Guyana’s in-country review strengthens national climate plans

Guyana has become the first Small Island Developing State to undergo an in-country review of its Biennial Transparency Report (BTR). The review, held in Georgetown from 30 September to 4 October 2024, highlighted the benefits of the Paris Agreement’s Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF) as a vital enabling tool for governments to design stronger national climate policies over time, track implementation of the Paris Agreement commitments and unlock provision of support.

A key outcome of the review is the refinement of Guyana’s climate indicators, which will help strengthen the country’s upcoming national climate plans (nationally determined contributions or NDCs), currently in development.

Recognizing the key role of the forestry and energy sectors in the country’s development, these enhanced indicators are now better aligned with national priorities, making Guyana’s future BTRs more relevant to its NDC and more consistent with ETF guidelines. In addition to the BTR review, the process included a technical analysis of Guyana’s efforts towards Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Developing Countries (REDD+).

“This review allowed us to refine our NDC indicators, making them more quantitative and directly applicable to our national circumstances,” said Pradeepa Bholanath Goberdhan, Senior Director for Climate and REDD+ at the Ministry of Natural Resources of Guyana. “This was a valuable learning experience that will enable us to produce impactful reporting that aligns directly with the implementation of our climate programme in the future.”

Guyana’s experience underscores how the in-country review process can provide tangible benefits for countries looking to strengthen their climate action. The process also helped identify areas for capacity-building, allowing Guyana to build on past efforts, such as the Forest Reference Emission Level (FREL) and REDD+ initiatives.

This review is more than a technical exercise—it serves as a platform for continuous learning and mutual support. It is part of a broader effort to ensure transparency and trust in global climate reporting, making it easier for countries to track progress, address gaps, and ensure that their climate actions are aligned with international commitments.

Guyana, with the second-highest forest cover in the world, has been working with Norway on REDD+ since 2009 to protect its rainforest. In recent years, the country has been exploring renewable and clean energy opportunities, supporting global efforts towards sustainable development.

Guyana’s experience will be showcased at the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference COP29 in Baku, during a side event on 18 November titled “Technical Expert Reviews: Unpacking the Guyana Experience.” The event will allow other countries to learn from Guyana’s experience and see how the in-country review process can improve their systems for collecting and assessing climate data, leading to more complete and transparent BTR submissions that support the development of NDCs.

More information on the Enhanced Transparency Framework

This story was first published by UN Climate Change.