What is transparency?

Without transparency, we are left to act blindly.

The health of our planet - and life as we know it - depends on each of us doing our part to address the climate emergency and moving us closer to net-zero emissions by 2050. We must act now to achieve results and ensure that promises made are promises kept. But to ensure that, we need to have reliable climate data and information. The reporting, review and consideration of this climate data and information is referred to as ‘transparency’. Without it, we are left to act blindly, without knowledge of our circumstances and our impacts. This is why transparency is at the very core of the Paris Agreement, and everything we do here.

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Introduction

In the context of climate change, transparency refers to the reporting and review of relevant climate information and data. Transparency arrangements under the UNFCCC enable the availability of regular data on GHG emissions, policies and measures, progress towards targets, climate change impacts and adaptation, levels of support and capacity-building needs.

Transparency of climate action and support is key to building mutual trust and confidence among Parties. Experience from Parties’ implementation of the MRV system shows that, when progress is regularly measured and transparent information is publicly shared, Parties strive to meet and even exceed their goals.

Transparency enables a global conversation about where we are making progress and how actions are generating impacts. Transparency also allows the global community to see if collective efforts and investments are meeting expectations – and if they are not, transparency encourages all to do more.

Benefits of transparency

Transparency extends beyond the reporting and review of relevant climate data and information: it helps to track emissions and impacts, identifies needs and priorities, and tracks progress towards implementation and goals. Transparency empowers countries to make informed decisions, set meaningful targets and develop relevant policy responses. It also helps unlocking results-based finance, contributing to attract the support that will enable more ambitious climate action over the longer term. A non-exhaustive overview of benefits that transparency can bring nationally and internationally is presented in the figure below.

How do countries provide information?

Over the course of nearly 30 years, a comprehensive measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) system was developed for the periodic submission of countries’ relevant climate information and data. Under the Convention and its Kyoto Protocol, Parties are required to regularly provide climate information and data through the submission of specific transparency reports. With the adoption of the Paris Agreement, the MRV system is gradually being replaced by the new Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF), which will become fully operative by end of 2024.