Experts set out an ambitious workplan for 2023

Members of the Consultative Group of Experts gathered in Bonn this month to develop their 2023 workplan, which includes a series of hands-on training workshops to provide technical support for developing countries to deal with climate change.

The Consultative Group of Experts (CGE) is the main channel for providing technical assistance and support to developing countries so that they can fulfill their reporting requirements in relation to measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) under the Convention and the enhanced transparency framework (ETF) under Article 13 of the Paris Agreement.

The CGE met in Bonn, Germany, on 9 and 10 February 2023 to develop its 2023 workplan.

In its new workplan, which was posted online yesterday, the CGE commits to:

Organize three regional hands-on training workshops for developing countries on reporting information on climate change impacts and adaptation, and support needed and received in relation to adaptation reporting.

Organize three regional webinars to explain the CGE’s recently updated training materials on mitigation.

Enhance its communication and outreach activities, and collaboration efforts with other expert groups and constituted bodies under the Convention and the Paris Agreement, and other intergovernmental and international organizations. With support from UN Climate Change, the CGE is exploring opportunities to collaborate on developing tools and materials to assist developing countries in implementing the ETF.

Conduct transparency needs assessments. A survey covering ETF-related capacity-building and technical needs will be rolled out in March 2023. Findings will serve as an evidence-based tool for the CGE and other support providers when programming their technical and capacity-building support to developing countries.

Established at COP5 in 1999, the Consultative Group of Experts is the oldest Constituted Body under the Convention and the Paris Agreement. In 2024, CGE will mark its 25th anniversary. In the same year, developing countries will also start submitting their first biennial transparency reports (BTRs). As it heads toward its 25th anniversary, the CGE will continue to accelerate it technical support and advice to developing countries on the ETF.