Transparent climate action taken by states and regions – new analytics tools
The successful implementation of the Paris Agreement depends on the application of a strong transparency mechanism. This is fundamental to measuring the global community’s progress in meeting the target of well-below 2 degrees Celsius. Governments worldwide now face the challenge of efficiently tracking greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and climate action, as well as the support provided and received in this area, so that reports can be compiled on the progress made in implementing their nationally determined contributions (NDCs). These reports are based on data provided by different levels of government, a wide range of sectors and various stakeholders. Sub-national government entities, such as regional or city governments, play a crucial role in this process.
Key findings of the Global States and Regions Annual Disclosure updated and published by The Climate Group, which acts as the Secretariat of the Under2Coalition, and the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) show that the number of state and regional governments committed to transparency continues to grow. In 2017, 110 governments disclosed their climate data and actions – a year-on-year increase of 60%. The update for 2017 also found that disclosing states and regions are generally more ambitious than their national counterparts, and that their short-term objectives are compatible with a 2 degree Celsius world. For more information on the findings of the report, please read the article published by The Climate Group.
In order to support these ambitions, the Climate Group and CDP, together with Climate-KIC Low Carbon City, developed two of the world’s first analytics tools dedicated to the work of states and regions.
The first is the States and Regions Climate Tracker. It is designed to support decision-making and improve emissions management for sub-national government entities. It features data from over 100 state and regional governments, including information about their emission reduction, renewable energy and energy efficiency targets, as well as climate actions. Users can explore data visualizations, which present emissions pathways, targets and climate actions.
The second is the Sub-National Climate Analytics Navigator, which is available to disclosing states and regions. Users can access data from over 100 states and regions to support their inventory development, target setting and GHG reduction. This groundbreaking tool will enable governments to benchmark climate data in relation to their peer groups. To use this tool you have to create an account; more information is available on CDP's website.
Links to the report and the tools can be found in the right margin.