“The next round of national climate plans must deliver a dramatic step up in climate action and ambition,” said Simon Stiell, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), as he commented on the release of the 2024 NDC Synthesis Report.

“While these plans are not one-size-fits-all, and are nationally determined, they all need to pass the ABC test:

They must have ambitious new emissions targets that are economy-wide, covering all greenhouse gases, keeping 1.5 degrees alive.

They must be broken down into sectors and gases.

And they must be credible, backed up by substantive regulations, laws, and funding to ensure goals are met and plans implemented. 

New NDCs should also detail adaptation priorities and investments to protect critical sectors, infrastructure and people from climate impacts, and support and align with National Adaptation Plan processes.

They should have a time horizon to 2035, with much stronger 2030 targets to drive the deep emissions cuts needed globally this decade,” the UN climate chief mentioned.

“UN Climate Change – working closely with the wider UN system – is providing a range of practical support, particularly for vulnerable and developing countries, recognizing the severe capacity-constraints and other headwinds that many face.

As these new national climate plans will be among the most important policy documents so far this century, therefore UN Climate Change will deliver a series of events next year to support countries delivery of NDCs and engage the global public in the conversation about their delivery. Further details will be announced at COP29,” he added.