Global Transparency Forum 2024

Dates: 20 -21 May 2024

Time: 09h00 - 17h00 JST

Location: United Nations University, 5 Chome 53-70 Jingumae, Shibuya City, Tokyo, Japan 

Description:

The Global Transparency Forum took place from 20 to 21 May 2024 at the United Nations University in Tokyo, Japan. The forum emphasised the urgent need for enhanced transparency in global climate action, especially as 2024 is a critical year for submitting the first Biennial Transparency Reports (BTRs) by December.

The forum was organised by the Capacity-building Initiative for Transparency - Global Support Programme (CBIT-GSP), with support from the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the UNEP Copenhagen Climate Centre (UNEP-CCC), UNDP Climate Promise and it is hosted by the Ministry of the Environment of Japan.

The forum highlighted the importance of national ownership and leveraging each country's unique strengths to build effective Measurement, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) systems. Countries like Brazil, Azerbaijan, and the UAE were commended for their leadership in climate transparency, and the discussions underscored the significance of strong institutional frameworks, programmatic approaches, and the integration of high-level decision-makers to ensure sustainable systems. Enhanced transparency frameworks are also crucial for attracting private finance and aiding national decision-making.

Additionally, the forum stressed:

• The necessity of tailored support and continuous improvement in the reporting process. 
• Investment in national transparency systems was deemed vital for long-term sustainability, informing policy-making and sectoral policy development. 
• Peer-to-peer exchanges were recognized as valuable for sharing experiences and problem-solving. 

The forum concluded with a call to action, urging participants to apply the insights gained and continue working towards submitting their BTRs and preparing their next Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) due by March 2025.

The Global Transparency Forum was fully in person and on-site participation was by invitation.

The High-level Dialogue that happened on Monday, 20 May, titled “The importance of Transparency in Enhancing NDC Ambition”, gathered representatives from the climate Troika (COP28, COP29 and COP30 presidencies), UN Agencies, developing countries, least developing countries and economies in transition.

Transparency Network: Anglophone Africa, Anglophone Caribbean, Asia, Central Asia and Caucasus, Eurasia, Francophone, Lusophone Cluster, Middle East and North Africa, Pacific, Spanish speaking Latin America and the Caribbean