Thirteenth meeting of the Consultative Group of Experts 

Summary of outcome

The thirteenth meeting of the Consultative Group of Experts (CGE) took place on 4 to 6 March 2024, in Bonn, Germany, and attended by all the CGE members, 15 in-person and 5 virtually. 

Key summary of the outcomes of the meeting includes the following: 

• The CGE elected Ms. Sandra Boitumelo Motshwanedi (South Africa) as the Chair and Ms. Sara Bin Dayel (Saudi Arabia) as the Rapporteur for 2025.
• The main objective of the meeting was to develop its annual workplan including priorities and key activities.
• Guided by its vision, mission and strategic priorities for 2020–2026, the guidance by SBI 61 and taking into account the existing and emerging needs and gaps of developing countries and feedback gained from various channels of CGE engagement with national experts and practitioners in transparency throughout last year, the CGE successfully developed its work plan for 2025. The CGE also underlined the importance of receiving financial contributions from donors to support full implementation of its annual workplan.
• With an aim to facilitate submission of the remaining first biennial transparency reports (BTRs), the group decided to continue focusing its technical support and advice on supporting the developing country Parties in their efforts in preparation and submission of these reports and provide technical advice and support to developing country Parties for undergoing the technical expert review of the BTRs.
• The CGE will collaborate with its partners, such as CBIT-GSP, UNEP and UNDP in organizing regional and sub-regional hands-on training workshops. The group further decided to organize its regional webinars, in collaboration with partners, on “Experiences and lessons learnt during the different stages of preparation and submission of the BTRs” including on improvement plans, use of flexibility provisions, technical expert review (TER) and facilitative multilateral consideration of progress (FMCP) processes, and Article 6 reporting.
• The group will continue enhancing its communication and outreach activities in 2025, and its collaboration efforts with other expert groups and constituted bodies under the Convention and the Paris Agreement, including the PAICC, as well as with other intergovernmental and international organizations, to pursue potential synergies in provision of technical advice and assistance to developing country Parties.
• Finally, the CGE tentatively agreed to organize its 14th meeting in September 2025.