This new phase of implementation also means a new focus on accountability when it comes to the commitments made by sectors, businesses and institutions.

“There is absolutely no point putting ourselves through all that we've just gone through if we're going to participate in an exercise of collective amnesia the moment the cameras move on,” said Stiell, who promised a new focus on accountability during his opening speech at COP27.

The transparency of commitments from businesses and institutions will be a priority of UN Climate Change in 2023. The UN Secretary-General asked UN Climate Change to come up with a plan early next year on how to ensure transparency and accountability with non-state actors.

UN Climate Change has a public platform – the Global Climate Action Portal – that is already being used to register pledges, publish transition plans, and track annual reporting on implementation. But it needs to be scaled up.