The NDC Partnership has released a report on advances in countries’ climate ambition during 2020, which was the first milestone in the five-year cycle of the Paris Agreement on climate change. By 2020 countries were expected to submit an enhanced version of their 2015 Nationally Determined Contribution to the aims of the Paris Agreement.

The NDC Partnership supports countries to mobilize governments and societies behind their shared plan for climate action. In the report, the head of the secretariat for the Partnership – Pablo Vieira, Global Director, NDC Partnership Support Unit – writes that many countries presented revised NDCs that reflect greater ambition. However, overall efforts “remain far below those demanded by the Paris Agreement,” and countries will face rising temperatures “for the foreseeable future.”

Ministers from Costa Rica and the Netherlands served as co-chairs of the Partnership for 2019-2020. In their foreword to the report, the co-chairs add to Vieira’s cautionary note, reporting that climate finance is still short of the USD 100 billion needed each year, and far below the levels needed. At the same time, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic may make it even more difficult to generate political attention and financial capital.

However, the co-chairs report that they see countries willing to lead, international partners are responding with commitment and flexibility, and visions are emerging for rebuilding economies in ways that combine inclusive development with a safer climate.

According to the report, three themes feature in many countries’ requests for NDC support: mainstreaming climate action into sustainable development; financing climate action; and enhancing NDC quality and raising ambition. On mainstreaming, the report notes that embedding NDCs into countries’ decision-making processes is a powerful tool for change, and has taken on new dimensions amid the pandemic. Of the 74 countries where the Partnership is active, 53 have requested support to work on inclusive growth, in particular by improving social inclusion and reducing inequalities. The authors argue that these requests reflect “growing recognition of the links between climate change and social inclusion.” The approach also means that a broader range of sectoral ministries and stakeholders are being involved in climate action.

On climate finance, the report finds this to be the most frequently requested area of support among NDC Partnership countries. Governments have welcomed “embedded economic advisors” who can provide targeted support for ministries of finance or planning. The top areas of need for financing climate action include: assessing the climate impacts of a country’s macroeconomic situation; costing the NDCs; stimulating green growth, and applying global recommendations to the national context.

On enhancing NDCs, the report provides examples of country approaches driving climate action and enhanced ambition over the past three years. [Publication: Partnership in Action 2020: Keeping Ambition Alive] [UNFCCC NDC registry]