Paris Agreement Enhanced Transparency Framework

The Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF) is the Paris Agreement’s system for making countries’ climate actions and support visible and understandable. Established under Article 13, it combines reporting, technical review and consideration by other countries to assess progress in implementing and achieving nationally determined contributions (NDCs).

What countries report

Countries submit Biennial Transparency Reports (BTRs) using common reporting guidelines. These provide the information needed to understand national action and track progress over time.

• Each country must regularly provide a national greenhouse gas inventory covering emissions by sources and removals by sinks.
• Countries must provide information necessary to track progress in implementing and achieving their NDCs, including relevant indicators, policies and measures.
• Countries should also report information on climate impacts and adaptation, as appropriate.
• Developed countries must report financial, technology-transfer and capacity-building support provided to developing countries; developing countries should report support needed and received.

How implementation is assessed

The framework uses two linked processes rather than a single international performance score.

• A technical expert review examines required information on emissions, NDC progress and support provided for consistency with the reporting guidelines, taking applicable flexibility into account.
• Reviewers consider implementation and achievement of the NDC, identify areas for improvement and help identify capacity-building needs in developing countries.
• The review does not judge the adequacy or appropriateness of a country’s NDC or its domestic policy choices.
• A facilitative, multilateral consideration of progress allows other countries to ask questions about implementation and achievement of the NDC and efforts concerning climate finance under Article 9.

Flexibility, accountability and collective assessment

The ETF balances common standards with differences in national capacity. Its approach is facilitative, non-intrusive and non-punitive, while respecting national sovereignty and avoiding undue reporting burdens.

• Developing countries that need it in light of their capacities receive flexibility in implementing specified reporting and review requirements.
• Least developed countries and small island developing States may submit transparency information at their discretion.
• Reporting and review make progress more visible, identify information gaps and support improvements; they do not themselves impose penalties for missing an NDC.
• ETF information informs the global stocktake under Article 14, which assesses collective progress towards the Paris Agreement’s goals rather than grading individual countries.