Nationally Determined Contributions

Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) are central to the implementation of the Paris Agreement, an international treaty adopted in 2015 aimed at combating climate change. NDCs embody efforts by each country to reduce national emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change.

Overview

The concept of NDCs was introduced during the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of the Parties (COP) in Paris, France, known as COP21. The Paris Agreement requires all parties to put forward their best efforts through NDCs and to strengthen these efforts in the years ahead. This includes requirements that all parties report regularly on their emissions and their implementation efforts, and undergo international review.

Content of NDCs

NDCs are unique to each country and reflect national circumstances, capabilities, and levels of development. Each NDC contains:

• A target for reducing emissions, which may be absolute or intensity-based.
• Information on adaptation measures.
• Details on the strategies and planning involved in achieving these targets.
• Financial needs or support received to implement the required measures.

Submission and Update Process

Countries are required to submit new or updated NDCs every five years to the UNFCCC. This regular update process is designed to reflect the highest possible ambition and is informed by the global stocktake, a process that assesses collective progress towards achieving the long-term goals of the Paris Agreement.

Challenges and Criticisms

While NDCs are a pivotal mechanism within the Paris Agreement, they have faced criticism:

• **Ambition Gap**: Current NDCs are not sufficient collectively to meet the global temperature goal of keeping the increase in global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels.
• **Implementation**: There is often a significant gap between the pledges in NDCs and the domestic policies implemented to meet these pledges.
• **Transparency and Accountability**: Ensuring that countries follow through with their commitments and accurately report on their progress is a complex challenge.

Global Impact

The collective impact of NDCs is crucial in determining the global community’s success in addressing climate change. Enhanced transparency and increased ambition in future NDC submissions are essential to close the gap between current commitments and the pathways necessary to meet global climate goals.

See Also

• Climate change mitigation
• Climate change adaptation
• Global warming
• United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
• Conference of the Parties