This section highlights key graphs from our analysis, outlining the ETC’s positioning on key sustainability topics. Our charts are one of the many ways our thought leadership shapes debate around the complex subject of the energy transition. The infographic below is from our briefing note, NDCs, NCQG, and Financing the Transition: Unlocking Flows for a Net-Zero Future, which reinforces the key messages from our earlier insights briefing Credible Contributions: Bolder Plans for Higher Climate Ambition in the Next Round of NDCs.
What would be in an “ideal” Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC)?
The Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) are a crucial mechanism, established by the Paris Conference, through which countries commit to voluntary national actions to reduce emissions, in line with the global objective of limiting global warming to well below 2°C. Countries are required to submit ratcheted NDCs every five years.
Current NDCs (submitted in 2020, for targets in 2030) put the world on track to overshoot 2°C warming by 2050 even if fully implemented. Increasing ambition in the next round of NDCs (due in 2025, with targets for 2035) is therefore crucial, and is possible because dramatic cost reductions in key technologies (in particular solar PV, wind power and batteries), mean that countries can now make fast progress in reducing emissions while continuing to meet growing demands for affordable energy access and use.
Countries should prioritise delivering high ambition NDCs including:
- Comprehensive coverage of economy-wide targets
- Clear ambition and absolute emissions reductions targets for each sector
- Clear policy framework to support the delivery of economy-wide and sector-specific targets
- Quantified finance needs to deliver conditional and unconditional targets
For international climate finance, NDCs can serve as investment plans and that define the amount of finance required, by when, to deliver on conditional and unconditional targets. Before the next NDC submission deadline in February 2025 is a critical period for governments to develop more ambitious NDCs with strong links between targets and supporting policies at the national level. NDCs can and must help to turn ambition into action.
This infographic is from our 2024 briefing note, NDCs, NCQG, and Financing the Transition: Unlocking Flows for a Net-Zero Future.
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