According to the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy, the new reporting framework is a harmonized protocol for local-scale greenhouse gas reporting that will allow cities and local governments to track their contributions to climate action in a transparent, quantifiable and meaningful way. It is designed to be consistent with national government reporting requirements and the UNFCCC but can be adjusted to local circumstances.

“Making key data available to the public is an important step forward for assessing the collective progress towards the goals of the Paris Agreement,” writes the Global Covenant of Mayors. 

A period of consultation with cities and local stakeholders will begin in early 2018 to refine the standard and ensure it effectively supports local efforts to take action on climate change. As Cities Today reports, it will include key areas that cities tend to be responsible for, such as mobility, buildings, electricity generation and waste. The first group of cities are expected to begin reporting in January 2019.

The new standard was announced last week during the Climate Summit of Local and Regional Leaders at COP23 in Bonn. Speaking at the press conference, Mauricio Rodas, the mayor of Quito and a board member of the Global Covenant of Mayors, said: “Having a standardized methodology will be extremely helpful in terms of transparency, effectiveness and being a tool for local governments to have better access to finance for climate change action.”