FAQ: Adaptation in Biennial Transparency Reports

The document explains the role of the Biennial Transparency Report (BTR) within the Paris Agreement's Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF). While BTR submission is mandatory for most countries by December 31, 2024, the adaptation chapter (A-BTR) is optional. The guide details how countries can use the A-BTR to satisfy other reporting requirements, such as Adaptation Communications (AdCom) and National Communications (NC), and how to leverage existing NAP data and processes to reduce reporting burdens through cross-referencing and synthesis.

• The Biennial Transparency Report (BTR) is the primary reporting tool for the Paris Agreement's Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF), designed to build trust and track progress on mitigation, adaptation, and support.
• Most Parties to the Paris Agreement must submit their first BTR by December 31, 2024, and every two years thereafter, though small island developing states (SIDS) and least developed countries (LDCs) may do so at their discretion.
• Reporting on climate change impacts and adaptation (the A-BTR) is optional, but encouraged to support the Global Stocktake's assessment of the Global Goal on Adaptation and to communicate financial and technological needs.
• Countries can reduce reporting burdens by using the A-BTR as a vehicle for their Adaptation Communication (AdCom) or by combining the BTR and National Communication (NC) in years when reporting cycles overlap, starting in 2026 for some.
• The A-BTR is not subject to the mandatory Technical Expert Review (TER) that applies to other BTR chapters, but Parties can request a voluntary review to identify capacity-building needs and improvements.
• To avoid duplication of effort, countries are permitted to cross-reference existing documents in the A-BTR, such as NAPs, AdComs, and previous NCs, focusing only on updates.
• National Adaptation Plan (NAP) processes provide critical data for the A-BTR, including vulnerability assessments, institutional arrangements, and monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) systems.
• Countries that have not yet finalized a formal NAP document can still use intermediate outputs—such as roadmaps, frameworks, or risk assessments—to inform their BTR reporting.

APA

noauthor (2023). FAQ: Adaptation in Biennial Transparency Reports. NAP Global Network. https://napglobalnetwork.org/2023/09/faq-adaptation-in-biennial-transparency-reports/

Chicago

noauthor. FAQ: Adaptation in Biennial Transparency Reports. NAP Global Network, 2023. https://napglobalnetwork.org/2023/09/faq-adaptation-in-biennial-transparency-reports/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=noauthor |title=FAQ: Adaptation in Biennial Transparency Reports |publisher=NAP Global Network |date=27 September 2023 |url=https://napglobalnetwork.org/2023/09/faq-adaptation-in-biennial-transparency-reports/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{noauthor2023faq, author = {noauthor}, title = {{FAQ: Adaptation in Biennial Transparency Reports}}, institution = {NAP Global Network}, year = {2023}, month = sep, url = {https://napglobalnetwork.org/2023/09/faq-adaptation-in-biennial-transparency-reports/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }