From Vision to Action: Accelerating NDC Ambition and Implementation at Scale

Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), now in their third cycle, are essential for raising ambitions in the climate fight, but it is imperative that countries transform their climate pledges into climate actions. To date the NDC Partnership has supported more than 100 developing countries in the implementation of their NDCs, a collective effort in the spirit of “mutirão,” helping to keep hope alive for limiting global temperature rise to 1.5°C. 

This high-level event, hosted by the Governments of Brazil and Denmark as Co-Chairs of the NDC Partnership, showcased tangible examples of NDCs in action. They called for increasing the focus on implementation, which requires the collective effort of development and implementation partners to provide technical assistance, capacity building, and climate finance.

Moderated by Pablo Vieira, Global Director, NDC Partnership, the event’s opening segment highlighted the NDC Partnership as a platform for solidarity, growth and transformation. Vieira emphasized that the new NDC Partnership 2026-2030 Work Program focuses on implementation and will be powered by collaboration.

Opening the segment, Aloisio Lopes Pereira de Melo Cargo, National Secretary for Climate Change, Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change, Brazil, speaking on behalf of Brazil as incoming Co-Chair of the NDC Partnership, noted that the samaúma tree depicted in the Brazil Pavilion, which hosted the event, is an important reminder that in the Amazon Forest, a tree is never alone but is connected with other trees and the surrounding ecosystem. “This is the spirit we have of working together,” he stressed, adding that facing the climate emergency requires improving processes, but that “transformation” is the key word guiding policy reforms. He welcomed hearing the experiences of partners “that will inspire us to move forward in delivering commitments we have in our NDCs.”

Reflecting on Denmark’s two years of co-chairing the NDC Partnership, Lars Aagaard, Minister for Climate, Energy, and Utilities, Denmark, underscored that the Partnership is not only about common effort; it also helps individual countries learn how to take action on mitigation and designing energy systems that are not dependent on fossil fuels. “That is the core of the NDC Partnership,” he said, “not to mandate but to share knowledge on what is easy and what is difficult.” 

Chris Bowen, Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Australia and incoming Co-Chair of the NDC Partnership, emphasized the importance of hitting “the sweet spot” with NDCs, that is being both ambitious and achievable. “If it is not achievable, it is not believable,” he said, and it will fail to drive investment.

Following the opening segment, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom announced new financial contributions to the NDC Partnership. Noting the Netherlands is implementing action on water, food, and energy and that the NDC Partnership is crucial as a “catalyst” for action, HRH Prince Jaime de Bourbon de Parme, Climate Envoy of the Netherlands, announced an additional EUR 10 million for accelerating action at the nexus of water, food, and climate. Jennifer Smookler, Deputy Director for International Trade, Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, UK, emphasized that NDCs send crucial signals to investors and are central to the UK’s domestic growth agenda. She announced GBP 15 million in initial funding to support NDC implementation.

Following these announcements, ministers joined a panel moderated by Mariana Panuncio-Feldman, Country Engagement Director, NDC Partnership Support Unit, to share their experiences with the Partnership.

Mike Mposha, Minister of Green Economy and Environment, Zambia, described how, working with the Partnership, Zambia has expanded its NDCs to encompass 10 sectors, up from three sectors in 2016. Mposha stressed that Zambia is facing fiscal constraints due to an electricity deficit related to climate-fueled drought in addition to debt distress. He said Zambia is ready to do more with NDC Partnership support and that project preparation and developing bankable proposals are key priorities. 

Roger Baro, Minister of Environment, Water and Sanitation, Burkina Faso, underscored how NDCs are now a national priority framework and that Burkina Faso’s approach to revising its NDCs has been to strengthen participation and inclusivity. Baro noted the NDC Partnership has provided training and capacity building and “now we need to mobilize resources to invest for communities.”

Sivendra Michael, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Fiji, provided an overview of the development of Fiji’s NDCs, which originally included a mix of adaptation and mitigation targets. The third generation of NDCs brings in loss and damage, he noted. Michael thanked the Partnership for helping obtain data and said that going forward it is essential to mobilize resources and to develop a costed implementation plan to track the conversation around finance and coordinated action.

Philipp Behrens, Head of Division, International Climate Initiative, Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE), Germany, emphasized that “now is the time for implementation.” He noted the Partnership is a “precious, powerful tool” that brings an exceptional level of expertise to the table. Behrens stressed that while trust in multilateralism is decreasing, the Partnership “is proving that working together is better than bilaterally or individually.”

In concluding remarks, Daniele Violetti, Senior Director of Programmes Coordination, UNFCCC Secretariat, underscored that this event affirms that the transition from implementation to action is underway. While “the road is difficult,” Violetti emphasized the importance of looking ahead "in a positive way” to overcome finance gaps. He called the NDC Partnership the “cornerstone of multilateral cooperation” and said it will be more important than ever as the new round of NDCs are implemented.

Organizers: NDC Partnership

Contact: Caity Pinkard I [email protected]

Website: https://ndcpartnership.org