19 November 2012: The UNFCCC published a workshop report on a common tabular format (CTF) for the UNFCCC biennial reporting guidelines for developed country Parties (FCCC/SBSTA/2012/INF.13), which was developed during a workshop organized by the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA).

Participants recognized several guiding principles in developing the CTF, including ensuring transparency and comparability of the reported information while also balancing flexibility and recognizing different national circumstances. The report also provides a summary of the workshop, which was held from 11-12 October 2012 in Bonn, Germany.

The report features sections on workshop proceedings, discussion summaries and conclusions and next steps. The workshop provided an opportunity for participants to advance discussions on a CTF for biennial reporting by developed country Parties. Discussion addressed, inter alia: principles for developing a CTF; requirements for reporting information on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and trends; Parties’ quantified economy-wide emission reduction targets and progress in achieving those targets; emission projections; and provision of financial, technological and capacity-building support to developing countries.

The workshop produced a draft CTF for reporting that is included in the annex to the report. The draft CTF for reporting is based on several guiding principles recognized by participant, inter alia: achieving consistency with reporting guidelines; making use of already reported information on annual GHG inventories and national communication; ensuring clarity and simplicity in the structure. The report is anticipated to serve as an input for SBSTA 37 to further consideration the CTF, without precluding Parties from providing further views on the format’s development. [Workshop Report on a Common Tabular Format for Developed Countries’ Biennial Reporting Guidelines]