Recent Developments under the Convention

Methodologies for reporting financial information by Parties included in Annex I to the Convention

The Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) at its 40th session, initiated its discussion on methodologies for the reporting of financial information, taking into account existing international methodologies and based on the experience gained in preparing the first biennial reports from developed country Parties, in accordance with decision 2/CP.17, paragraph 19.

During its 40th and 41st sessions, the SBSTA was informed of the work of the Standing Committee on Finance (SCF) relating to the preparation of the 2014 biennial assessment and overview of climate finance flows (BA), the relevant work being conducted under the Subsidiary Body for Implementation on the revision of the guidelines for preparation of national communications, and the summary of relevant on-going work under the Subsidiary Body for Implementation and the SCF.

By decision 11/CP.20, the mandate given to the SBSTA to develop methodologies for reporting financial information was extended by one year, with a view to recommending a decision to COP 21.

The Standing Committee on Finance, in accordance with the same decision, included its recommendations on the methodologies for the reporting of financial information in Annex VI of its annual report to COP 21, taking into consideration the outcomes of the joint in-session technical workshop (see below).

The SBSTA completed its mandate at its 43rd session. The COP, on a recommendation by the SBSTA, adopted decision 9/CP.21, which includes inter alia:

Adjustments in the reporting parameters in tables 7, 7(a) and 7(b) of the common tabular format

Request to the secretariat to revise the electronic reporting application for a common tabular format and to explore ways of creating links to other reporting software and platforms to facilitate the importation and exportation of activity-level data

Request to the secretariat to improve the software of the biennial report data interface to allow for search functions on the UNFCCC website to collect information per key category in tables 7, 7(a) and 7(b) of the common tabular format.

Request to the secretariat to update UNFCCC national focal points when the information on climate finance directed to recipient countries as reported under the Convention is made available.

In-session Workshop on Methodologies for Reporting Financial Information by Parties included in Annex I Bonn, Germany, 6 June 2015
The Conference of the Parties, by decision 11/CP.20, requested the secretariat to organize a joint in-session technical workshop in conjunction with the forty-second session of the subsidiary bodies under the auspices of the Standing Committee on Finance (SCF), the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) and the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI). The aim of this workshop was to inform the work of SBSTA, as referred to in decision 2/CP.17, paragraph 19.
Workshop Summary	Please click here to download the summary of the workshop .
Programme	To download, click here
Participation	The workshop was open to all Parties and observers attending the UNFCCC Climate Change Conference held in Bonn, Germany.
Presentation slides	Presentations by UNFCCC Secretariat Reporting on provision of financial support in NC6 and BR1 Methodologies for Reporting Financial Information on Climate Change - Near-term Possibilities Slides used during panel discussion Methodologies for Reporting Financial Information - Views from the OECD
Recordings	Workshop recording in mp3 format (Left click to play. Right click and select "Save link as" to download) Part 1 Part 2

Relevant documents

Submissions from Parties and observer organizations referred to in decision 11/CP.20, paragraph 2.
Views on methodologies for the reporting of financial information referred to in decision 2/CP.17, paragraph 19.
FCCC/SBSTA/2015/MISC.3 and Add.1

Technical paper prepared by the secretariat in accordance with decision 11/CP.20, paragraph 3.
Existing international methodologies for the reporting of financial information.
FCCC/TP/2015/2

Revision of the "Guidelines for the preparation on national communications by Parties included in Annex I to the Convention, Part II: UNFCCC reporting guidelines on national communications"

COP 17, by decision 2/CP.17, paragraph 18, requested SBI 40 (June 2014) to begin the revision of the UNFCCC reporting guidelines on national communications (NCs). In the draft conclusions proposed by the Chair, "Revised guidelines for the preparation of national communications by Parties included in Annex I to the Convention, Part II: UNFCCC reporting guidelines on national communications", the guidelines and tables concerning financial, technological and capacity-building support are harmonized with those of the BR guidelines and CTF tables. The revised UNFCCC reporting guidelines on NCs is yet to be finalized. At SBI 45 (November 2016), the SBI agreed to continue its consideration of the outstanding issue contained in the draft guidelines at SBI 46 (May 2017). For more information, see here.

For more on Transparency of support under the Paris Agreement, please click here

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Updated 19 January 2017