Synopsis

For the public to have confidence that progress is being made towards national climate goals, countries need to be up front and transparent about reporting on their greenhouse gas emissions. But governments cannot transparently report their emissions on their own: they often need to turn to the private sector to provide essential emissions data. Credible, detailed data is critical because it underpins national climate policies and helps fulfill reporting requirements under the Paris Agreement that other countries depend on.

This paper introduces the concept of a “data loop”— a relationship between governments and the private sector focused on enhancing data sharing, whereby the private sector engages in data reporting and responds to data-reporting arrangements, while governments facilitate mandatory reporting and offer incentives for participation in voluntary systems. Building off the concept of ambition loops, this paper explores how data loops can support opportunities for enhanced climate action. In particular, the paper explores carbon pricing policies and the Science Based Targets initiative to illustrate how they leverage both data and ambition loops together to enhance climate action.. In particular, the paper explores carbon pricing policies and the Science Based Targets initiative to illustrate how they leverage both data and ambition loops together to enhance climate action.

Key Findings

  • Climate change cannot be addressed by governments alone; collaboration between governments and the private sector is necessary. If governments and the public are to understand climate action and progress toward climate goals, transparency of greenhouse gas emissions is critical.
  • The private sector is an important data provider that governments often turn to for information to support climate policies, inform other decision-making processes, and fulfill international requirements under the Paris Agreement.
  • This paper introduces the concept of a “data loop,” a relationship between governments and the private sector focused on enhancing data sharing, whereby the private sector engages in data reporting and responds to data-reporting arrangements, while governments facilitate mandatory reporting and offer incentives for participation in voluntary systems.
  • The paper further explores how the “data loop” is relevant to policymaking and can build upon “ambition loops,” a concept that refers to the feedback cycle between the government and the private sector that can foster more ambitious climate action. The paper highlights examples to leverage the two to accelerate and strengthen climate action.
  • Examples throughout the paper focus on the Asia region, but the lessons can be useful globally to strengthen the relationship between the private sector and governments for enhanced climate action.