NDC Partnership High-Level Event - Leveraging the NDC Partnership's Model to Accelerate Ambitious Climate Action

Incorporating ambitious climate goals in Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and translating those ambitions into action are fundamental to the climate fight and constitute core elements of the Paris Agreement. Uniquely positioned as an enabler of those ambitions, the NDC Partnership, now with 230 members, has for eight years facilitated collaborative, collective support for countries to develop their NDCs in alignment with their national priorities and capacities.

At this side event, the NDC Partnership gathered together its partners and key policymakers to reflect on what it has achieved and to look forward to the next round of NDCs, due in 2025.

Pablo Vieira, Global Director, NDC Partnership, moderated the event and welcomed the Partnership’s “champions,” who offered their perspectives on the necessity and challenges for realizing ambitious NDCs and delivering long-term social and economic transformation in the climate fight.

Simon Stiell, Executive Secretary, UNFCCC Secretariat, delivered the keynote address, calling the next round of NDCs the “final barricade for every nation in its fight to the death against climate impacts” that are intensifying each year. Stiell underscored that the economic damage from climate change is costing countries up to 5% of their Gross Domestic Product and is driving people into hunger and poverty. He also pointed to hopeful signs, including the booming clean energy “juggernaut” and the NDC Partnership’s help to make the benefits of climate action achievable for everyone. He pointed to support from the UN’s Climate Plan Campaign, announced at COP 29, and urged NDC Partnership members to reaffirm and strengthen their commitments to “show the world that transformational NDCs are not optional; they are opportunities no country can miss.”

Faustin Munyazikwiye, Deputy Director-General for Environment Management Authority, Rwanda, highlighted the united strength of the NDC Partnership, which offers a “robust platform of knowledge and commitment.” Munyazikwiye urged doubling down on the Partnership’s model of coordinated country support, as each country faces unique challenges and requires tailored responses. He emphasized that closing gaps in implementation, finance, and ambition requires “staying steadfast in country ownership” and continuing support for each country’s pathway to sustainable climate action.

Ed Miliband, Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, UK, highlighted the two “truths” which he said were “competing” at COP 29: the clean energy transition is unstoppable but is not moving fast enough. Miliband emphasized that the Partnership has a crucial role to play in addressing that second truth and affirmed that the UK is providing GBP 25 million to support the Partnership and 40 countries to deliver ambitious NDCs. Miliband noted that finance is a precondition for ambitious NDCs, but that the converse also is true: ambitious NDCs can send clear signals to investors that there is a roadmap for moving forward, providing a framework for people to link finance and ambition.

Lars Aagaard, Minister of Climate, Energy and Utilities, Denmark, urged focusing on the appropriate ambitions and making sure there are plans in place to translate them into action. Developing a roadmap is key, which Aagaard noted Denmark has done by securing plans and agreements on renewable energy and carbon taxes in its push for deep emission reductions by 2030. Aagaard underscored that Denmark expects to deliver an additional USD 5 million for the Partnership.

Noelle O'Brien, Director, Climate Change, Climate Change and Sustainable Development Department, Asian Development Bank (ADB), underscored how multilateral development banks (MDBs) are delivering support at multiple points in finance streams: upstream by building capacity; midstream by strengthening institutional links and integrating the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into national plans; and downstream in shifting public and private sector pipelines to create enabling environments. She emphasized the need for flexible finance aimed at resilience and inclusivity and pointed out that MDBs aim to deliver USD 100 billion annually in climate finance for low- and middle-income countries by 2030.

Jochen Flasbarth, State Secretary, Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, Germany, emphasized that the NDC Partnership is helping its members learn from each other. Flasbarth affirmed that Germany will provide another EUR 38 million for the Partnership.

Trigg Talley, Senior Advisor to the Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, US, underscored the benefits that the US has derived from the Partnership, including fostering a demand-driven perspective on engagement with other countries on their support needs. He noted that the US has met its goal of providing developing countries USD 3 billion a year for adaptation, which is both right and “profoundly” in the country’s interest. As the US goes through a change in presidential administrations, Talley said he hopes the US will continue working closely with the Partnership.

Wampie Libon, Ambassador of Sustainable Development and Director of Inclusive Green Growth, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Netherlands, noted the Partnership’s pivotal role in connecting demand and support to create climate action on the ground. Libon reaffirmed the Netherland’s continued provision of expertise, particularly in the areas of food and water, and its continuing support for implementing NDC commitments.

Francesco La Camera, Director-General, International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), reaffirmed IRENA’s commitment to working with the Partnership by helping to link NDCs and national planning, particularly connecting them to energy planning. He urged ensuring a “full cycle” approach that both develops plans and on-the-ground projects that put those plans into action.

Douty Chibamba, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Green Economy and Environment, Zambia, underscored his country’s commitment to driving ambitious climate action through domestic policies and planning and in collaboration with the NDC Partnership to align goals with building capacity and attracting finance. He called on all Partnership members to strengthen collective efforts to close financing gaps in current NDCs.

Jennifer Sara, Global Director, Climate Change Global Practice, World Bank Group, highlighted the World Bank’s work to help countries consider long-term transformation at the same time as they work on their near-term NDCs. She underscored guiding principles, including embedding climate action in long-term development plans, looking at how to make climate investments fiscally responsible, and crowding in private investments.

Marcos Neto, Assistant Secretary General, Assistant Administrator and Director, Bureau for Policy and Program Support, UN Development Programme (UNDP), emphasized that UNDP and the entire UN system are ready to stand with the NDC Partnership. Neto highlighted the Partnership’s role in delivering tailored, actionable support that is embedded in national priorities.

Closing the event, Liliam Chagas, Director for Climate, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Brazil, highlighted Brazil’s early delivery of its NDC, which constitutes a pathway to reach its targets. She noted that this positions the NDC as “an investment plan” that will help develop a green economy. Chagas stressed the need to emphasize “support, finance, and implementation in developing countries.”

Organizer: NDC Partnership

Contact: Caity Pinkard | Caitlin.Pinkard@ndcpartnership.org

Website: https://www.ndcpartnership.org/