ANTALYA, November 12, 2026 – The United Nations Climate Change Secretariat has launched a new framework to recognise climate leadership among non-State actors and improve transparency in reporting progress towards net-zero emissions.
The Net-Zero Recognition Framework [NZRF], launched on Thursday at the 31st Conference of the Parties [COP31] in Antalya, Türkiye, provides a voluntary platform for businesses, financial institutions, cities, regions and other non-State actors to disclose their net-zero commitments, the standards underpinning them and progress towards achieving their targets.
The framework follows a year-long pilot phase and is intended to strengthen accountability and provide reliable information on climate action across the real economy.
Through the Non-State Actor Zone for Climate Action [NAZCA] portal, the UN Climate Change Secretariat’s global platform for non-State climate action established in 2014, participating initiatives and their signatories that opt in can make information about their commitments and progress publicly available.
UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell said the framework had moved from its pilot phase to full implementation, providing organisations with an opportunity to share their climate transition plans and report on progress.
“The UN Climate Change Net-zero Recognition Framework is an important transparency tool and, today, it moves from pilot to implementation. Through our renewed NAZCA portal, companies, financial institutions, cities, regions and more will be able to share their plans and report on progress,” Stiell said.
The framework was developed following expert recommendations and stakeholder consultations, which highlighted the need for more data and greater transparency in non-State climate action.
In its initial phase, eight eligible net-zero initiatives are participating, with 78 signatories having opted into the framework during the two months preceding COP31.
The participants include subnational governments representing more than 65 million people, as well as companies and organisations operating in 22 countries, some with operations in more than 100 countries.
They represent various sectors, including fashion, wine, sports and small and medium-sized enterprises, providing a broad range of experiences in pursuing net-zero targets.
The NZRF assesses progress through five levels: public commitments, transition plans, demonstrated progress, achievement of interim targets and attainment of net-zero goals.
UN Climate Change Transparency Director Xuehong Wang said making climate commitments and progress publicly accessible was essential to demonstrating leadership and accelerating the global transition to net-zero emissions.
“By making their net-zero journeys transparent, the initiatives taking part in the NZRF are showing vital leadership. This is entirely in the interests of those entities, as the global transition gathers pace and scale, as well as vital for overcoming the global climate crisis,” Wang said.
She added that sharing progress would help identify implementation gaps, encourage credible climate action and provide a stronger evidence base for planning and investment.
“By sharing their progress, these initiatives can help raise the bar for credible net-zero action, encourage others across the real economy to follow suit, and turn transparency into a driver of further progress by building a stronger evidence base for better planning and investment,” she said.
With the framework now entering full implementation, relevant climate initiatives are being encouraged to apply for recognition as eligible net-zero initiatives, while their signatories can opt in to participate.
Details of the eligibility requirements and application process are available at https://unfccc.int/NZRF.
COP31 is expected to provide an opportunity to expand participation in the framework by bringing more organisations on board and encouraging transparency in their net-zero commitments and progress.
https://thecooperator.news/cop31-leaders-push-global-electrification-drive-to-35-percent-by-2035/
Buy your copy of thecooperator magazine from one of our country-wide vending points or an e-copy on emag.thecooperator.news
