Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)

What is an NDC?

A Nationally Determined Contribution (or NDC) is a climate action plan outlining how a country intends to achieve the goals of the Paris climate agreement. An NDC includes targets for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to the impacts of climate change; a plan for how to reach these targets; systems to measure progress; and a plan for financing this.

Parties to the Paris Agreement develop their NDC and submit it to the UNFCCC (the UN’s body for addressing climate change) every 5 years. It is required that each NDC should be more ambitious than the last to ensure countries are making tangible progress toward the Paris agreement goals. 

NDCs are crucial to keeping global surface temperature well below 2° C above pre-industrial levels, and preferably 1.5° C, ensuring a livable planet for future generations.

Key Terms:

• Long Term Goal of the Paris Agreement
  The Paris Agreement's ultimate goal is to limit global warming to well below 2°C, and ideally to 1.5°C, compared to pre-industrial levels. This is to prevent the worst impacts of climate change, such as rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and food shortages

• Emission Reduction Targets
  Emission reduction targets are commitments made by countries to cut greenhouse gas emissions. Think of it as setting a goal to reduce your carbon footprint. For example, the European Union aims to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels. Source: European Union. “2030 Climate Targets.” European Commission, August 7,2024

• Adaptation Goals
  These are strategies designed to help communities, regions, or countries prepare and adjust to the changing climate. These plans identify potential climate risks, like rising sea levels, extreme weather events, or droughts, and develop actions to reduce their harm.

• Tracking an NDC’s Progress
  This involves measuring emissions, assessing climate impacts, and evaluating climate actions. This data is shared globally to ensure transparency and accountability.

• Updated NDCs
  By 2025, countries should submit new and more ambitious NDCs. These plans must be bolder than past efforts since they will guide actions for the next ten years. A crucial period to increase ambition and speed up actions to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement.

Resources for Further Learning:

•  UNFCCC. "The Paris Agreement and NDCs." United Nations Climate Change, 2024
  

• UN. "All about the NDCs." United Nations Climate Action, 2024.

• NDC Partnership. "NDC 3.0 Navigator." NDC Partnership, UN Climate Change, 2024.

• Climate Promise. "What are NDCs and how do they drive climate action?" United Nations Development Programme, 2024.

• UNFCCC. “The Paris Agreement.” United Nations Climate Change, UN Climate Change, 2024.