Why Strengthening Climate M&E Systems Should be at the Heart of COP30

Ketevan Nozadze leads the Global Evaluation Initiative's Country and Climate Programs.

As countries prepare for the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Belém, the focus is shifting from commitments to delivery. Governments are under increasing pressure to show tangible progress toward the goals of the Paris Agreement, the Global Biodiversity Framework, and the evolving Loss and Damage arrangements. Achieving these goals will depend not only on financial commitments or technological innovation but also on reliable systems for monitoring and evaluation (M&E) and learning. 

M&E systems provide the foundation for accountability and evidence-based decision making. They enable governments and their partners to assess whether climate actions are achieving their intended outcomes, identify where progress is lagging, and determine which approaches deliver the most impact. 

These issues are at the center of the new GEI Working Paper, Evidence for Climate Action: Emerging Insights for Strengthening Climate M&E. The paper examines the state of climate M&E systems around the world and explores how countries can build stronger, more integrated systems that support both learning and action. 

From Reporting to Learning 

The paper argues that effective climate M&E should move beyond reporting to create mechanisms for continuous learning and adaptation. Many countries have made important progress in establishing climate-related data systems, particularly to meet international reporting requirements. However, these systems often operate separately from national planning and budgeting processes. 

The result is that much of the data generated for global reporting is underused domestically. It does not always inform national policy choices or help shape future investment decisions. This limits countries’ ability to learn from experience, identify what works in specific contexts, and use evidence to improve climate strategies. 

A shift from reporting to learning would allow countries to make better use of existing data, promote cross-sector collaboration, and ensure that climate policies remain adaptive and responsive to emerging challenges. 

Key Findings from the Working Paper 

The working paper identifies several important findings that are directly relevant to the discussions expected at COP30, due to take place in Brazil from 10–21 November. 

First, there is a growing recognition that national M&E systems are essential for implementing and tracking progress toward the Paris Agreement goals. Countries that have established dedicated institutional structures for climate M&E are better able to align national plans with global frameworks and to prepare their Biennial Transparency Reports under the Enhanced Transparency Framework. 

Second, data fragmentation remains a major challenge. Climate information is often collected by multiple ministries, agencies, and projects without shared standards or platforms. This limits the ability to generate a comprehensive picture of progress and undermines the quality of evidence available for decision making. 

Third, capacity constraints persist at both institutional and individual levels. Many countries lack sufficient technical expertise, coordination mechanisms, or legal mandates to ensure that climate M&E is systematic, credible, and sustainable. The paper highlights that sustained investment in capacity development is critical to strengthening the foundations of M&E and ensuring its integration with planning and budgeting systems. 

Fourth, the paper identifies emerging good practices showing how countries are beginning to bridge the gap between data production and data use. These examples illustrate the importance of integrated information systems, clear institutional mandates, and inclusive approaches that bring local and indigenous knowledge into national monitoring efforts. 

Finally, the paper stresses that effective M&E systems are central to advancing evidence for climate action. Evidence provides the link between commitments and real-world results. It helps governments evaluate the efficiency of spending, assess the impact of adaptation measures, and identify which interventions deliver equitable and sustainable outcomes. 

Why These Findings Matter for COP30 

The findings are directly relevant to the priorities expected to dominate COP30. As the international community reviews global progress on climate action, countries will need to demonstrate not only what they have achieved but also how they have learned from implementation and how they are adapting their policies accordingly. 

Strong national M&E systems are the foundation for this process. They enable countries to present credible evidence on the outcomes of their climate policies and investments. They also support more strategic use of climate finance by showing where funds are most effective. In this sense, M&E is both an accountability tool and a driver of smarter, more adaptive governance. 

By strengthening national systems for M&E and learning, countries can move from a compliance-based approach to one centered on results, equity, and resilience. This shift is essential for translating the goals of COP30 into concrete action that delivers measurable benefits for people and ecosystems. 

How GEI Supports Countries in This Effort 

GEI works with governments and partners to strengthen national M&E systems, including those focused on climate and environmental action. GEI provides diagnostic tools such as MESA (Monitoring and Evaluation Systems Analysis), supports capacity development, and promotes the exchange of knowledge and good practices across countries. 

Through these efforts, GEI helps build the institutional and human capacities that countries need to generate and use evidence for better climate governance. This support complements the insights of the new working paper by helping translate them into practical action at the country level. 

Building the Evidence Infrastructure for Climate Action 

As countries prepare for COP30, investing in M&E systems is one of the most effective ways to strengthen climate governance. The lessons from Evidence for Climate Action make clear that M&E are not simply reporting mechanisms—they are part of the evidence infrastructure that allows countries to plan better, allocate resources wisely, and respond to a rapidly changing world.  

 Download Evidence for Climate Action: Emerging Insights for Strengthening Climate M&E

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