Strategic Synapse

What Are NDCs? NDCs, or Nationally Determined Contributions, are the beating heart of the Paris Agreement. They represent each country’s self-defined plan for tackling climate change - both by cutting greenhouse gas emissions (mitigation) and by preparing for climate impacts (adaptation). Unlike top-down treaties of the past, NDCs are designed to be nationally determined. Each country sets its own goals in line with its capacities, development priorities, and resources. This flexibility is what made the Paris Agreement possible: nearly every nation on Earth joined, from the largest economies to the smallest island states. Why NDCs Matter The Paris Agreement’s central aim is to limit global warming to well below 2°C, and ideally to 1.5°C, compared to pre-industrial levels. To achieve this, global greenhouse gas emissions must peak as soon as possible and then decline rapidly, reaching a balance between emissions and removals (such as forests or carbon capture technologi...