event will explore how transparency drives effective, ambitious yet realistic NDCs under the Paris Agreement. The discussion will showcase how transparency was used to support NDC updates, from evaluating the progress made in achieving NDC 2.0 targets to setting new targets. It will feature country experiences and lessons learned on how robust data systems and transparency frameworks enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and improve policymaking. Country representatives and experts will highlight how transparency strengthens NDC implementation and financing, ensuring climate action that is impactful, evidence-based, and aligned with national priorities. The event is organized under the #Together4Transparency banner.
Speakers: El Salvador, Cambodia, Chile, Kyrgyzstan, Zimbabwe (TBC), UNFCCC, ICAT Secretariat
The use of evaluations to steer climate policy and support the update and implementation of the NDC 3.0 process
Friday, 14 November 2025, 16:00-17:00 | Evidence 4 Climate Action Pavilion
Co-hosted with: German Institute for Development Evaluation; German Institute of Development and Sustainability
The event will explore how systematic evaluations of NDC 2.0 implementation can inform evidence-based decision-making and guide the update to NDC 3.0. Expert speakers will share insights and lessons learned, including on how embedding evaluation into NDC processes as a strategic tool strengthens climate policy, tracks progress effectively, and helps avoid repeating past gaps across NDC cycles.
Speakers: German Institute for Development Evaluation; German Institute of Development and Sustainability, ICAT Secretariat
What works in nature-based solutions: multi-scale evidence for impact
Saturday, 15 November, 14:30-15:30 | Evidence 4 Climate Action Pavilion
Co-hosted with: CIF’s Evaluation & Learning (E&L) Initiative, the GEF’s Independent Evaluation Office (IEO)
This event will explore Nature-Based Solutions (NbS), showcasing successful examples and evidence of impact. NbS are essential to achieving global climate, biodiversity, and development goals by linking resilient livelihoods with restored ecosystems and delivering mitigation, adaptation, and nature-positive outcomes. Speakers will share perspectives based on longstanding NbS investments, programs financing NbS at scale, and findings from the review of GEF NbS portfolio. ICAT will share insights from country projects, including NbS monitoring and evaluation frameworks in Kenya, and an approach to integrated adaptation and mitigation measures in Chile. Panelists will discuss lessons on maximizing impact, including aligning reforms, integrating Indigenous knowledge, de-risking private capital, and strengthening measurement systems for sustainability and scale.
Speakers: CIF, GEF, Kenya, ICAT Secretariat
From pledges to progress: Central Asia’s climate action through NDC 3.0 and methane reduction
Saturday, 15 November 2025, 18:30 – 20:00, Side Event Room 4
Co-hosted with: CAREC, Kyrgyzstan
This event will spotlight how Central Asian countries are transforming climate commitments into measurable progress, with transparency at the core. As the region enters a new phase of ambition and accountability under NDC 3.0, the event will highlight efforts to enhance transparency, strengthen Measurement, Reporting and Verification (MRV) systems, and align national priorities with global climate goals. A special focus will be placed on methane mitigation as a fast-acting climate solution, featuring national strategies, pilot projects, and cross-sectoral initiatives in key sectors such as energy, agriculture, and waste. By fostering regional dialogue and collaboration, the event will emphasize shared progress toward effective NDC implementation and methane reduction, reinforcing Central Asia’s contribution to global climate action.
Speakers: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Italy, CAREC, GHGMI, ICAT Secretariat
Advancing policy, capacity, and leadership: Belize’s regional transparency hub and climate delivery
Monday, 17 November, 11:00-12:00 | CCAD Pavilion
Co-hosted with: Belize
This event will showcase Belize’s leading example in advancing climate transparency and governance. The session will offer a space to share Belize’s journey in integrating transparency frameworks and market readiness into national climate policy, emphasizing collaboration with ICAT as a driver of institutional capacity and ambition. Participants will hear practical lessons on strengthening MRV systems, developing effective policy frameworks, and promoting regional cooperation to enhance climate action. The event will share replicable solutions for small and capacity-constrained states and underscore how transparency and collaboration can accelerate implementation, aligning regional efforts with the objectives of the Paris Agreement.
Speakers: Hon. Orlando Habet, Minister of Sustainable Development, Belize Climate Change Office, ICAT Secretariat
De la CDN 2.0 à la CDN 3.0 : Retours d’expérience et défis pour les pays membres de la CEEAC
Monday, 17 November, 14:00-15:00 | Commission Climat du Bassin du Congo/F2BC Pavilion
Co-hosted with: ECCAS
This event will present the experiences, achievements, and challenges of the member states of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) in the transition from their CDN 2.0 to CDN 3.0. It will highlight lessons learned in reporting, policy implementation, and interinstitutional coordination. It will showcase the Hub’s role in strengthening national capacities, facilitating knowledge exchange, and developing sustainable MRV systems to enhance transparency under the Paris Agreement. Ministers, experts, and partners will discuss strategic approaches to overcome barriers, present progress on CDN 3.0 preparation, and identify regional cooperation opportunities to accelerate effective and climate action across Central Africa through transparency. The event will be held in French.
Speakers: ECCAS member countries, ECCAS, Fokabs, ICAT Secretariat
From targets to action: planning NDC implementation
Tuesday, 18 November 2025, 09:00 – 10:30 | Special Event Room: Tapajos
This event will explore how transparency can serve as the foundation for effective implementation of NDC 3.0. As the global focus shifts from setting targets to delivering results, countries must ensure their climate actions are measurable, impactful, and aligned with national priorities. The session will highlight how robust transparency frameworks provide valuable data that enable analysis for policymaking and finance, turning ambition into action. Country representatives and experts will share their experiences in applying transparency frameworks for NDC implementation from planning to tracking, including conducting policy assessments; developing sectoral plans and financing strategies; leveraging linkages with greenhouse gas inventories to ensure solid NDC accounting; and reporting through the Biennial Transparency Reports.
The event will emphasize data-driven approaches, institutional coordination, and capacity-building as key enablers of effective action. The event is organized under the #Together4Transparency banner.
Speakers: Ireland, Cambodia, Brazil (Centro Brasil no Clima), Fiji, India (TERI), Georgia, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, ICAT Secretariat
Progress and Results of the Regional Center for Climate Action Transparency in Central America and the Dominican Republic
Tuesday, 18 November, 11:00-12:00 | CCAD Pavilion
Co-hosted with: CCAD
This event will present the progress achieved under the ICAT Regional Climate Action Transparency Hub for SICA countries, hosted by the Central American Commission for Environment and Development (CCAD). The hub supports SICA member countries in building robust transparency frameworks to enhance evidence-based climate policymaking, attract investment, and meet reporting requirements under the Paris Agreement. The event will highlight the hub’s role in fostering regional collaboration, capacity-building, and knowledge exchange across Central America and the Dominican Republic. By showcasing progress and lessons learned, it will demonstrate how regional cooperation can drive effective transparency frameworks and accelerate climate action aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement. The event will take place in Spanish.
Speakers: SICA countries, CCAD, ICAT Secretariat
A Huddle of Hubs: How regional transparency hubs are transforming MRV system success
Tuesday, 18 Nov 2025, 18:30-20:00 | Room: Side Event Room 7
Co-hosted with: GHGMI, Bahamas, Tajikistan
This event will convene transparency leaders from Central Asia, Central America, the Caribbean, and Central Africa to share successes from regional climate transparency hubs around the world. These hubs aim to efficiently build capacity for climate action transparency, closely aligned with local needs, by facilitating local solutions, peer-to-peer engagement through regional networks, and sustainable, long-term results. Representatives of regional organizations and hub member countries will explore their biggest breakthroughs and unexpected successes, sharing the turning points and innovative approaches that drove impact. The session will offer a space for a collaborative, cross-regional conversation to exchange insights, discuss challenges and solutions, and share reflections for the future.
Speakers: Bahamas, Grenada, Tajikistan, CAREC, ECCAS, CCAD (TBC), GHGMI, ICAT Secretariat
Enhancing capacity for impact assessments of response measures to facilitate economic diversification and transformation, and just transition
Monday, 10 November 2025, 15:00-17:00 | Meeting room 17, Area E
Hosted by: UNFCCC | Participation by ICAT in panel discussion
This event will explore ways to enhance the capacity of countries to assess the impacts of response measures, supporting economic diversification, transformation, and a just transition. As countries advance toward NDC 3.0 implementation, robust impact assessments are essential to ensure climate actions are fair, effective, and aligned with sustainable development. The session will showcase tools, methodologies, and best practices that strengthen national and institutional capacities through interactive dialogue among experts, practitioners, and country representatives, contributing to the scaling up of impact assessment efforts in the next Katowice Committee on Impacts work plan.
Pillars for effective implementation: robust institutional arrangements across planning processes
Thursday, 13 November 2025, 15:30-17:00 | UNFCCC Special Event Room: Tapajos
Hosted by: 2050 Pathways Platform and the UNFCCC Secretariat | ICAT presentation and showcase of tools and methodologies
This event will highlight the importance of strong institutional arrangements to support the implementation of NDCs, Long-Term Low Greenhouse Gas Emission Development Strategies (LT-LEDS), and the ETF under the Paris Agreement. With NDC 3.0, countries are entering a decisive phase where robust, country-owned systems are key to turning ambition into action. The session will showcase country experiences, analytical tools, and best practices for building effective institutional structures that coordinate across sectors, align long-term strategies with development priorities, and mobilize investment. ICAT will participate in the discussion, showcasing tools and methodologies from the ICAT toolbox.
Speakers: Chile, Jordan, Türkiye, ICAT Secretariat, 2050 Pathways Platform, IDRRI, NDC Partnership, UNFCCC (TBC)
NDC de El Salvador 2025 – una sinergia para la acción climática
Friday, 14 November, 11:00-12:00 | El Salvador Pavilion
Hosted by: El Salvador | Participation by ICAT in panel discussion
This event will highlight El Salvador’s commitment to global climate action and sustainable development through its NDC 3.0. It will showcase lessons learned from the planning process, emphasizing technical innovation, interinstitutional coordination, and international collaboration to accelerate climate implementation. The session will present NDC 3.0 El Salvador 2025, including the scientific evidence at its basis, the sectoral analyses, the national mitigation goal, and the defined adaptation priorities. Participants will discuss how El Salvador’s approach can offer a replicable model for other countries to enhance coherence between mitigation, adaptation, and climate finance and explore lessons for impactful climate planning, policy alignment, and strategies to attract investment.
Speakers: El Salvador, ICAT Secretariat, IDB, NDC-Partnership, UNDP
Climate infodemic and transparency: towards new narratives that mobilise in favour of the ecological transition
Monday, 17 November 2025, 17:30-18:30 | Spanish Pavilion
Hosted by: Fundación Biodiversidad | Participation by ICAT in panel discussion
This event will explore how transparency and communication can counter the spread of misinformation, rumours, and denialist narratives that undermine climate action and the ecological transition. As societies face more frequent natural disasters and complex policy processes, making climate information accessible, inclusive, and compelling has become a key challenge. The session will examine how to stop misinformation, transform data and technical decisions into inspiring public narratives, and open climate knowledge to all audiences. By strengthening transparency and fostering new narratives, the event aims to mobilize public understanding and engagement in building a just, science-based transition toward a sustainable future.
Speakers: ECODES, Global Strategic Communications Council, Earth Journalism Network, ICAT Secretariat
Evidence for climate and development in Africa: a cross-sectoral synthesis
Wednesday, 19 November 2025, 09:30-11:00 | Africa Pavilion & online
Hosted by: IDEV
This event will seek to form a bridge from evidence to execution, showcasing evaluative findings that reveal key success factors, pitfalls, and scalable models for climate-resilient development in Africa. The discussion will spread across key sectors, including energy, agriculture, water, and transport, highlighting what works, what doesn’t, and why. The session will focus on translating robust, evidence-based findings into actionable strategies that scale effective, equitable, and sustainable climate action. By connecting evaluative evidence with policy and investment decisions, the session positions Africa as a knowledge-rich, solutions-driven partner, ensuring that global climate commitments translate into tangible outcomes for people, nature, and sustainable development.
Speakers: IDEV/AfDB, World Bank, UNDP, AfDB, GCF, African Climate Foundation, ICAT Secretariat
Transparencia climática: desarrollo de sistemas MRV y evaluación de PAMs en apoyo a las NDC
Wednesday, 19 November 2025 | 11:00-12:00 | El Salvador Pavilion
Hosted by: El Salvador
The event will showcase El Salvador’s advances in strengthening its MRV framework, including defining SMART indicators and developing a policies and measures module for mitigation and adaptation. Progress has been achieved through coordinated support from multiple international partners, contributing to national capacity building, regional knowledge exchange, and coordination efforts under Article 13 of the Paris Agreement. The event aims to highlight El Salvador’s progress and prospects in strengthening climate action transparency and to promote regional collaboration. The session will take place in Spanish.
Speakers: H.E. Fernando López, Minister of Environment, El Salvador, ICAT Secretariat, GHGMI, Costa Rica, CCAD
Strengthening the Enhanced Transparency Framework under the Paris Agreement
Thursday, 20 November 2025, 11:30-13:00 | Italian Pavilion
Hosted by: ISPRA
This event will focus on the Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF) under the Paris Agreement as a key mechanism for driving climate action progress. The session will explore the role of scientific and technical institutions in supporting the development and strengthening of national transparency systems, the offer of technical assistance to developing countries, and insights from the Biennial Transparency Reports. The discussion will also cover the use of indicators to track NDC implementation and assess progress toward climate goals. Finally, the event will offer a space to present examples of successful bilateral collaborations and showcase how international partnerships can support countries in translating global climate commitments into measurable, evidence-based outcomes.
Speakers: ISPRA, ICAT Secretariat, UNFCCC
Across the two weeks of COP30, the ICAT Secretariat will meet with representatives of its partner countries and regional institutions to discuss the progress of ongoing ICAT activities and the 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.
