Nationally determined contributions

Definition

Nationally determined contributions (NDCs) are the pledges made by countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change, as part of the Paris Agreement. These contributions reflect each country's commitment to combat climate change while considering their national circumstances and capabilities. NDCs are crucial for tracking progress towards global climate goals and encourage nations to enhance their efforts over time.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. NDCs are submitted by countries every five years, and they are expected to reflect a progression in ambition over time.
2. Each country's NDC is self-determined, meaning it can set its own targets based on its specific national circumstances and development priorities.
3. NDCs include both mitigation strategies to reduce emissions and adaptation strategies to enhance resilience against climate impacts.
4. As of 2021, many countries have submitted updated NDCs in line with their commitments under the Paris Agreement, but there is still a significant gap between current NDCs and what is required to limit global warming.
5. NDCs play a key role in the transparency framework of the Paris Agreement, requiring countries to report on their progress toward achieving their commitments.

Review Questions

• How do nationally determined contributions reflect the unique circumstances of each country in the global effort to combat climate change?
  • Nationally determined contributions allow countries to tailor their climate action plans based on specific national circumstances, capacities, and priorities. This means that while some nations may focus on reducing emissions through renewable energy initiatives, others may prioritize adaptation strategies due to their vulnerability to climate impacts. By recognizing these differences, NDCs promote a more inclusive approach to global climate action, enabling nations at various levels of development to participate meaningfully.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of nationally determined contributions in achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement.
  • The effectiveness of nationally determined contributions in achieving the Paris Agreement's goals can be assessed through the level of ambition set by countries and their actual progress. While NDCs represent a significant step toward international cooperation on climate change, many current commitments fall short of what is needed to limit global warming. Ongoing assessments show that countries must enhance their NDCs and increase transparency in reporting progress to ensure collective action leads to meaningful reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.
• Synthesize how the implementation of nationally determined contributions interacts with broader strategies for climate adaptation and mitigation worldwide.
  • The implementation of nationally determined contributions plays a critical role in shaping global strategies for both climate adaptation and mitigation. By aligning national policies with global climate targets, countries not only work toward reducing emissions but also address local vulnerabilities through targeted adaptation measures. This dual approach enhances resilience while contributing to overall efforts against climate change. Effective implementation requires collaboration among nations, sectors, and communities to ensure that adaptation strategies complement mitigation efforts and maximize resource efficiency.

Related terms

Paris Agreement: An international treaty adopted in 2015 that aims to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, with a goal of pursuing efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

emission reduction targets: Specific goals set by countries or organizations to decrease the amount of greenhouse gases they emit, often expressed as a percentage reduction from a baseline year.

climate adaptation: The process of adjusting practices, systems, and structures to minimize the damage caused by climate change and to take advantage of any opportunities that arise.