Colombo workshop concludes with renewed regional momentum on local weather transparency, agrifood techniques, and COP31 engagement
2 April 2026, Colombo – A regional workshop on enhanced transparency and cooperation for local weather motion concluded in Colombo, bringing collectively representatives from international locations throughout Asia and the Pacific and Central Asia to strengthen collaboration on local weather transparency, agrifood techniques transformation and engagement within the lead-up to COP31.
Held from 11 to 13 March 2026, the workshop convened authorities representatives, technical consultants, farmers’ organizations, growth companions and regional establishments for 3 days of technical change and dialogue. Discussions targeted on advancing implementation of nationally decided contributions (NDCs), strengthening transparency techniques below the Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF), and enhancing coordination in worldwide local weather processes.
Members emphasised the significance of strong nationwide transparency techniques not just for assembly reporting necessities, together with Biennial Transparency Experiences (BTRs), but additionally for supporting evidence-based decision-making, strengthening funding planning and enhancing credibility in local weather motion.
A key final result of the workshop was the popularity of agrifood techniques as central to local weather motion. Members highlighted their essential position in addressing local weather change whereas contributing to meals safety, livelihoods and rural growth. The necessity for built-in insurance policies linking local weather motion with commerce, funding and inclusive governance was underscored, alongside the position of farmers’ organizations and cooperatives as key companions in advancing climate-resilient and low-emission agrifood techniques.
The workshop was hosted by the Ministry of Surroundings of Sri Lanka and arranged by the Meals and Agriculture Group of the United Nations (FAO). It additionally highlighted Sri Lanka’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its nationwide transparency system with assist from the World Surroundings Facility (GEF) by way of the Capability-Constructing Initiative for Transparency (CBIT).
Extra assist was supplied by way of FAO-implemented initiatives, together with the GEF-funded CBIT-AFOLU+ mission and the IMP-ACT 2030 mission, funded by the German Federal Ministry for Financial Cooperation and Growth (BMZ), which assist international locations in advancing transparency and local weather motion in agrifood techniques.
Opening the workshop, Secretary to the Ministry of Surroundings, Okay.R. Uduwawala, underscored the significance of transparency in local weather cooperation: “Transparency will not be merely a reporting requirement, however it’s the basis of belief, accountability, and efficient cooperation. By overtly sharing our progress, challenges, and improvements, we empower each other to behave with better confidence and ambition.”
FAO Consultant for Sri Lanka, Vimlendra Sharan, highlighted the broader worth of transparency techniques: “Sturdy transparency techniques allow international locations to observe progress towards their NDC targets, determine implementation gaps, strengthen entry to local weather finance, and improve credibility in worldwide negotiations. Transparency helps to strengthen coordination amongst nationwide establishments and assist evidence-based decision-making for local weather coverage.”
Representing BMZ, Anna Berg emphasised the urgency of advancing agriculture in local weather negotiations: “Your farmers are already dwelling with the implications of a altering local weather. Your negotiators should be certain that this actuality is heard, and acted upon, in each room the place local weather selections are made.”
All through the workshop, members shared experiences on BTR preparation, institutional coordination, greenhouse gasoline inventories, NDC monitoring and adaptation reporting. Discussions highlighted frequent challenges and alternatives for strengthening nationwide techniques and regional collaboration.
The workshop additionally strengthened the worth of South–South and interregional cooperation. Members recognized alternatives to speed up studying, strengthen cross-sectoral coordination and improve linkages between transparency techniques and NDC implementation.
Discussions on the ultimate day targeted on strengthening regional engagement within the United Nations Framework Conference on Local weather Change (UNFCCC) course of, together with priorities associated to COP31 and the significance of coordinated regional positions on agrifood techniques.
The workshop additionally launched a brand new FAO initiative, supported by the Local weather and Clear Air Coalition, to boost methane monitoring in rice techniques utilizing distant sensing applied sciences. The initiative, linked to pilot actions in Viet Nam and Cambodia, goals to strengthen greenhouse gasoline reporting and assist mitigation efforts within the agriculture sector.
Members recognized a number of follow-up actions, together with strengthening regional collaboration on transparency, creating roadmaps linking NDC implementation with ETF reporting and funding priorities, enhancing capability growth efforts, and contributing to regional inputs for COP31.
The workshop can also be anticipated to tell a regional information product on experiences in implementing NDCs and transparency in agrifood techniques.
