NDC Revision & Implementation

While the most vulnerable countries – Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) – continue to push for ambitious action on the international level to fight climate change, they are also leading by example, setting ambitious climate targets at home, despite capacity constraints. Building on our long-standing relationships with these countries, we work with their governments on strengthening and implementing their climate plans (Nationally Determined Contributions or NDCs), which are mandated under the Paris Agreement.

Since 2019, six SIDS and LDC governments have selected Climate Analytics to support them in developing and submitting enhanced NDCs for 2020: Benin and Burkina Faso in West Africa; Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada and Saint Lucia in the Caribbean; as well as Nepal. Most of the support to these countries is provided through the IMPACT project. In addition, Climate Analytics is supporting three other activities for Nepal with funding from the Technical Assistance Fund (TAF) of the NDC Partnership.

Each country’s request for support is nationally determined and specific to national needs and context but generally encompasses the following elements:

Extensive and meaningful engagement and consultation of stakeholders to prioritise co-development and ensure country ownership
Tailored national climate policy and sectoral policy analyses
Energy and transportation systems modeling, and science-based assessment of mitigation potential to inform identification of NDC targets
Costing of mitigation options
Development of implementation strategies
Vulnerability and risk assessments
Enhancement of public/stakeholder awareness and engagement
Development of academic tools, workshop trainings, and systems to increase awareness and strengthen capacity
Enhancement of knowledge systems for data management and storage (including Measurement, Reporting and Verification (MRV) systems)
Strengthening of institutional capacity to access climate finance and optimise operational efficiency

This technical assistance has been provided through engagement with the NDC Partnership, as well as through the NDC Support Cluster.

What are NDCs?

Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) are a central element for implementing the Paris Agreement. NDCs are national commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as well as strengthen resilience to the impacts of climate change that governments aim to implement as a contribution to global climate action, while taking into account their domestic circumstances and capabilities. Governments are expected to provide new revisions or updates to their NDCs every five years and have an obligation for each successive NDC to represent a “progression” and “reflect its highest possible ambition”. The first round of updated, stronger NDCs is due in 2020, ahead of the UN Climate Summit COP26 in Glasgow.

SIDS and LDCs have a vital interest in advancing ambitious implementation of the Paris Agreement, compatible with 1.5°C pathways but often lack capacity to develop and implement science-based strategies, to access climate finance or to fully represent their interests at the international level. There are several initiatives aimed at supporting these countries in revising and implementing their NDCs.

IMPACT and the NDC Partnership

The NDC Partnership is a network of countries and institutions aimed at pooling resources and expertise to provide countries with the tools they need to implement their NDCs and combat climate change to build a better future.

Climate Analytics is an NDC Partnership Associate Member, and currently participates in its Climate Action Enhancement Package (CAEP) initiative. Through CAEP, the IMPACT project has been supporting the initiative’s aim to fast-track support to member countries working to increase ambition and implement their NDCs.

To request technical support from Climate Analytics, please reach out to our team members in your region.

Pacific Region –
Caribbean Region –
West Africa –

IMPACT and the NDC Support Cluster

Climate Analytics is also part of the NDC Support Cluster, established in 2015 by the German Ministry of Environment as part of its International Climate Initiative (ICI), with the aim of promoting coordinated consultations and maximising synergies in the partner countries, and between ICI members. Organisations connected with implementing agencies from around the world exchange and cooperate to deliver timely and tailored support to developing countries in the implementation of their NDCs.

Through the NDC Support Cluster, between 2016 and 2020, IMPACT has actively provided additional NDC support in discussions about the best ways to move NDC implementation forward and what is needed for tailored implementation support.