Enhanced Transparency

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
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
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.

Overview of the MLP

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
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.

Data or Tool

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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