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Climate Transparency: Data, institutions and evaluation to meet the Paris Agreement

Posted on 14/10/2025 by Natalia Aquilino
Natalia

The construction of solid data frameworks for monitoring greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and climate actions has become a strategic challenge for countries in Latin America. 

The construction of solid data frameworks for monitoring greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and climate actions has become a strategic challenge for countries in Latin America. Recent experiences in Argentina, Costa Rica and Chile show that having robust and comparable information is not only a requirement of the Paris Agreement, but also a condition for guiding more effective public policies and building trust within the international community. However, in the region, consolidating these systems involves overcoming obstacles related to data quality, resource availability and institutional coordination.

Argentina: sustainability depends on institutional continuity. A key lesson is that measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) systems cannot be sustained on technical foundations alone; they require a stable institutional framework with adaptive capacity. In Argentina, frequent turnover of technical teams and changes in government affected the continuity of processes, showcasing that the sustainability of the developments depends on institutional memory and on having legal frameworks and inter-ministerial agreements beyond political sways.

Chile: a robust inventory as a visible result. The case of Chile illustrates a different challenge and outcome. There, the transparency strengthening project enabled the consolidation of a national emissions inventory with more consistent methodologies, aligned with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) standards. This achievement is considered the most visible outcome of the process. It was possible despite obstacles such as fragmented responsibilities across ministries and the need to modernize sectoral information flows. The Chilean experience shows that even in complex institutional contexts, a clear objective improving the quality of the national inventory can mobilize resources and build consensus to strengthen climate transparency.

Costa Rica: transparency is strengthened through participation. At the same time, these projects reveal opportunities. Costa Rica succeeded in positioning its National Climate Change Metrics System (SINAMECC) as an integrative platform that links sectoral data and allows different actors from ministries to civil society to access and use the information. This openness facilitates collaboration, broadens the use of data, and strengthens the legitimacy of climate policies. The Costa Rica case demonstrates that transparency also relies on participation and the engagement of diverse actors in the production and validation of information.

Capacity building multiplies impacts and ensures continuity. Another key aspect is capacity building. In all three countries, investments were made in technical training of officials, methodological development and creation of digital tools. These initiatives show that capacity building has multiplier effects: trained professionals move to other institutions, taking with them skills and practices that raise the overall standard of reporting and climate planning systems. In federal contexts —such as Argentina´s— the early involvement of provincial governments was essential for improving the quality and consistency of subnational information.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Evaluation turns transparency into action. Finally, the evaluation of these developments stands as a valuable tool to improve transparency frameworks. By analysing achievements, bottlenecks and sustainability, evaluations provide critical inputs to adjust systems and ensure they fulfil their purpose: to report on climate action developments and challenges clearly and rigorously. The broader lesson is that transparency is not an end, but a means to strengthening accountability, informing decision-making and, ultimately, advancing the fulfilment of global climate commitments.

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