Transparency of support under the Paris Agreement

Article 13 of the Paris Agreement established an enhanced transparency framework for action and support, with built-in flexibility which takes into account Parties’ different capacities and builds upon collective experience.

Purpose

The purpose of the framework for transparency of support is to provide clarity on support provided and received by relevant individual Parties in the context of climate change actions, and, to the extent possible, to provide a full overview of aggregate financial support provided, to inform the global stocktake under Article 14.

Provision of Information, technical expert review and facilitative, multilateral consideration of progress

Under the enhanced transparency framework for support, developed country Parties shall, and other Parties that provide support should, provide information on financial, technology transfer and capacity-building support provided to developing country Parties. This information shall undergo a technical expert review. In addition, each Party shall participate in a facilitative, multilateral consideration of progress.

Developing countries should provide information on financial, technology transfer and capacity-building support needed and received.

Ongoing work towards the development of the transparency framework for support

Ongoing work on the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Paris Agreement

The Ad Hoc Working Group on the Paris Agreement (APA), by decision 1/CP.21, paragraph 91, is mandated to develop recommendations for modalities, procedures and guidelines for the transparency framework for action and support referred to in Article 13 of the Paris Agreement, for consideration by COP 24, with a view to forwarding them to the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement for consideration and adoption at its first session (CMA 1). It was decided that the modalities, procedures and guidelines of this transparency framework shall build upon and eventually supersede the existing measurement, reporting and verification system.

The APA is requested, in developing the recommendations for the modalities, procedures and guidelines to take into account, inter alia, the need to promote transparency, accuracy, completeness, consistency and comparability.

The APA is also requested to enhance the transparency of support provided in accordance with Article 9 of the Agreement in developing the recommendations for the modalities, procedures and guidelines. In turn, Article 9, paragraph 7, stipulates that developed country Parties shall provide transparent and consistent information on support for developing country Parties provided and mobilized through public interventions biennially in accordance with the modalities, procedures and guidelines to be adopted, and that other Parties are encouraged to do so. To this end, the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA), by decision 1/CP.21, paragraph 57, is mandated to develop modalities for the accounting of financial resources provided and mobilized through public interventions in accordance with Article 9, paragraph 7, of the Agreement. This work is by COP 24, with the view to making a recommendation for consideration and adoption by CMA 1. For more information, see below.

For more information on the development of modalities, procedures and guidelines for the transparency framework for action and support referred to in Article 13 of the Paris Agreement, please click here.

Ongoing work on the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice

Work under the SBSTA: Modalities for the accounting of financial resources provided and mobilized through public interventions in accordance with Article 9, paragraph 7, of the Paris Agreement

The SBSTA initiated its consideration of this matter at its 44th session and continued its consideration at its 45th, 46th and 47th session.

SBSTA 48

SBSTA 48.2 continued its consideration The progress made at SBSTA 48.2 is captured in the draft decision text by Parties. The conclusions can be viewed here.

SBSTA 48.1 continued its consideration of this matter and will continue its work at SBSTA 48.2. It adopted conclusions and welcomed the work on this matter as reflected in the informal note by the co-chairs of the contact group. Submitted CRPs can also be viewed here.

SBSTA 47

SBSTA 47 continued its consideration of this matter taking into account the informal note and building on the recommendations by the Standing Committee on Finance on the 2016 biennial assessment and overview of climate finance flows. It adopted conclusions. It made further progress on this matter as reflected in an informal note by the co-chairs of the contact group on this agenda item.

SBSTA 46

SBSTA 46 continued its consideration of the matter, and adopted conclusions.

Parties, during SBSTA 46, identified considerations for elements as well as additional potential considerations in the development of modalities for the accounting of financial resources provided and mobilized through public interventions in accordance with Article 9, paragraph 7, of the Paris Agreement. These are included in the informal note by the co-chairs of the contact group on this agenda item.

SBSTA 45

SBSTA 45 adopted conclusions, including, inter alia:

a list of additional information for the secretariat to draw on in the preparation of the technical paper;
encouragement to UN funds, programmes and specialized agencies as well as other organizations to inform the development of modalities;
agreement to continue its consideration of this matter at SBSTA 46, taking into account key considerations included in a reflections note by the co-chairs of the contact group on this agenda item and inviting the engagement of climate finance stakeholders;
recognition of the need to ensure the development of modalities in time for them to be integrated into the transparency framework referred to in Article 13 of the Paris Agreement; and a request to the SBSTA Chair to undertake consultations with the APA Co-chairs regarding the work of the SBSTA and the APA on the development of modalities, procedure and guidelines for the transparency framework.

In-session workshop on the modalities for the accounting of financial resources provided and mobilized through public interventions in accordance with Article 9, paragraph 7, of the Paris Agreement Marrakech, Tuesday, 8 November 2016 10:00-13:00
The SBSTA requested the secretariat to organize an in-session workshop in conjunction with SBSTA 45. The aim of this workshop is to inform the work of SBSTA on the development of modalities for the accounting of financial resources provided and mobilized through public interventions in accordance with Article 9, paragraph 7, of the Paris Agreement. (FCCC/SBSTA/2016/2, paragraph 108)
Participation	The workshop was open to all Parties and observers attending the Marrakech Climate Change Conference
Programme	Programme
Presentations	Ms. Vicky Noens (Belgium): ‘Scene-setting Presentation’ Ms. Aileen Niyaz (Maldives) : ‘Perspectives on modalities for the accounting of financial resources’ Mr. Carl Elmstam (Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency): ‘Introduction to the work of the International Aid Transparency Initiative’ UNFCCC secretariat: ‘ Overview of existing arrangements under the Convention relating to the accounting and reporting of financial resources provided and mobilized through public interventions’

SBSTA 44

SBSTA 44, an in-session presentation was given on related work undertaken by the SBSTA and on ongoing work under the Standing Committee on Finance (SCF) and the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Paris Agreement (APA). In accordance with conclusions:

Parties and observer organizations submitted their views on this matter, which are compiled in FCCC/SBSTA/2016/MISC.3 and available on the submissions portal for Parties and non-Party stakeholders;
An in-session workshop was organized by the secretariat in conjunction with SBSTA 45 to inform the work of this matter (see below for further information);
A technical paper to be prepared prior to SBSTA 46, summarizing information from the in-session workshop and submissions.