FAQ – Adaptation in Biennial Transparency Reports – The Basics

• What Is the ETF?

  The ETF was established in 2015 with the adoption of the Paris Agreement. The ETF supersedes a portion of the previous measurement, reporting, and verification system of the UNFCCC and provides a more comprehensive reporting and review system for mitigation, adaptation, and means of implementation and support. Article 13, paragraph 1 reads:

  In order to build mutual trust and confidence and to promote effective implementation, an enhanced transparency framework for action and support, with built-in flexibility which takes into account Parties’ different capacities and builds upon collective experience is hereby established.

  Following the adoption of the Paris Agreement, Parties negotiated and adopted Decision 18/CMA.1 in 2018, which contains the modalities, procedures, and guidelines (MPGs) for the ETF, including the mandatory and optional elements the Parties would report in their BTRs. Subsequently, in 2021, Parties adopted Decision 5/CMA.3, which contains the outline for the BTR, as well as the common tabular formats and common reporting tables. The ETF was designed to be non-intrusive, non-punitive, and flexible while facilitating improved reporting and transparency over time.

• What Is the BTR?

  The BTR is a report prepared and submitted by Parties to the Paris Agreement that captures information on their progress in implementing the different aspects of the Agreement. The different aspects are covered in the five separate chapters of the BTR, some of which are mandatory and some of which are optional:

  

  The BTR is the reporting vehicle for the ETF, complementing other communication and reporting vehicles under the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement, such as the National Communications (NCs) and the Adaptation Communications (AdCom). The purpose of the ETF is to “build mutual trust and confidence and to promote effective implementation” through the transparent sharing of information between Parties. A common reporting format, like the BTR, allows comparability, consistency, and completeness of information provided while avoiding duplication of work and undue burden.

  All Parties to the Paris Agreement are required to submit a BTR to report on their national climate information and their progress in climate action. However, including a chapter on climate change impacts and adaptation in BTRs is optional.

• What Is the Purpose of BTRs?

  As the reporting instrument of the Paris Agreement, BTRs help facilitate mutual trust and confidence between countries and allow Parties and non-Party stakeholders to understand the state of climate action in each country. Regular and quality reporting of each country’s climate action and the progress they are making toward their commitments help demonstrate that countries are not tackling the climate crisis on their own. It also allows countries to exchange information and share lessons learned from their domestic climate actions.

  The Global Stocktake (GST) process also uses the BTRs as a key source of information to assess the overall collective progress made in achieving the long-term goals of the Paris Agreement. This input is based on information contained in the BTR documents themselves, as well as from the technical expert review (TER) and the facilitative, multilateral consideration of progress (FMCP) processes (see below). The TER is optional for reporting on adaptation in the BTR.

  Both the review process under the ETF and the GST help identify data and information gaps that, if filled, would allow Parties to better understand and communicate progress in domestic climate action. Parties can also use this identification of gaps to strengthen their national monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) systems so that subsequent BTRs (and other communication and reporting vehicles) are more comprehensive. This applies to MEL of adaptation, and, in fact, can be an important part of building MEL systems for adaptation, given how challenging and iterative such efforts are. Ultimately, the outputs of the GST then provide direction and insights to inform Parties in updating their national plans, such as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and NAPs, with a view to increasing ambition on climate action.

  

• Are All Countries Required to Submit a BTR?

  All Parties to the Paris Agreement, except for small island developing states (SIDS) and the least developed countries (LDCs), are required to provide country-specific information on the implementation of the Paris Agreement in the form of a BTR. Recognizing the capacity constraints faced by SIDS and LDCs, and the need to provide flexibility in light of their national circumstances, SIDS and LDCs may submit BTRs at their discretion.

• What Is the Deadline for Submitting the First BTR?

  All countries, except for SIDS and LDCs, are required to submit their first BTR (BTR1) by December 31, 2024, and every 2 years thereafter. The second BTR (BTR2) should be submitted by December 31, 2026.

• Are Countries Required to Report on Adaptation in Their BTRs?

  No. While submitting a BTR is mandatory, countries do not have to include the chapter on climate change impacts and adaptation information (A-BTR). Despite being optional, countries are encouraged to prepare the A-BTR to

  • provide the necessary adaptation-related information for the GST’s assessment of the collective progress made toward achieving the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA);

  • facilitate the sharing of experiences and best practices related to adaptation;

  • communicate adaptation-related financial, technological, and capacity needs;

  • review and strengthen the relevance and effectiveness of the national MEL system for adaptation; and

  • streamline the reporting arrangements for adaptation, including satisfying NC’s adaptation requirements and acting as a vehicle for AdComs (see below).

  Recognizing the burden of preparing multiple reports and communications under the UNFCCC, countries may choose to streamline or combine efforts. For instance, countries can decide to submit their BTRs jointly as their NC when the reporting year for both overlaps. Similarly, Parties who choose to include adaptation in their BTRs may use it as the vehicle for their AdCom. See the table below on BTR, NC, and AdCom submissions. In line with Article 13, SIDS and LDCs may submit BTRs at their discretion.

  

• What Are the Linkages Between A-BTR and NC?

  The NC is a reporting instrument under the UNFCCC. Developed countries are required to submit an NC every 4 years, and developing countries are strongly encouraged to submit an NC every 4 years.

  BTR does not replace the NC. However, Parties will have the option of combining the BTR and NC in years when the two reporting instruments overlap (starting in 2026 for some Parties, and every 4 years thereafter). By submitting their BTRs and NCs jointly, countries could streamline their reporting obligations under the UNFCCC and avoid duplication of efforts, as well as reducing their reporting burdens, in light of the capacity constraints faced by many developing countries.

• What Are the Linkages Between A-BTR and the AdCom?

  The AdCom is a report prepared by countries that synthesizes and shares their priorities, efforts, needs, and lessons around adapting to climate change. An AdCom could be submitted by itself or “as a component of or in conjunction with other communications or documents,” including as part of the BTR through the preparation of the A-BTR. By using A-BTR as the vehicle for their AdCom, countries could streamline their reporting obligations under the UNFCCC and avoid duplication of efforts, as well as reducing their reporting burdens, in light of the capacity constraints faced by many developing countries.

  There is no mandatory submission schedule for AdComs, noting that countries were encouraged to submit their first one to provide timely inputs into the GST process. Therefore, Parties may choose their own schedule for submitting an AdCom or use the schedule of other reporting vehicles; for example, if the country chooses to use its A-BTR as the vehicle for its AdCom, it will follow the reporting schedule of the BTR.

  The NAP Global Network has also produced an FAQ on AdComs and a report on how to leverage the NAP process to prepare AdComs. The Adaptation Committee has also produced a supplementary guidance for voluntary use by Parties in communicating information in accordance with the possible elements of an adaptation communication.

• What Is the Voluntary Review Process for A-BTR?

  As per the Paris Agreement, most chapters of the BTRs will be reviewed through a TER process, except for the adaptation chapters.

  However, many Parties have highlighted the important role that A-BTR reviews could play in facilitating the sharing of experiences and best practices related to adaptation and the gradual improvements in adaptation reporting. In 2022, Parties adopted Decision 9/CMA.4, which allows any Party to request that the UNFCCC Secretariat organize a voluntary review of the A-BTR upon a Party’s request. The review will include

  • a review of whether the A-BTR is prepared in accordance with the MPGs and

  • identification of areas of improvement and capacity-building needs related to A-BTR reporting, in consultation with the Party.

  A Party may choose to subject the entirety of the A-BTR to the voluntary review or specify specific sections of the A-BTR for review.

• What Is the Facilitative, Multilateral Consideration of Progress (FMCP) Process?

  The FMCP process provides a public opportunity for Parties to showcase their mitigation and adaptation activities reported in the BTRs, as well as the support provided, mobilized, needed, and received. It involves a presentation and a questions and answers segment where questions may be submitted by other Parties. The goal of the FMCP process is to promote transparency and provide an opportunity for relevant stakeholders to understand Parties’ efforts and offer feedback on whether any “course correction” is needed. Although A-BTR is not explicitly a focus of FMCP, Parties may nevertheless choose to present on their A-BTRs. The FMCP replaces the previous Multilateral Assessment for developed countries and Facilitative Sharing of Views for developing countries.