For Ukraine, which has a significant agricultural sector, the information from BTRs (Biennial Transparency Reports) is crucial. It will help the country identify vulnerabilities and opportunities for improvement, ensuring that climate policies and measures are effectively tailored to support sustainable agricultural practices. IP.Cert, having developed and implemented the voluntary international Program “Living Cropland Initiative,” actively introduces innovative regenerative approaches in agriculture. This includes reducing carbon emissions, restoring soil fertility, and supporting biodiversity. In this context, the collection and exchange of climate data through BTRs become critically important for assessing and supporting these sustainable practices, contributing to the achievement of the country’s climate goals and international commitments under the Paris Agreement.
As of 10 July 2024, ten parties to the Paris Agreement have already submitted their first (BTRs), including Andorra, Australia, Canada, Germany, Guyana, and others. The BTRs, which must be submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) by 31 December 2024, will reflect the progress of countries in their climate actions. The data will help countries improve climate plans, set ambitious goals, and allocate resources to achieve results. Gathering and sharing climate data will help:
🌱 Improve climate policy
🌱 Set more ambitious climate plans and targets
🌱 Unlock finance to support these measures
These new BTRs, along with the Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF) of the Paris Agreement, will allow for much better assessments of global climate progress. At the national level, they will also become a vital tool, helping countries create a strong evidence base that governments can use to develop stronger climate policies and national climate plans (known as Nationally Determined Contributions or NDCs).
Information Required in the BTRs
Parties to the Paris Agreement must provide the following information in their BTRs:
📈 A national greenhouse gas inventory
📈 Information necessary to track progress in implementing and achieving their NDCs
📈 Information on climate change impacts and adaptation
📈 Financial, technological, and capacity-building support provided to developing country parties
📈 Financial, technological, and capacity-building support needed and received, as relevant
New online tools introduced by the UNFCCC Secretariat allow countries to compile data and generate reporting tables using agreed formats, ensuring a more streamlined and consistent reporting process and enabling data aggregation.
Data gathered through the BTRs will help governments assess their climate progress and pinpoint areas where resources and support are most needed. This is particularly important for the agricultural sector, which is highly sensitive to climate change and a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions. By understanding the specific needs and impacts on agriculture, countries can develop targeted strategies to enhance climate resilience and reduce emissions in this sector.
Having a clearer understanding of these needs, backed by data, will put countries, including Ukraine, in a better position to attract more financing and accelerate the achievement of their Paris Agreement commitments.
https://unfccc.int/news/launch-of-new-climate-reporting-tools-for-enhanced-transparency
