UN Climate Change News, 20 February 2023 – The UN Climate Change secretariat is launching a programme to train new and experienced experts to participate in the Technical Expert Review of Biennial Transparency Reports (BTRs). Interested participants can sign up now for the launch webinar, which will provide an overview of the training on 1 March.
The training is an important measure to enhance transparency via such reports in support of the key goals of the Paris Climate Change Agreement. These include limiting the global average temperature rise to as close as possible to 1.5 degrees Celsius compared to pre-industrial levels, and building resilience to the inevitable impacts of climate change, such as ever more frequent and severe droughts, storms and floods.
Deputy Executive Secretary of UN Climate Change Ovais Sarmad said: “Transparency enables a global conversation about where we are making progress and how actions are generating impacts. When all the pieces are put together, transparency also allows the global community to see if our collective efforts and investments are meeting expectations – and if they are not, transparency encourages us all to do more.”
The first BTRs are due on 31 December 2024. The launch of the training is part of the transition to implementing the Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF) under the Paris Agreement as it will ensure the transparency of the reports by preparing qualified expert reviewers. The technical review processes could require up to approximately 1,500 qualified and available experts on a biennial basis.
Details of the course
The course will certify experts to participate in the Technical Expert Review (TER) of the BTRs, allowing them to familiarize themselves with the essential reporting elements and requirements for the new review process.
Nominated experts of the UNFCCC Roster of Experts who successfully pass the examinations will be qualified to participate in the technical expert review teams.
In line with decision 5/CMA.3, the training programme is composed of four courses:
- Course A: General and cross-cutting aspects for the TER;
- Course B: National Greenhouse Gas inventory;
- Course C: Tracking progress in implementing and achieving Nationally Determined Contributions; and
- Course D: Financial, technology development and transfer and capacity-building support provided.
All courses will be available online all year round and taught at self-pace with quizzes and practice activities. Additionally, all material will be available for download. The Programme is open to all experts who are interested in learning about a new BTR review process and are willing to participate in the technical expert review of the Paris Agreement’s reporting obligations.
Course A: “General and cross-cutting aspects for the technical expert review under the ETF under the Paris Agreement” will be available on 1 March 2023, and all the remaining courses will become available in September 2023. You can stay up-to-date on the expert reviewers training here.
Three examination periods will be available for Course A in 2023: 8–10 May, 10 June and 11-13 September. With the examinations in mind, the secretariat has planned a Q&A session in early May to support those experts who will take the examination that month.
More information on transparency arrangements under the Paris Agreement
Reporting of the Biennial Report (BR)/Biennial Update Report (BUR) under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change will be superseded by reporting of the Biennial Transparency Report (BTR) under the Paris Agreement. The first BTR must be submitted no later than 31 December 2024. Least developed countries and small island developing states have the discretion to submit their first BTR later.
The technical expert review process significantly relies on the participation of qualified and available technical experts. This implies that many new experts will be needed in the coming years. In this context, the new review training is designed to successfully support the transition to implement the Paris Agreement.
You can register for the webinar on 1 March to kick-off of the training course and present further details using this link.
