As record temperatures and unprecedented impacts of climate change continue to affect billions of people across the planet, the United Nations and partners have announced a regional meeting aimed at increasing ambition in the next round of climate pledges under the Paris Agreement.
The forum will be held in Kigali, Rwanda, on October 7-9th.
In 2025, countries are required to submit new Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). These plans are known as NDCs 3.0. In these NDCs, countries are encouraged to set 2035 ambitious, economy-wide emission reduction targets that align with limiting global warming to 1.5°C and increase resilience to climate impacts.
“To provide climate justice for all and preserve a livable planet, greenhouse gas emissions must fall dramatically and efforts to adapt to climate impacts must be stepped up,” said Inger Andersen, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). “However, greenhouse gas emissions are not falling, global temperatures are hitting new highs and vulnerable populations are suffering. NDCs 3.0 must match the moment we face and be far more ambitious.”
To help countries shape the next round of their climate pledges under the Paris Agreement, UNEP, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the NDC Partnership, in collaboration with the UNFCCC Secretariat (UN Climate Change), are organizing NDCs 3.0 Regional Fora.
“Parties have agreed to the ratchet mechanism under Paris because it's a powerful tool for progress, and they recognize the importance of staying proactive in the face of climate change,” said Simon Stiell, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
These Fora will be closed-door events, targeting government officials responsible for NDC revisions from all countries in each region. Inclusivity and equal representation will be ensured through the invitation of selected resource spokespeople from youth and other under-represented and marginalized groups
What NDCs 3.0 need to achieve
UNEP’s Emissions Gap Report 2023 found that current NDCs put the world on track for a global temperature rise of 2.5-2.9°C. While emissions are projected to stabilize after 2030, they still don't decline rapidly enough to meet scientific targets, according to the 2023 NDC Synthesis Report. For a 1.5°C pathway, reductions to global greenhouse gas emissions of 42 per cent are needed by 2030.
Meanwhile, UNEP’s Adaptation Gap Report 2023 found that the adaptation finance gap is US$194-366 billion per year. Urgent country-driven adaptation, backed by appropriate finance, is urgently needed. The Fora will use insights from COP28 and the Global Stocktake to focus on mitigation options, adaptation solutions and inclusion of super pollutants (short-lived non-CO2 pollutants), such as methane and black carbon in the NDCs.
Climate change is also a major driver of nature and biodiversity loss, with nature loss driving climate change. The sources of climate change are often the same as the sources of pollution and waste, hence the crises are interlinked and the solutions should be integrated.
The Fora will then encourage countries to consider the co-benefits of climate action and share examples of how to align climate targets with other international commitments on nature, pollution and sustainable development in their NDCs.
NDCs 3.0 Regional Fora will be organized in collaboration with other partners, including the UNEP-convened Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC), the United Nations REDD programme, and the German Development Cooperation (GIZ).