LocationsTransparency and Accountability in the Fight Against Climate Change
February 26, 2026
Transparency and accountability are the foundation of sustainable development, credible climate policy, and the successful continuation of the European integration process, it was stated at a conference organized in Podgorica by the Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Northern Region Development, with financial support from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and implementation support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Montenegro.
The conference, organized within the project “Strengthening Montenegro’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) and Transparency Adaptation Action through the Capacity-Building Initiative for Transparency (CBIT),” brought together representatives of the Government, the European Union, international partners, the expert and academic community, as well as institutions responsible for the collection, processing, and reporting of climate data.
The conference was opened by the Minister Ecology, Sustainable Development and Northern Region Development, Damjan Ćulafić, who emphasized that the completion of the CBIT project does not mark the end of the process, but rather a transition from a phase of project-based support to a phase of systemic and institutionally grounded climate governance. He stressed that reliable and sector-specific climate data are much more than a reporting obligation—they form the basis for public policy-making, investment planning, and strengthening the country’s international credibility, in line with Article 13 of the Paris Agreement and obligations towards the European Union.
The ministerial panel provided an opportunity to consider the role of climate transparency in the process of closing Chapter 27 – Environment and Climate Change. It was particularly emphasized that a high-quality and digitalized MRV-E system (monitoring, reporting, verification, and evaluation) contributes to better investment planning and increased access to international climate funds.
UNDP Resident Representative in Montenegro, Ekaterina Paniklova, highlighted that climate transparency is the foundation of credible governance and a prerequisite for fulfilling Montenegro’s international obligations under the Paris Agreement, as well as for closing Chapter 27 in the EU accession process. She also emphasized that through the CBIT project, Montenegro has transitioned from uncoordinated reporting to a clear and structured system that strengthens institutions, improves data reliability, and increases readiness for the implementation of EU climate instruments. She concluded that UNDP is proud to support this transition, as transparency transforms climate ambition into actionable policies and long-term investment security.
EU Ambassador to Montenegro, Johan Sattler, stressed that climate change is not only an environmental issue, but also affects our health, everyday life, and future—impacting energy, transport, industry, and natural resource management, and shaping the quality of life of every citizen. He underlined that Montenegro’s progress in meeting climate benchmarks is crucial for its European path, as fulfilling the final benchmark represents a decisive step towards EU membership and confirms the country’s readiness to assume the responsibilities of a future member state.
CBIT završna konferencija, publika
The second panel discussion focused on building systems of accountability and transparency in practice. The need for further improvement in the quality and availability of data was highlighted, as well as for clearer interpretation at the national level, so that it can serve as a reliable basis for concrete decision-making and achieving climate neutrality goals.
The third panel, organized at the international level, focused on regional experiences of CBIT projects and the exchange of good practices among Western Balkan countries. It was emphasized that climate change knows no borders, and that regional cooperation, harmonization of methodologies, and knowledge exchange represent important mechanisms for accelerating the development of climate transparency systems.
The conference conclusions emphasized that climate transparency must have a clear application in practice. Reports and data submitted by Montenegro as a signatory to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change achieve their full value only when actively used in budget planning, public policy development, and negotiations on financial support.
Through the implementation of the CBIT project, Montenegro has made significant progress in strengthening institutional, technical, and regulatory capacities for monitoring and reporting in the field of climate change. The event confirmed Montenegro’s commitment to placing climate transparency at the center of public policy, as a key prerequisite for sustainable development, climate neutrality, and the successful closing of Chapter 27 in the EU accession process.
