📈 Colombo Climate Workshop: Strengthening Regional Transparency & Agrifood Systems

A high-level regional workshop concluded in Colombo, bringing together representatives from Asia-Pacific and Central Asia to align on climate transparency and agrifood systems ahead of COP31. • Core Objective: Strengthening the Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF) and preparing Biennial Transparency Reports (BTRs) to support evidence-based decision-making and climate finance access. • Sector Focus: Agrifood systems were identified as the central pillar for Sri Lanka’s climate action, balancing food security with low-emission targets. The agriculture sector is being prioritized for its role in livelihoods and rural development. • Institutional Support: The event was hosted by the Ministry of Environment and the FAO, with backing from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and Germany’s BMZ. Sri Lanka is currently enhancing its national transparency via the CBIT (Capacity-Building Initiative for Transparency) project. • Key Innovations: A new FAO initiative was introduced to monitor methane in rice systems using remote sensing, aimed at improving greenhouse gas reporting accuracy. • Strategic Outlook: Participants emphasized that transparency is the foundation for international trust and "investment planning." Roadmaps are being developed to link climate reporting directly to national investment priorities and inclusive governance.