At the high-level opening of the Global Transparency Forum, coming to an end today (5th September,2025), UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell delivered a compelling address on the urgent importance of transparency in climate action.
Stiell characterised transparency as much more than a technical compliance requirement. He described it as an “enabling tool” that bolsters climate ambition, opens access to finance, and delivers tangible benefits such as stronger economic growth, job creation, improved health outcomes with reduced health care costs, affordable safe energy, and elevated living standards.
Highlighting the progress so far, more than 100 countries have submitted their first Biennial Transparency Reports (BTRs), demonstrating the strategic value of compiling robust climate data to attract investment and shape policy. Describing the Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF) as a quiet – yet powerful – achievement of the Paris Agreement, Stiell celebrated his Secretariat’s work in delivering more than 10,000 experts trained, 1,200 BTR reviewers certified, and 1,400 officials now equipped with ETF tools.
Yet gaps persist. He noted that 37 Parties have not yet submitted mandatory ETF reports. His message was clear: “No country can be left behind.” The upcoming BTR synthesis report ahead of COP30—to be held in Brazil—will provide early insight into global mitigation and adaptation progress, fueling the next Global Stocktake. Stiell concluded with a rallying call: “What is measured can be acted upon… What is shared becomes a force for change.” Transparency, he emphasized, must remain central to climate ambition not simply a box to tick, but a springboard for real-world results.
Botswana’s role in this global effort is becoming increasingly evident. Between 31 March and 3 April 2025, the country participated in a hands-on training workshop under the UNDP/UNFCCC CBIT Global Support Programme to fast-track the development of its first BTR. This initiative focused on ETF concepts, GHG inventories, NDC tracking, and institutional arrangements. Since 2020, Botswana has also been working with the Initiative for Climate Action Transparency (ICAT), which has helped assess monitoring and reporting gaps in key sectors such as energy and transport, and produced a roadmap to strengthen national systems.
Further, Botswana is benefited from GEF-funded enabling activities. A project administered by UNDP supports the country’s Fourth National Communication and First BTR (4NC/1BTR) as a combined report, alongside a standalone Second BTR. Botswana also submitted its updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) in December 2024, incorporating measures to monitor mitigation and adaptation using ETF-aligned tracking tools. These include indicators such as solar PV capacity, biodigester numbers, and solar boreholes, all integrated into a national monitoring and evaluation system. These efforts have positioned Botswana to take advantage of the very opportunities that Stiell emphasized. Clear and credible reporting enhances trust among international financiers and strengthens the country’s ability to attract climate finance. Embedding transparency into Botswana’s climate policy framework ensures that reports evolve beyond compliance, becoming instruments for policy refinement and investment planning. Moreover, as Botswana engages in regional and international peer exchanges, it contributes to and benefits from the transparency networks highlighted at the Global Transparency Forum.
