Based on the Paris Agreement’s enhanced transparency framework (ETF), countries regularly provide information on their progress with national climate actions. IGES supports full implementation of the ETF by all countries, especially in Asia. This webpage introduces IGES activities on ETF, such as the Mutual Learning Program for Enhanced Transparency (MLP), among other capacity building activities, and also links to relevant research papers and databases.
Enhanced Transparency of Actions and Support
In the Paris Agreement, all countries need to report information on their progress in undertaking climate actions and providing and receiving support for those actions through biennial transparency reports (BTRs). These arrangements for reporting are “enhanced” from existing arrangements and set out under the Paris Agreement’s enhanced transparency framework (ETF) (Article 13).
The transparency of information that countries provide through BTRs is fundamental to understand the implementation and achievement of national climate actions, known as the nationally determined contributions (NDCs) and global collective efforts towards meeting long-term goals. It can also serve as the basis for countries to identify additional actions and support needed for implementing the NDCs.
To ensure the effective implementation of the ETF and given that its implementation is challenging for some developing countries in the region, we focus on the following three areas:
Latest stories
Date | Update | Contact person |
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14 July 2023 | The MLP kick-off meeting on Reporting under Article 6.2 was held between Laos and Cambodia | Climate and Energy Noboru Zama, Programme Manager |
13 July 2023 | The MLP kick-off meeting on Reporting under Article 6.2 was held with Kenya | Climate and Energy Temuulen Murun, Policy Researcher |
12 July 2023 | The MLP kick-off meeting on “Reporting mitigation actions under Article 13 (energy sector)” was held between Georgia, Japan, and Moldova | Climate and Energy Temuulen Murun, Policy Researcher |
5 July 2023 | The MLP kick-off meeting on “Reporting mitigation actions under Article 13 (energy sector)” was held between Azerbaijan, Japan, and Uzbekistan | Climate and Energy Chisa Umemiya, Research Manager |
7 February 2023 | The final meeting on Article 6 reporting between Indonesia and Mongolia has been organized | Climate and Energy Temuulen Murun, Policy Researcher |
Date | Update | Contact person |
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24 January 2023 | The MLP final meeting on “Reporting mitigation actions under Article 13 (agriculture sector)” was held among Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia and Thailand. | Climate and Energy Chisa Umemiya, Research Manager |
22 December 2022 | The MLP Main meeting on “Reporting under Article 6.2” was held between Bangladesh and IGES (Japan). | Climate and Energy Tomohiko HATTORI, Policy Researcher |
2 November 2022 | IGES submission to the first Global Stocktake: Key findings from our transparency capacity building activities such as the mutual learning program for enhanced transparency (MLP) and the Asian Transparency Workshop (ATW). | Climate and Energy Temuulen Murun, Policy Researcher |
17 October 2022 | The MLP main meeting on “Reporting under Article 6.2” was held between Indonesia and Mongolia. | Climate and Energy Temuulen Murun, Policy Researcher |
27 September 2022 | The MLP main meeting on “Reporting mitigation actions under Article 13 (agriculture sector)” was held between Japan, Malaysia and Thailand. | Climate and Energy Chisa Umemiya, Research Manager |
26 September 2022 | The MLP kick-off meeting on “Reporting under Article 6.2” was held between Bangladesh and IGES (Japan). | Climate and Energy Tomohiko HATTORI, Policy Researcher |
3 August 2022 | The MLP kick-off meeting on “Reporting mitigation actions under Article 13 (agriculture sector)” was held between Indonesia and Japan. | Climate and Energy Chisa Umemiya, Research Manager |
30 June 2022 | The MLP kick-off meeting on “Reporting mitigation actions under Article 13 (agriculture sector)” was held between Japan, Malaysia and Thailand. | Climate and Energy Chisa Umemiya, Research Manager |
27 June 2022 | The MLP kick-off meeting on “Article 6.2 reporting” was held between Indonesia, Mongolia and IGES (Japan). | Climate and Energy Temuulen Murun, Policy Researcher |
28 Jan 2022 | The MLP follow-up meeting on “Reporting mitigation actions under Article 13” was held between Indonesia, Thailand and IGES (Japan). | Climate and Energy Temuulen Murun, Policy Researcher |
27 Jan 2022 | The MLP Feedback meeting on “Article 6.2 reporting” was held between Chile, Thailand Greenhouse Gas Management Organization (TGO) and IGES (Japan). | Climate and Energy Toru Taguchi, Policy Researcher |
26 Jan 2022 | The MLP Feedback meeting on “Article 6.2 reporting” was held between Indonesia, Mongolia and IGES (Japan). | Climate and Energy Toru Taguchi, Policy Researcher |
13-14, Dec 2021 | Asian Transparency Workshop was organized to share COP 26 updates on Transparency and Article 6 decisions, and MLP findings on reporting mitigation actions under Article 13 and Reporting under Article 6.2 | Climate and Energy Temuulen Murun, Policy Researcher |
7 Dec 2021 | The MLP was introduced as a case study at the UNFCCC's First regional informal meeting of Group of Friends on the MRV/Transparency framework for developing countries in the Asia-Pacific | Climate and Energy Chisa Umemiya, Research Manager |
22 Nov 2021 | Summary report for a side event on MLP activities at the COP26 Japan Pavilion is available from here | Climate and Energy Chisa Umemiya, Research Manager |
20 Oct 2021 | MLP participants and IGES will jointly hold a side event at the COP 26 Japan Pavilion on November 4th, 2021, with support from the Ministry of the Environment, Japan. | Climate and Energy Chisa Umemiya, Research Manager |
08 Oct 2021 | The MLP main meeting on “Reporting mitigation actions under Article 13” was held between Indonesia, Thailand and IGES (Japan). | Climate and Energy Temuulen Murun, Policy Researcher |
8 Oct 2021 | The MLP Main meeting on “Reporting of mitigation actions under Article 13” was held between Indonesia, Thailand and IGES (Japan). | Climate and Energy Temuulen Murun, Policy Researcher |
12 Oct 2021 | The MLP Main meeting on “Article 6.2 reporting” was held between Chile, Thailand Greenhouse Gas Management Organization (TGO) and IGES (Japan). | Climate and Energy Tomohiko Hattori, Policy Researcher |
7 Oct 2021 | The MLP Main meeting on “Article 6.2 reporting” was held between Indonesia, Mongolia and IGES (Japan). | Climate and Energy Toru Taguchi, Policy Researcher |
03 Sep 2021 | IGES Biennial Update Report (BUR) Database was updated with the information of BURs submitted as of 27 August 2021. | Climate and Energy Tomohiko Hattori, Policy Researcher |
06 Aug 2021 | The MLP kick-off meeting on “Article 6.2 reporting” was held between Indonesia, Mongolia and IGES (Japan). | Climate and Energy Toru Taguchi, Policy Researcher |
05 Aug 2021 | The MLP kick-off meeting on “Article 6.2 reporting” was held between Chile, Thailand Greenhouse Gas Management Organization (TGO) and IGES (Japan). | Climate and Energy Tomohiko Hattori, Policy Researcher |
04 Aug 2021 | The MLP kick-off meeting on “Reporting of mitigation actions and measures in the waste sector” was held between Indonesia, Thailand and IGES (Japan). | Climate and Energy Temuulen Murun, Policy Researcher |
20 July 2021 | Indonesia, Thailand and IGES (Japan) will join the Mutual Learning Program for Enhanced Transparency in 2021 for reporting of mitigation actions and measures in the waste sector | Climate and Energy Temuulen Murun, Policy Researcher |
20 July 2021 | Indonesia and Mongolia will join the Mutual Learning Program for Enhanced Transparency in 2021 for Article 6.2 reporting | Climate and Energy Toru Taguchi, Policy Researcher |
20 July 2021 | Chile, Thailand and IGES (Japan) will join the Mutual Learning Program for Enhanced Transparency in 2021 for Article 6.2 reporting | Climate and Energy Tomohiko Hattori, Policy Researcher |
In action
Mutual Learning Program
The Mutual Learning Program for Enhanced Transparency (MLP) is for pairs of countries and organizations to learn and practice reporting of climate actions, based on each other’s reporting exercises. The output of the MLP can be used as the basis for actual reporting on the Paris Agreement’s ETF. The MLP is for those who directly engage with preparation of BTRs and is particularly useful in understanding the application of the ETF implementation rules to develop reporting based on national data and assumptions. Participants of the MLP can decide which topic to focus on depending on countries’ interests. We have so far implemented the MLP on Article 6.2 reporting and mitigation actions and measures in specific sectors.
IGES supports the implementation of the MLP as the secretariat in cooperation with MURC and other organizations. MLP is financially supported by the Ministry of the Environment, Japan.
IGES and UNEP-CCC implementing the Capacity-building Initiative for Transparency (CBIT) will join forces to implement the MLP for Article 13 in 2023- 2024 (see the CBIT’s transparency platform, here).
Overview of the MLP
The MLP consists of three meetings and two exercises between those meetings. During the seven months of program implementation, we support participants to actively engage with continuous discussions and knowledge sharing. The key findings of the MLP are also shared at the Asian Transparency Workshop.

Participating countries and organizations
MLP2023:
- Pair 1: Kenya – Laos – Cambodia (Reporting under Article 6.2)
- Pair 2: Azerbaijan – Japan - Uzbekistan (Reporting under Article 13: Mitigation actions and measures in the energy sector)
- Pair 3: Georgia – Japan - Moldova (Reporting under Article 13: Mitigation actions and measures in the energy sector)
MLP2022:
- Pair 1: Indonesia – Mongolia (Article 6.2 reporting)
- Pair 2: Bangladesh – IGES (Article 6.2 reporting)
- Pair 3: Malaysia – Thailand – IGES/MURC (Japan) (Mitigation actions and measures in the agriculture sector)
- Pair 4: Indonesia – IGES/MURC (Japan) (Mitigation actions and measures in the agriculture sector)
MLP2021:
- Pair 1: Indonesia – Mongolia (Article 6.2 reporting)
- Pair 2: Chile – Thailand – IGES (Japan) (Article 6.2 reporting)
- Pair 3: Indonesia – Thailand – IGES (Japan) (Mitigation actions and measures in the waste sector)
MLP2020:
- Pair 1: Thailand – IGES (Japan) (Article 6.2 reporting)
- Pair 2: Indonesia – Mongolia (Continuous preparation of BTRs)
Asian Transparency Workshop
The Asian Transparency Workshop (ATW) aims to promote knowledge sharing among countries in Asia for the effective implementation of the Paris Agreement’s Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF). It is jointly organized by the Ministry of the Environment, Japan (MOEJ), IGES, the UNFCCC-RCC and other partner organizations. IGES also supports the implementation of additional regional or international workshops to promote synergies among on-going support initiatives.
Date | Place | Event title | Contact person |
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13-14 December 2021 | Online | Asian Transparency Workshop (Online) | Climate and Energy Temuulen Murun, Policy Researcher |
9-11 February 2021 | Online | Workshop on Biennial Update Report | Climate and Energy Temuulen Murun, Policy Researcher |
14-15 December 2020 | Online | Asian Transparency Workshop - Roadmap for BTR1 and reporting under Article 6.2. | Climate and Energy Chisa Umemiya, Research Manager |
11-13 February 2020 | Bangkok, Thailand |
Asian Transparency Workshop - Implementing the Paris Agreement | Climate and Energy Chisa Umemiya, Research Manager |
Biennial Update Report (BUR) Database
The IGES Biennial Update Report (BUR) Database provides key information reported in biennial update reports (BURs) submitted by Non-Annex I Countries to the UNFCCC. According to UNFCCC COP decision 2/CP.17, non-Annex I Parties, consistent with their capabilities and the level of support provided for reporting, should submit their first BUR by December 2014; the least developed country Parties and small island developing States may submit biennial update reports at their discretion. According to the decision, a BUR provides an update to the most recently submitted national communication in various areas including a national GHG inventory, information on national circumstances and institutional arrangements, mitigation actions and their effects, constraints and gaps, related financial, technical and capacity needs, support received, and domestic measurement reporting and verification.
IGES Biennial Update Report (BUR) Database provides key information reported in biennial update reports (BURs) submitted by Non-Annex I Countries to the UNFCCC. According to UNFCCC COP decision 2/CP.17, non-Annex I Parties, consistent with their capabilities and the level of support provided for reporting, should submit their first BUR by December...
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