BAKU — The Baku Global Climate Transparency Platform (BTP) was unveiled today by the COP29 Presidency, aiming to enhance global climate action by supporting developing nations in their transparency reporting efforts.
According to Azeri-Press News Agency, the launch was announced by Mukhtar Babayev, COP29 President-Designate and Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Azerbaijan, during the COP29 Presidency’s High-Level Dialogue in Baku. The platform, developed in collaboration with the UNFCCC, aims to build mutual trust among nations, support developing countries in preparing and finalizing their Biennial Transparency Reports (BTRs), and encourage universal participation in the Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF).
The BTP is set to assist in the preparation and submission of BTRs by developing nations, crucial for tracking progress on transparency as part of the ETF. The first phase of the platform focuses on delivering BTRs by 2024, with a subsequent phase aimed at providing targeted support for ETF implementation and universal participation.
Over the next few months, the COP29 Presidency plans to host regional workshops on transparency across Eastern Europe, the South Caucasus, Central Asia, Africa, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Additionally, the Global Transparency Dialogue will be convened during the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, supported by the UNFCCC Secretariat and BTP partners.
In a significant move to build political engagement on transparency, the COP29 Presidency announced the appointment of COP29 High-Level Co-Pairs for Transparency, Zulfiya Suleimenova, Advisor to the President of Kazakhstan and Special Representative for International Environmental Cooperation, and Francesco Corvaro, Italy’s Special Envoy for Climate Change.
Babayev expressed his commitment to the cause, stating, “By openly reporting our words and deeds, our progress and our challenges, we can share with the world our commitment to achieving our climate goals.” He emphasized the role of the newly appointed Co-Pairs in enhancing political awareness and expediting the BTR process ahead of COP29.
COP29 Lead Negotiator Yalchin Rafiyev commented on the importance of the platform, noting that effective BTRs are fundamental to assessing progress on climate initiatives and building trust among Parties. He highlighted that the BTP would cooperate with existing transparency platforms to ensure coherence and enhance effectiveness, providing a space for collaboration among all stakeholders involved in global climate action.