CAPACITY BUILDING INITIATIVE FOR TRANSPARENCY (CBIT)
- The Capacity-building Initiative for Transparency (CBIT) is a program established under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to support developing countries in enhancing their capacity to meet their reporting and transparency requirements related to climate action.
- CBIT was created as part of the Paris Agreement, which was adopted in 2015 and aims to combat climate change by limiting global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
- CBIT focuses on helping developing countries strengthen their institutional and technical capabilities to accurately measure, report, and verify their greenhouse gas emissions and the progress they are making in implementing climate mitigation and adaptation activities. This transparency is crucial for tracking global progress toward achieving the climate goals set out in the Paris Agreement.
3. COP 21
COP 21 decided that the aim of CBIT is to:
- Strengthen national institutions for transparency-related activities in line with national priorities;
- Provide relevant tools, training and assistance for meeting the provisions stipulated in Article 13 of the Agreement; and
- Assist in the improvement of transparency over time.
Transparency is a fundamental principle within the Paris Agreement, which was adopted in 2015 as a landmark international treaty to address climate change. The Agreement recognizes the importance of transparency in several key aspects:
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Transparency of Action: Under the Paris Agreement, countries that are Parties to the Agreement (referred to as Parties) are required to regularly communicate their efforts to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions (referred to as "nationally determined contributions" or NDCs) and adapt to the impacts of climate change. This includes providing information on their emission reduction targets, policies, and measures taken to achieve these targets. This transparency enables other Parties and stakeholders to assess the adequacy and effectiveness of a country's climate actions.
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Transparency of Support: Developed countries, often referred to as Annex II Parties, have an obligation to provide financial resources, technology transfer, and capacity-building support to developing countries to help them cope with climate change. Transparency in financial flows and support is crucial to ensure that these commitments are being met and that the support is reaching those who need it most.
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Transparency of Information Sharing: The Paris Agreement establishes a framework for the transparent sharing of information, data, and best practices related to climate change. This information sharing helps Parties learn from each other's experiences and promote cooperation and mutual assistance in tackling climate change.
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Transparency Framework: The Agreement includes provisions for the development of a "enhanced transparency framework." This framework sets out the rules and procedures for reporting and reviewing the climate-related information that Parties provide. It ensures that the information exchanged is consistent, comparable, and reliable. The enhanced transparency framework is designed to be more robust and comprehensive than the transparency arrangements under the previous Kyoto Protocol.
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Review and Accountability: The Paris Agreement includes a process for the regular review of Parties' progress in implementing their climate actions. This process, often referred to as the "global stocktake," is conducted every five years to assess collective progress toward the Agreement's goals. Transparency is crucial in this context, as it allows for an objective assessment of each Party's efforts.
Here's how the GEF contributes to CBIT:
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Financial Support: One of the primary roles of the GEF in the CBIT is to provide financial resources to support capacity-building activities related to transparency. This includes funding for training programs, workshops, technical assistance, and the development of necessary infrastructure and systems to improve a country's ability to measure, report, and verify its greenhouse gas emissions and climate actions accurately.
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Project Implementation: The GEF, through its implementing agencies such as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), assists developing countries in designing and implementing CBIT projects. These projects aim to enhance national capacity for transparency in line with the Paris Agreement's requirements.
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Technical Assistance: The GEF supports countries in accessing technical expertise and knowledge to strengthen their institutional and technical capabilities. This includes assistance in developing or improving national greenhouse gas inventories, data management systems, and the legal and regulatory frameworks needed for transparency.
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Promotion of Best Practices: The GEF helps disseminate best practices and lessons learned from CBIT projects across different countries. This knowledge sharing is crucial for countries to learn from each other's experiences and to adopt effective approaches to transparency-related activities.
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Facilitating Collaboration: The GEF facilitates collaboration among various stakeholders, including governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and international agencies, to ensure a coordinated and integrated approach to CBIT implementation. Collaboration helps avoid duplication of efforts and maximizes the impact of capacity-building activities.
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Reporting and Accountability: As part of its commitment to transparency and accountability, the GEF reports on its financial contributions to CBIT and the outcomes achieved through its support. This reporting helps donors, countries, and other stakeholders track progress and assess the effectiveness of CBIT projects.
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Integration with Climate Finance: The GEF's support for CBIT aligns with broader climate finance efforts. It ensures that capacity-building for transparency is integrated into the larger framework of climate finance, which includes both public and private sources of funding.
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For Prelims: Paris Agreement, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
For Mains: 1."The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provide a comprehensive and integrated framework for addressing global challenges." Discuss the relevance and significance of SDGs in the context of India's development agenda. What are the key challenges in achieving these goals in the Indian context?
2.The Paris Agreement aims to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. Discuss the key provisions of the Paris Agreement and the significance of this temperature target. Analyze the role of India in achieving the Agreement's objectives
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Previous Year Questions
1.The 'Paris Agreement' adopted in Conference of the Parties (COP 21) in December 2015 will be effective provided the document is signed by: (UPSC CAPF 2016)
A.51 UNFCCC parties accounting for at least 51% of global greenhouse gas emission
B.51 UNFCCC parties accounting for at least 55% of global greenhouse gas emission
C.55 UNFCCC parties accounting for at least 55% of global greenhouse gas emission
D. 75 UNFCCC parties accounting for at least 51% of global greeenhouse gas emission
Answer (C)
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