South Africa Submits Its First Biennial Transparency Report (BTR1) to the UNFCCC

South Africa is one of ninety countries that successfully submitted their inaugural BTR, underscoring the country’s commitment to transparency and accountability in meeting its climate goals under the Paris Agreement. On the 23rd December 2024, a week ahead of the deadline, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) submitted South Africa’s First Biennial Transparency Report (BTR1) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). This milestone marks South Africa’s compliance with the Paris Agreement reporting requirements, aligning with its national development goals and enhancing the transparency of its climate action. The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and DFFE teams worked tirelessly to deliver the narrative report, along with the Common Reporting Tables (CRTs) and Common Tabular Formats (CTFs) ahead of the submission December 2024 deadline. This achievement required significant effort working under considerable pressure. As the executing agency of support provided under the Global Environment Fund (GEF) Support Programme on the preparation of Biennial Transparency Reports (BTRs) and National Communications (NCs), SSN is proud to be a part of this significant achievement in South Africa’s climate accountability and transparency efforts. The SABTR team looks forward to continuing this partnership which kicks off with developing the project implementation plan for the next phase of support.

 

The BTR1 was developed in accordance with the Modalities, Procedures, and Guidelines (MPGs) for the Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF) outlined in Article 13 of the Paris Agreement, tracking progress on the implementation of South Africa’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) including the support needed and received for implementation.

 

This crucial report provides a comprehensive view of the country’s progress, national circumstances, institutional frameworks and mitigation policies. Special emphasis was placed on integrating South Africa’s unique perspectives and priorities, ensuring that the data accurately reflects the nation’s priorities and challenges in addressing climate change.  By sharing detailed progress on its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) and the support it requires, South Africa demonstrates its proactive approach to addressing climate change while contributing to global sustainability targets. Beyond tracking progress, the BTR1 underscores South Africa’s commitment to fulfilling its international climate obligations under the Paris Agreement. It also provides essential data to inform the development of the next round of NDCs, due in 2025, as part of the global effort to combat climate change.

 

Download South Africa’s First Biennial Transparency Report here.

 

Image courtesy of South African Tourism via Flickr.