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COP30 must strengthen transparency and cooperation to help the Global South build capacity and turn climate ambition into action
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This article is part of the essay series: "Expectations from COP30"
Recurrent geopolitical fragmentation and an uncertain economic atmosphere have cast a shadow on global environmental governance. Climate action and financing for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are fraught with significant challenges. As different countries prepare to discuss priority actions and negotiate finance pledges at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Belém, the ambition is evident but the implementation remains a challenge . Over the years, COP fatigue has set in, where ambitious pledges are made by the developed countries without a concrete action plan. Given that a decade has passed since the adoption of the Paris Agreement and climate action continues to be an existential crisis for the Global South, analysts are calling out COP30 as the ‘implementation COP’. Beyond thematic discussions, COP30 is expected to offer a tentative roadmap of climate action implementation itself—how Parties report, review, and ratchet up ambition.
COP fatigue has set in, where ambitious pledges are made by the developed countries without a concrete action plan.
Globally speaking, as of 2022, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions have increased by 1.2 percent from 2021 to 2022 to reach a new record of 57.4 gigatons of CO2 equivalent (GtCO2e) (Figure 1).
Figure 1: Total GHG emissions 1990-2022
Source: UNEP Emissions Gap Report 2023
With high-income countries being the highest emitters, GHG emissions visibly have a disproportionate impact on the economic progress of low- and middle-income countries, including the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and the Least Developed Countries (LDCs). Highlighting their lack of financial and technical wherewithal to balance development needs and ensure a just transition, Article 13 of the Paris Agreement becomes pertinent.
Under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) established in 1992, transparency concerning reporting and review of information on climate policies and measures taken by the Parties has become an integral part of the Agreement. Over time, transparency has evolved from a text mandate in UNFCCC for tracking climate commitments to a concrete framework, i.e., enhanced transparency framework (ETF) (Figure 2).
Figure 2: Evolution of transparency from 1994 to 2024
Article 13 underscores the “creation of ETF an for action and support, with built-in flexibility taking into account Parties’ different capacities and building upon collective experience”. Emphasising the implementation of climate policies, transparency has emerged as a game-changer. ETF involves providing clarity on the mechanisms of support provided or received by the concerned Parties on climate change action via Biennial Transparency Reports (BTRs) in line with their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). It presents an overview of aggregate financial support provided to inform the global stocktake under Article 14. The idea is to foster mutual trust and assurance between the parties to strengthen cooperation for collective action on climate commitments through knowledge exchange, skills transfer, capacity-building, etc.
Conforming to the regulations and reporting mechanisms established under the ETF has proved to be a chokepoint for the developing countries. Studies suggest that many Global South nations lack the capacity to ‘formalise, implement and maintain sustainable national arrangements for preparing national communications’ on GHG emissions inventories. For example, the absence of robust data structures that can accurately track GHG emissions from the direct source is a major challenge for developing countries.
Conforming to the regulations and reporting mechanisms established under the ETF has proved to be a chokepoint for the developing countries.
Moreover, the dearth of institutional frameworks for data measurement, data collection, and data verification makes reporting difficult. Financial constraints also hinder efforts to enhance tech capacities to mitigate and adapt to climate change. Building a comprehensive national communication on climate change requires adept and adequate climate finance.
The Global North should not focus on reducing the ETF as a mere technical exercise, but implement it as an inclusive process that reflects the unique needs of the Global South. In turn, ratcheting up ambition on climate finance should not be considered as a mere charity but a central strategy for the developed nations.
COP30 should not only highlight the implementation bottlenecks faced by the developing economies but also chart a roadmap for elevating their progress on climate action. Here are a few policy recommendations:
Each developing country has its unique set of challenges. To ensure that ETF is truly inclusive in nature, it is critical that international transparency requirements and national reporting are integrated smoothly. A robust national transparency framework should utilise adequate methodologies for measuring emissions, in line with their NDCs.
Creating pathways for North-South and South-South Cooperation on climate transparency is critical for instilling shared action. Institutions across the global South require both financial and technical resources at scale to align with the international transparency requirements. Emergence of Southern-driven partnerships led by India, Brazil, China and South Africa can facilitate the transfer of capacities for enhancing transparency reporting frameworks, data collection, and augment institutional readiness in the long run.
The advent of digital technologies has changed the development narrative substantially. Climate action is now heavily dependent on new and emerging technologies that streamline data collection and verification. It is thus crucial for Global South to equip itself with adequate tech prowess in the coming years to undertake national communication reporting on climate action proactively. Transfer of tech skills from the developed economies to the Global South is essential for building GHG inventories, tracking mitigation and adaptation progress, etc.
With several countries in the Global South boasting their vibrant demographic dividend, it is important to employ them in appropriate positions in the national communication system on climate change. In this sense, increased capacity-building of the youth, i.e., training data managers, government officials, academics, etc., is pivotal for establishing sustainable institutions in the Global South. The necessity of strengthening partnerships requires alignment of climate priorities. However, COP 30 should recognise transparency as a critical lever for actual progress that can facilitate North-South cooperation in the coming future.
The necessity of strengthening partnerships requires alignment of climate priorities. However, COP30 should recognise transparency as a critical lever for actual progress that can facilitate North-South cooperation in the coming future.
Swati Prabhu is a Fellow with the Centre for New Economic Diplomacy (CNED) at the Observer Research Foundation.
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Dr Swati Prabhu is a Fellow with the Centre for New Economic Diplomacy at the Observer Research Foundation. Her research explores the idea of aid, evolving ...
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