Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs): A Comprehensive Guide

What are NDCs?

Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) are climate action plans to cut emissions and adapt to climate impacts. Each country that is a party to the Paris Agreement is required to submit an NDC, and to update it every five years. NDCs are at the heart of the Paris Agreement, and they are essential in limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels.

How and when were NDCs formed?

NDCs were first introduced in the Paris Agreement, which was adopted in 2015. The Paris Agreement is a legally binding international treaty that sets out a framework for global climate action. Signed by 196 countries, the agreement requires parties to take steps to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and to adapt to the impacts of climate change.

Which UN body or framework are NDCs overseen by?

NDCs are overseen by the UN Climate Change (UNFCCC). The UNFCCC is the main international forum for negotiating and implementing climate change agreements. It has 198 member countries, including all the world's major economies and has facilitated landmark climate agreements including both the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement.

How are NDCs compiled?

Because countries have different circumstances, resources and abilities, the Paris Agreement was designed so each nation can define its NDCs on an individual basis. Countries are required to submit their NDCs to the UNFCCC every 5 years, where they are published on a public registry. The UNFCCC also provides support to countries to help them develop and implement their NDCs.

Since NDCs are governmental obligations, national ministers usually lead their development. To be most effectively implemented, NDCs need to be widely understood and utilised by all stakeholders in the country, hence a variety of influential constituencies are usually consulted during their creation.

What's included in NDCs?

NDCs typically include the following information:

Mitigation targets: These are targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Mitigation targets can be expressed in absolute terms (e.g. reducing emissions by 50% by 2030) or in relative terms (e.g. reducing emissions per unit of GDP by 25% by 2030).

Adaptation measures: These are measures to help countries adapt to the impacts of climate change. Adaptation measures can include things like building seawalls to protect coastal communities from flooding or developing drought-resistant crops.

Financial needs: Countries may also include information about their financial needs for implementing their NDCs. This information can be used to mobilise financial support from developed countries to developing countries.

What legal basis do NDCs have?

NDCs are not legally binding in the same way the Paris Agreement is since this is an international treaty. While parties are legally obligated to have an NDC, and to pursue measures with the aim of achieving it, fulfilment of the NDC is not a legally binding or enforceable commitment. However, countries are expected to take their NDCs seriously and to make every effort to achieve their targets.

Many countries that are part of the Paris Agreement have subsequently passed legislation on net-zero targets, which commit their nation to lowering emissions by law. NDCs serve as the basis of many state level laws that have passed; as of last year, the EU alongside 33 other countries had bound net-zero targets, either in law or in a policy document.?

What happens if NDCs are not met?

If countries do not meet their NDCs, it will make it much more difficult to limit global warming to 1.5C. Formally, the official consequence of missing NDC targets results in a meeting with a global committee of neutral researchers who will work with failing members to create new, more achievable plans.

It is important to note that NDCs are just the first step in the process of achieving the Paris Agreement goals. Countries will need to continue to update and strengthen their NDCs over time to achieve the necessary emissions reductions.

COP28 and NDCs

COP28 UAE is an important opportunity for countries to review their NDCs and to make sure they are aligned with the latest science and the Paris Agreement goals. States are expected to come to COP28 with new and updated NDCs that reflect their ambition to reduce emissions and to adapt to climate change. Starting this year, and then repeating every five years, governments will take stock of the implementation of the Agreement to assess the collective progress. Countries will also discuss how to support developing nations in implementing and delivering their NDCs. This includes providing financial support, technology transfer and capacity building.