Pacific islands weigh climate reporting demands as new UN transparency cycle begins

By Ron Rocky Coloma

Pacific Island countries are entering a new phase of international climate reporting that regional officials say could help governments secure support for adaptation efforts, while also increasing pressure on already limited technical capacity across the region.

The issue was at the center of the opening session of a UN-backed webinar series on adaptation reporting under the Enhanced Transparency Framework, the Paris Agreement system that guides how countries report on climate action and progress.

The five-part series brings together officials and climate practitioners from Pacific Island countries, including Fiji, Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia and Vanuatu, as governments prepare for another cycle of biennial transparency reports, commonly known as BTRs.

Organizers framed the sessions as both a technical training effort and a broader discussion about how Pacific nations can use climate reporting to strengthen adaptation priorities in international negotiations and funding discussions.

“Adaptation is close to our heart in the Pacific,” said Aradhana Singh, regional network coordinator for the Pacific under the Capacity-building Initiative for Transparency Global Support Program, or CBIT-GSP.

“Hence, we are bringing this adaptation series for us to learn from each other,” Singh said during the webinar opening.

The Enhanced Transparency Framework officially took effect in late 2024 under the Paris Agreement, creating a new reporting structure intended to improve consistency and accountability across countries’ climate commitments.

While adaptation reporting under the BTR system remains voluntary, countries are strongly encouraged to include information on climate impacts, adaptation plans, implementation progress and financial or technical support needs.

For Pacific Island governments, the reporting process carries particular weight because climate adaptation has become intertwined with economic planning, infrastructure development and disaster preparedness.

Throughout the webinar’s opening exercises, participants identified sea level rise, coastal erosion, coral reef damage, food security and extreme weather events as some of the region’s most urgent climate concerns.

One participant described “resilience” as the defining meaning of adaptation for their country, while others pointed to sustainability and preparedness.

The webinar also highlighted the growing complexity of international climate reporting requirements.

Sladjana Bundalo, an adaptation expert supporting the CBIT-GSP program, said many countries already have climate information spread across national adaptation plans, vulnerability assessments and previous reporting documents. The challenge now is to organize that information within the newer transparency framework.

“We are here to help you capture all this information, identify the gaps and find the best way to report your situation regarding climate impacts and adaptation efforts in your countries,” Bundalo said.

Under the Paris Agreement system, countries can communicate adaptation information through several instruments, including national communications, national adaptation plans, adaptation communications and biennial transparency reports.

The BTR system replaces earlier reporting formats used separately by developed and developing countries and is intended to create a more unified reporting structure.

Bundalo said adaptation reporting is meant to do more than satisfy technical obligations under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

“The purpose states that the (transparency framework) is intended to provide a clear understanding of climate change actions, including parties’ adaptation actions related to good practices, priorities, needs and gaps,” she said.

Regional climate officials and adaptation specialists increasingly argue that transparency reports can serve as strategic tools for Pacific governments seeking international financing and technical assistance.

The reports can document vulnerabilities, identify unmet needs and show progress on adaptation projects already underway.

Susanne Konrad, an adviser with the UNEP Copenhagen Climate Centre, said countries should view reporting as an opportunity rather than only an administrative burden.

“Countries should really use this as a strategic opportunity to report on this chapter, rather than seeing it as an additional reporting burden,” Konrad said.

She acknowledged that Pacific countries face climate impacts that are significantly more severe than those experienced in many other parts of the world.

“It’s, of course, nothing compared to what is felt in the Pacific, which really presents an existential threat to Pacific communities,” Konrad said.

At the same time, officials acknowledged that the reporting system can be technically demanding, particularly for small island administrations that often operate with limited staffing and financial resources.

The adaptation section of the BTR framework contains multiple categories covering climate impacts, adaptation priorities, implementation progress, monitoring systems and loss-and-damage information.

ADVERTISEMENT

Countries are also encouraged to explain gaps in funding, technology and institutional capacity.

The webinar series is intended to help Pacific governments better understand those requirements before upcoming reporting cycles.

Future sessions scheduled through June will focus on specific reporting sections, adaptation indicators, country experiences and available support mechanisms.

The discussion also comes as Pacific leaders continue pressing larger industrialized countries for stronger emissions reductions and increased climate financing during international negotiations.

Subscribe to

our digital

monthly issue