Azerbaijan has called on countries to submit their Biennial Transparency Reports (BTRs) before the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP29) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which will be held in Baku in November 2024, reads a letter from COP29 President, Mukhtar Babayev, to the parties to the conference of the parties on climate change.
The letter reads in part:
“While recognising the varying starting points of each country, early submissions of BTRs will be a strong demonstration of our collective commitment to transparency. With COP29 in Baku fewer than 75 days away, it is imperative that we take tangible steps to demonstrate our shared commitment to climate action.
“As we conveyed earlier this year, the COP29 Presidency’s vision centres around two parallel and mutually reinforcing pillars: enhancing ambition and enabling action, with climate finance as our top priority. As we reiterate the necessity for all Parties to enhance their ambition in the next generation of national climate plans, transparency forms a cornerstone of mutual trust and accountability. It ensures that our collective actions to combat climate change are robust, comprehensive, and measurable. By transparently reporting our words and deeds, our progress and challenges, we reaffirm our commitment to achieving our climate goals.
“It is in this context that the COP29 Presidency is emphasising the key role of Biennial Transparency Reports (BTRs), as Parties implement the Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF). With the deadline for submission of the first BTRs rapidly approaching, it is critical to ensure that all countries are ready and able to submit. BTRs will be pivotal in tracking our progress, building trust, and identifying areas where further action and investment are needed.
“We understand that it will be challenging for many Parties to measure and report data and there is significant need for capacity building. In light of this, the COP29 Presidency is taking decisive steps to ensure ongoing political engagement and enhance collaboration and capacity-building so we can all deliver on our collective transparency commitments at COP29 and beyond.
“On September 3, 2024, the COP29 Presidency will host a High-Level Dialogue (HLD) to sustain momentum for increased transparency action in the lead-up to COP29. This High-Level Dialogue will focus on building confidence among Parties, raising political awareness about the importance of universal participation in the ETF, and fostering collaboration among stakeholders.
“The main objective of the BTP is to enhance confidence and support Parties in preparing and finalising their BTRs, as well as implementing the ETF beyond 2024, in particular, supporting the capacity-building efforts of developing country Parties along the way. The BTP will complement existing transparency platforms, including the #Together4Transparency initiative, aligning with and enhancing the existing transparency ecosystem.
“Our goal is to unite stakeholders committed to support developing country Parties in the preparation and submission of BTRs, promote collaboration and knowledge exchange amongst all Parties on the full spectrum of the ETF, and better mobilize capacity-building resources where they are needed. By doing so, we can help to ensure the effective implementation of the ETF and the success of the Paris Agreement.”
