The United Nations Climate Change has launched the Net-Zero Recognition Framework (NZRF) at COP31 to recognise climate leadership by non-state actors and strengthen transparency around their diverse net-zero journeys.

The framework promotes transparency by making information about the net-zero commitments of businesses, financial institutions, cities, regions and other non-State actors, the criteria underpinning them and the progress they have made towards their goals publicly accessible.

UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell said the framework has moved from a pilot phase to full implementation, allowing companies, financial institutions, cities, regions and other organisations to share their plans and report progress through the renewed NAZCA portal.

The framework recognises five levels of progress towards net zero, ranging from public commitments and transition plans to demonstrated progress, meeting interim targets and achieving net-zero goals.

Eight eligible net-zero initiatives are participating in the framework’s initial phase, with 78 signatories opting in during the two months before COP31. The participants include subnational governments representing more than 65 million people, as well as companies and organisations operating across 22 countries and various sectors.

The UN Climate Change Secretariat encouraged eligible climate initiatives to apply for recognition under the framework, while their signatories were invited to opt in and participate