DEVELOPING A TRANSPARENCY ARRANGEMENT FOR INTERGOVERNMENTAL COOPERATION ON FOSSIL FUEL PRODUCTION

The policy brief argues for a systematic intergovernmental mechanism to collect and review data on fossil fuel production to close the 'production gap'. It suggests a framework combining technical expert verification with political peer review, while allowing for differentiated reporting requirements based on a country's capacity or production share. The authors emphasize the need for capacity-building support for the Global South, formal roles for non-state actors to ensure accountability, and a staged approach to follow-up that moves from facilitative learning to goal-oriented accountability.

• A transparency arrangement is necessary because current information on fossil fuel production is "incomplete, inconsistent and scattered across a range of transparency initiatives", which hinders the ability to align production with the 1.5°C goal.
• To balance the need for comprehensive data with the varying capabilities of nations, the arrangement should use a "bounded approach to differentiation". This includes tiered reporting guidance—categorizing information as 'must have' (Tier 1), 'should have' (Tier 2), and 'nice to have' (Tier 3)—and varying the frequency of reviews based on a country's share of global production.
• The proposed review process should be dual-tracked: technical experts would verify data for "accuracy, completeness, consistency" to ensure reliability, while a political peer review process would facilitate trust-building and the sharing of best practices.
• Follow-up mechanisms should evolve through a staged process, beginning with a "facilitative review" focused on learning and information gathering, progressing to a global review for gap analysis, and concluding with "goal-oriented accountability" where states must respond to recommendations for behavioral change.
• Non-state actors, including civil society, should have a formalized role in the process through the submission of "comments and shadow reports" to hold states and corporations accountable.
• The authors warn against the "corporate capture" of the transparency mechanism by fossil fuel companies, suggesting that rules of engagement similar to the WHO's Framework for Engagement with Non-State Actors (FENSA) should be adopted to manage conflicts of interest.
• The arrangement could be implemented as a stand-alone initiative or integrated into a broader international agreement, such as the "proposed Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty".

APA

van Asselt, H., & Harrould-Kolieb, E. (n.d.). DEVELOPING A TRANSPARENCY ARRANGEMENT FOR INTERGOVERNMENTAL COOPERATION ON FOSSIL FUEL PRODUCTION. Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative. https://www.fossilfueltreaty.org/s/Developing-a-Transparency-Arrangement-for-Intergovernmental-Cooperation-on-Fossil-Fuel-Production.pdf

Chicago

van Asselt, Harro, and Ellycia Harrould-Kolieb. DEVELOPING A TRANSPARENCY ARRANGEMENT FOR INTERGOVERNMENTAL COOPERATION ON FOSSIL FUEL PRODUCTION. Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative, n.d. https://www.fossilfueltreaty.org/s/Developing-a-Transparency-Arrangement-for-Intergovernmental-Cooperation-on-Fossil-Fuel-Production.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=van Asselt |first1=Harro |last2=Harrould-Kolieb |first2=Ellycia |title=DEVELOPING A TRANSPARENCY ARRANGEMENT FOR INTERGOVERNMENTAL COOPERATION ON FOSSIL FUEL PRODUCTION |publisher=Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative |url=https://www.fossilfueltreaty.org/s/Developing-a-Transparency-Arrangement-for-Intergovernmental-Cooperation-on-Fossil-Fuel-Production.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{vanasseltnddeveloping, author = {van Asselt, Harro and Harrould-Kolieb, Ellycia}, title = {{DEVELOPING A TRANSPARENCY ARRANGEMENT FOR INTERGOVERNMENTAL COOPERATION ON FOSSIL FUEL PRODUCTION}}, institution = {Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative}, url = {https://www.fossilfueltreaty.org/s/Developing-a-Transparency-Arrangement-for-Intergovernmental-Cooperation-on-Fossil-Fuel-Production.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }