ICAT at COP29!

Aligning transparency: Navigating BTRs and NDCs for enhanced climate action

Saturday, 16 November 2024, 12:00–13:00 | Faith Pavilion & live streaming
Co-hosted with: UNEP-CCC, CBIT-GSP

The submission of the first biennial transparency reports (BTRs) marks a crucial step in tracking progress toward climate goals. While countries are actively preparing their BTRs, they must also begin preparing their next Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), due in 2025. With these two interconnected processes happening simultaneously, countries need to find ways to create synergies between them, as the preparation of both the first BTR and the next NDC involve significant challenges for many nations.

The side event will introduce the work done with developing countries under two global initiatives, ICAT and CBIT-GSP, in supporting countries with their BTR and NDC. It will highlight tools, methodologies and guidance developed under the two initiatives, and showcase country experiences related to the interlinked preparation of BTRs and NDCs.

Speakers: Cuba, Ghana, Philippines, ICAT, CBIT-GSP, UNFCCC (TBC), GEF (TBC)

Live streaming link here.

Experiences of ECCAS member countries in the preparation of transparency frameworks as a basis for BTRs, NDCs, and LT-LEDS

Tuesday, 19 November 2024, 13:30–15:30 | CCBC/F2BC Pavilion
Co-hosted with: The Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS)

This event is organized by ICAT’s regional climate action transparency hub in Central Africa, hosted by ECCAS. Since its creation in 2022, the hub has been supporting Central African States to strengthen their transparency frameworks to enhance domestic climate action capacity and meet their Paris Agreement commitments.

The event will serve as a platform to present the efforts made by ECCAS member countries in preparing reports and policy documents to be submitted to the UNFCCC, including BTRs, NDCs and LT-LEDS. It will feature country experiences in preparing transparency frameworks and progress in implementing transparency improvement plans. It will also highlight opportunities and challenges identified during workshops organized in the region, take stock of the support provided to mobilize resources to implement climate action transparency action plans, and identify elements for a roadmap for next steps.

Speakers: Ministers from ECCAS member states, ICAT, ECCAS, Fokabs, GEF, CI, USFS, and UNDP.
The event will be conducted in French.

Live streaming link here and here.

Next generation NDCs: Catalyzing economy-wide transformation

Tuesday, 19 November 2024, 18:30–20:00 | Side-event room 2 & livestreaming
Co-hosted with: Chile, UK, WRI, We Mean Business Coalition

The next generation of NDCs, due early next year, presents a crucial opportunity for countries to drive climate action for years to come. Limiting global temperature rise to 1.5°C requires transforming nearly every sector globally. That’s why countries should aim for ambitious emission reduction targets for 2030 and 2035, and jumpstart a strategic planning process within ministries for sectoral transformation. A data-driven approach, founded in transparency, enables countries to develop ambitious and realistic NDC targets, and sets the path for informed decision-making at the national level.

This COP29 side event will bring together leading voices from the public and private spheres to reflect on the upcoming NDC updates and how they can guide the transformation of economies and societies to meet the Paris Agreement’s objectives. Speakers will discuss the importance of different sectors, such as energy, agriculture and transport, to speed up the transition away from fossil fuels and create economic growth. It will also shed light on the power of engaging cities and the private sector.

Speakers: H.E. Juan Carlos Muñoz Abogabir, Transportation and Telecommunications Minister of Chile; H.E. Edward Miliband, Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero of the UK; representatives from Kenya, Rwanda, WRI, WMB Coalition (TBC)

Live streaming: Please note that attendance online requires you to register online as a virtual COP29 participant. Once registered, live streaming will be available on the COP29 digital platform accessible to virtual conference participants.

Strengthening climate action transparency in Central Asia: Lessons, needs, and future directions

Wednesday, 20 November 2024, 11:30–13:00 | Kazakhstan Pavilion & online
Co-hosted with: The Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC)

This event is organized by ICAT’s regional climate action transparency hub in Central Asia, hosted by CAREC. It will review key achievements from the first three years of the hub, highlighting capacity building of national and regional experts on greenhouse gas inventory management, adaptation tracking, and climate finance. It will also discuss needs in advancing climate transparency across the countries of Central Asia and outline plans for expanding the hub into new areas of engagement and deeper in-country support.

The event will engage regional experts, government representatives, and international stakeholders to continue enhancing transparency systems in an effort to enable Central Asian countries to meet their climate obligations and effectively contribute to global climate action.

Speakers: Mansur Oshurbaev, Vice-Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of Kazakhstan; Zafar Makhmudov, CAREC Executive Director; Henning Wuester, ICAT Director; representatives from Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan.
The event will be held in Russian with simultaneous interpretation to English.

Link for online participant registration: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwrcuigqzgvHdZ5zrOgll9AmSlY61wuxjfq

Transparency for effectively managing climate finance

Wednesday, 20 November 2024, 19:00–20:00 | Shirvan Special Event Room, Area B
Co-hosted with: Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, CCAP

Climate finance transparency enhances countries’ capacity to effectively manage resources for climate change mitigation and adaptation, including estimating financial needs for climate actions and associated impact towards national climate targets. Additionally, it helps report domestically and internationally on climate finance flows, building trust among countries and stakeholders.

The event will explore how data can be used to effectively manage and attract funds for climate action. It will mark the launch of the ICAT Climate Finance Transparency Guide, developed with support by the Center for Clean Air Policy (CCAP), which provides guidance to developing countries in establishing and implementing national climate finance transparency frameworks. The event will also showcase country experiences with setting up transparency frameworks to mobilize, track and allocate climate finance for maximum impact.

Speakers: Belize, Côte d'Ivoire, Morocco, Senegal, ICAT, CCAP, Gauss, IMF (TBC)

Monitoring, reporting and verification systems as a transparency tool for climate management

Thursday, 21 November 2024, 10:00–11:00 | El Salvador Pavilion
Co-hosted with: El Salvador

In order to determine the level of progress in the implementation of NDCs, it is necessary to develop monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) systems that allow for transparency to improve implementation of climate action, mobilize finance and increase the ambition of mitigation, adaptation and resilience. This event will provide an opportunity to learn about experiences, challenges and lessons learned in MRV for NDC tracking, as well as to identify needs and opportunities for collaboration and access to climate finance.

Speakers will analyze how MRV systems generate information on the progress of climate actions for decision making, supporting the improvement of policies and programs. It will further identify how MRV systems can support access to climate finance mechanisms for the achievement of climate targets.

Speakers: El Salvador, Bolivia, Costa Rica, ICAT, GHGMI.
The event will be conducted in Spanish.

Strengthening greenhouse gas data management and mitigation in the Pacific: Lessons learned and future pathways under the ETF, Paris Agreement, and the Global Methane Pledge

Tuesday, 12 November 2024, 12:30–13:30 | NDC Partnership Pavilion & live streaming
Hosted by Fiji, Vanuatu, the Greenhouse Gas Management Institute, and the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC)
Participation by ICAT in panel discussion

The event will provide an opportunity to discuss the potential pathways for the improvement of methane reporting from the agriculture and waste sectors under the Paris Agreement’s enhanced transparency framework (ETF). It will showcase Fiji’s pilot search and analysis of methane mitigation potential for wastewater and manure management and enable a discussion with fellow experts in Oceania and other developing countries. The event will also provide an opportunity for mainstreaming mitigation of short-lived climate pollutants into sectoral policies and upcoming NDCs.

Speakers: H.E. MP Ralph Regenvanu, Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, Vanuatu (TBC), representatives of Fiji, Vanuatu, ICAT, CCAC, GHGMI

Live streaming available here.

Peer-to-peer exchange event for the Pacific region on the current state and the perspectives of capacity building under the ETF and the Paris Agreement using advanced data management platforms

Wednesday, 13 November 2024, 11:00–12:00 | Moana Pavilion
Hosted by Fiji, Vanuatu, the Greenhouse Gas Management Institute, and the Climate and Clean Air Coalition
Presentation of ICAT project results and experiences in Fiji and Vanuatu

The event will promote a peer-to-peer exchange on the current state and perspectives of capacity building under the ETF of the Paris Agreement, using advanced data management platforms. This will include discussion of meeting commitments to enhance the ambition of the next generation of NDCs by integrating super pollutants, especially short-lived climate pollutants. This side event will also serve as a platform for a discussion on the different approaches to capacity building in Pacific countries and the domestic priorities related to strengthening national MRV systems.

Speakers: Fiji, Vanuatu, CCAC, GHGMI

Strengthening holistic approaches for NDC 3.0 and Paris Agreement implementation

Thursday, 14 November 2024, 11:30–13:00 | Side event room 7 & live streaming
Hosted by UNFCCC and NDC Partnership
Participation by ICAT in panel discussion

The UNFCCC/NDC-Partnership Holistic Approach Project seeks to promote a holistic and sustainable approach to implementing key substantive areas of the Paris Agreement, including NDCs, long-term low greenhouse gas emission development strategies, and the ETF. Drawing on the experience of Cambodia, Jordan, and Saint Vincent & the Grenadines, this event will highlight the importance of sustainable institutional arrangements and capacity building in the implementation of the Paris Agreement, as well as the integration of climate action planning into long-term development planning.

It will demonstrate a systemic approach to identifying and addressing capacity-building challenges, encouraging participants to apply similar efforts in their respective countries.

Live streaming: Please note that attendance online requires you to register online. Once registered, live streaming will be available on the COP29 digital platform accessible to virtual conference participants.

From commitments to action: Mobilizing climate finance for effective implementation

Thursday, 14 November 2024, 15:00–16:30 | Side event room 8 & live streaming
Hosted by UNOPS and UNEP

The window to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C is closing fast. New NDCs in 2025 need to be backed by solid technical and financial support and enhanced implementation capacity, particularly for the most vulnerable countries. The anticipated adoption of the New Collective Quantified Goal at COP29, along with advancements in tools such as carbon markets, present opportunities to guide and meet climate finance needs.

This event will bring together key stakeholders from climate initiatives representing the entire climate finance chain, to identify opportunities for partnerships and actions that can build on the momentum of COP29. It will also spotlight actionable steps to secure climate finance and highlight key areas for collaboration to amplify impact.

Speakers: H.E. Joyce Banda, former President of Malawi; Jorge Moreira da Silva, Under-Secretary-General and UNOPS Executive Director; representatives from governments, international donors, and the private sector.

Live streaming: Please note that attendance online requires you to register online. Once registered, live streaming will be available on the COP29 digital platform accessible to virtual conference participants.

Vision of the transparency professional training programme for developing countries

Tuesday, 19 November 2024, 10:30–11:30 | UNFCCC Pavilion & online
Hosted by the UNFCCC secretariat
Presentation of the ICAT blended course on transparency and the ETF

The UNFCCC Climate Action and Support Transparency Training (UNFCCC-CASTT) is a professional training programme promoting effective and universal participation of countries in MRV arrangements under the Convention and ETF of the Paris Agreement. The objective of this side event is to raise awareness of the UNFCCC-CASTT Programme’s three training initiatives: (i) The UNFCCC-GIR-CASTT programme on greenhouse gases; (ii) the Adaptation Academy on climate risk assessment and adaptation planning; and (iii) The ETF Blended Training focusing on transparency arrangements and mitigation policy assessment.

Speakers: UNFCCC secretariat, GIR, ICAT

Live streaming link here.

Towards increased financial support for methane reduction in Nigeria

Tuesday, 19 November 2024, 12:00–13:00 | Nigeria Pavilion
Hosted by Nigeria
Participation by ICAT in panel discussion

Methane, a potent greenhouse gas, is responsible for approximately half a degree Celsius of current global warming, with a warming potential 80 times greater than carbon dioxide over its first 20 years in the atmosphere. Nigeria, as a Global Methane Champion, is committed to reducing methane emissions, especially from the oil and gas sector, through collaborative efforts with various international organizations and regulatory bodies. This side event at COP29 will discuss strategies for increasing financial support to sustain and accelerate methane reduction efforts, showcase achievements, and highlight areas requiring urgent intervention.

Speakers: Nigeria, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, CCAC, Global Methane Hub, Clean Air Task Force, UNEP-International Methane Emissions Observatory, ICAT, Carbonlimits

Advancing Climate Transparency: Opportunities through Action for Climate Empowerment

Tuesday, 19 November 2024, 15:00–18:00 | Plenary - Caspian, Area D & online
Hosted by the UNFCCC secretariat
ICAT presentation

This event responds to the Glasgow work programme on Action for Climate Empowerment (ACE) adopted at COP26. It promotes policy coherence and cooperation by convening a thematic event focusing on “Advancing Climate Transparency: Opportunities through Action for Climate Empowerment.”

The event enables policymakers, practitioners, businesses, and civil society to exchange on how the ACE toolbox fosters collaboration among stakeholders to support climate transparency through its six elements: education, public awareness, training, public access to information and participation, and international cooperation.

Live streaming available here.

Experiences and lessons learned in delivering support to facilitate BTR1 preparation and to enhance capacities to implement the ETF

Tuesday, 19 November 2024, 17:00–18:30 | Special Event Room - Buta, Area B
Hosted by the UNFCCC secretariat
Presentation of ICAT’s offer of support

As developing countries monitor progress and gear up to submit their first BTRs and implement the ETF, enhancing existing capacities remains key. Many have tapped into available support, creating momentum to ensure that no one is left behind. This event provides an opportunity to discuss the support provided, share best practices, and identify lessons learned to continually improve climate reporting and ETF implementation capacities.

Speakers: UNFCCC secretariat, ICAT, GEF (TBC), UNEP-CCC, UNEP, UNDP (TBC), FAO (TBC), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Council on Energy, Environment and Water

Illuminating equity: Technical in-session dialogue on gender in transparency

Thursday, 21 November 2024, 15:00–17:00 | Room MR11 & livestreaming
Hosted by the UNFCCC secretariat
Presentation of the ICAT working paper “Good practices for integrating gender into transparency frameworks”

By including gender data and disaggregating data, governments and stakeholders can better assess the differential impacts of climate policies, identify gaps in implementation, and track progress. Integrating gender into reporting leads to more comprehensive and effective policy planning, and helps unlock support and resources for implementation.

This technical dialogue will highlight the importance of including gender considerations within transparency frameworks. It will cover: (i) recent findings on gender integration in UNFCCC reporting; (ii) enhancing data availability; and (iii) available support for mainstreaming gender in transparency.

Speakers: UNFCCC secretariat, ICAT, UNDP/UNEP Global Support Programme, GEF

The event will be conducted in English, with interpretation in French and Spanish.

Live streaming: Access the webcast here.