Overview

Under the Enhanced Transparency Framework, Parties to the Paris Agreement are required to submit biennial transparency reports (BTR) every two years, with the first submission due by 31 December 2024. According to the modalities, procedures and guidelines (MPGs) for the Enhanced Transparency Framework (annex to decision 18/CMA.1), BTR include information on national inventory reports (NIR), progress towards NDCs, policies and measures, climate change impacts and adaptation, levels of financial, technology development and transfer and capacity-building support, capacity-building needs and areas of improvement. Small Islands Developing States (SIDS) and Least Developed Countries (LDCs) may submit the information required for the BTR at their discretion.

BTR submissions

As outlined in the MPGs, BTR submissions consist of:

• A textual report;
• Common reporting tables (CRTs) for the electronic reporting of information on NIRs (submitted as annexes);
• Common tabular formats (CTFs) for the electronic reporting of information necessary to track progress made in implementing and achieving NDCs, and information on financial, technology development and transfer and capacity-building support provided and mobilized, and needed and received (submitted as annexes).

A national inventory report (NIR) may also be submitted as a stand-alone report. The NIR is composed by a national inventory document (NID) and the CRTs.

Further information to be included in annexes to the BTR are:

• Technical annexes for REDD+ (Reducing emissions from deforestation, reducing emissions from forest degradation, conservation of forest carbon stocks, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks, as referred to in decision 1/CP.16, paragraph 70), as applicable;
• Information in relation to the Party’s participation in cooperative approaches, as applicable.

Parties use the ETF Reporting Tools application when preparing their tabular formats of the BTR, which is accessible only by the nominated national compilers. The textual part of BTRs and the CTF and CRT tables (generated from the ETF Reporting Tools application) are submitted using the submission portal. Based on submissions received, the secretariat will also produce synthesis reports on Parties’ BTRs and NIRs.

Additional information from National Communications

With respect to the reporting of national communications under the Convention every four years, starting from the date that reports are first due under the Paris Agreement, Parties may submit their national communication and biennial transparency report as a single report in accordance with the modalities, procedures and guidelines included in the annex to decision 18/CMA.1 for information also covered by the national communication reporting guidelines contained in, as applicable, decisions 4/CP.5 and 17/CP.8.

In addition, Parties shall include in the report supplemental chapters on research and systematic observation and on education, training and public awareness, in accordance with the guidelines contained in, as applicable, decisions 4/CP.5 and 17/CP.8.

For those Parties that have not reported under chapter IV of the annex to decision 18/CMA.1, an additional chapter on adaptation shall also be included, in accordance with the relevant guidelines contained in, as applicable, decisions 4/CP.5 and 17/CP.8.