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ENHANCING NDCS:
A GUIDE TO
STRENGTHENING
NATIONAL CLIMATE
PLANS BY 2020
WRI.ORG | NDCS.UNDP.ORG
Enhancing NDCs: A Guide to Strengthening National Climate Plans by 2020 i
ABOUT THE AUTHORS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Taryn Fransen is a Senior Fellow in the We would like to thank the following individuals and institutions for reviewing an earlier
Global Climate Program at the World draft of this document: Felicity Morrison, Department for Business, Energy and Industrial
Resources Institute. Strategy, United Kingdom; Ma. Corazon H. Dichosa, Department of Trade and Industry,
Philippines; Cyril Loisel, European Commission; Ron Benioff, LEDS Global Partnership;
Contact: taryn.fransen@wri.org Nedal Katbeh-Bader, Minister’s Advisor for Climate Change, Palestine; Ella Havnevik
Giske, Ministry of Climate and Environment, Norway; Sabyr Assylbekov, Ministry of
Ichiro Sato is a Senior Associate with the Ecology, Kazakhstan; Lukasz Latala, Ministry of Environment, Poland; Ministry of Natural
Climate Program and the Sustainable Finance Resources and Environmental Protection of the Republic of Belarus; Rob Bradley, NDC
Center at the World Resources Institute. Partnership; Takeshi Kuramochi, New Climate Institute; Natallia Kliavets, Republican
Center for Hydrometeorology, Belarus; Yamil Bonduki, UNDP; Michael Comstock,
Contact: ichiro.sato@wri.org
UNDP; Katharina Davis, UNDP; Maria Eugenia Di Paola, UNDP; Rohini Kohli, UNDP;
Kelly Levin is a Senior Associate with Ana Maria Nunez, UNDP; Bahareh Seyedi, UNDP; Alexandra Soezer, UNDP; Kimberly
the Global Climate Program at the World Todd, UNDP; Krib Sitathani, UNDP; Mary Awad Menassa, UNDP; Verania Chao, UNDP;
Resources Institute. Susanne Olbrisch, UNDP; Fernando Garcia Barrios, UNDP; Bernd Hackman, UNFCCC
Secretariat; Niranjali Amerasinghe, World Resources Institute; Pankaj Bhatia, World
Contact: kelly.levin@wri.org Resources Institute; Mathilde Bouye, World Resources Institute; Rebecca Carter, World
Resources Institute; Subrata Chakrabarty, World Resources Institute; Yamide Dagnet,
David Waskow is the Director of the World Resources Institute; Apurba Mitra, World Resources Institute; Eliza Northrop,
International Climate Initiative at the World World Resources Institute; Katie Ross, World Resources Institute; Neelam Singh, World
Resources Institute. Resources Institute; Ranping Song, World Resources Institute; Joe Thwaites, World
Resources Institute; Jacob Waslander, World Resources Institute, and Jesse Worker,
Contact: david.waskow@wri.org World Resources Institute.
David Rich is a Senior Associate with In addition, we deeply appreciate support during the editing and publication process
the Global Climate Program at the World from Billie Kanfer, Carlos Muñoz Piña, Aishwarya Ramani, Emilia Suarez, Caroline Taylor,
Resources Institute. and Romain Warnault.
Contact: david.rich@wri.org This report was generously supported by the Japan International Cooperation Agency
and by the German government. This project is part of the International Climate Initiative
Sadya Ndoko is a Technical Consultant with
(IKI). The Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear
the Global Support Programme on National
Safety (BMU) supports this initiative on the basis of a decision adopted by the German
Adaptation Plans at UNDP.
Bundestag.
Contact: sadya.ndoko@undp.org
Julie Teng is a Technical Specialist working
on climate change adaptation at UNDP.
Contact: julie.teng@undp.org
Design and layout by:
Billie Kanfer
billie.kanfer@wri.org
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1 Foreword
3 Executive Summary
11 Introduction
21 Establishing a Process for
NDC Enhancement
29 Designing an Enhanced Mitigation
Component of an NDC
45 Designing an Enhanced Adaptation
Component of an NDC
57 Communicating an Enhanced NDC
Transparently in Accordance with the
Paris Rulebook
65 Conclusions
67 Abbreviations
67 Endnotes
68 References
iv
FOREWORD
Next year, 2020, is a key milestone. For the However, for many countries, this ambition must
first time since 2015, countries will put forward be met with financial, technological, and capacity-
enhanced Nationally Determined Contributions building support. We stand ready to support
(NDCs) that go beyond current national climate countries in this process. We echo UN Secretary-
plans and bring us closer to the Paris Agreement General António Guterres’ call for countries
goals of de-carbonizing economies and improving to lay out a course to enhance their NDCs and
resilience. Now more than ever, ambitious action is work towards “net-zero” emissions. This guide is
urgently needed to address the global climate crisis designed to assist those who are exploring how to
and keep global temperature increases in check. answer that call.
This first round of NDC enhancement comes at a We invite countries to work through a step-by-step
crucial time. The effects of climate change are being process to identify their best options for enhancing
felt around the world in a wide range of forms, NDCs, to learn from country experiences, and to
including increased frequency of extreme weather, put forward enhanced NDCs in the next year at a
biodiversity loss, rising sea levels, and prolonged key moment for the Paris Agreement—and for our
droughts. shared future.
According to the Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change (IPCC), we have only until
2030 to slash emissions nearly in half and limit
global warming to 1.5°C. We need rapid and bold
paradigm shifts in energy and land use, as well as
in areas like industry and infrastructure, in order
to avoid the most devastating impacts of climate Andrew Steer Achim Steiner
change and achieve our sustainable development President Administrator
objectives. This level of ambition must guide the World Resources Institute United Nations
NDC enhancement process in 2020. Development
Programme (UNDP)
New analysis by the UN Development Programme
(UNDP) and UN Climate Change (UNFCCC)
confirms that a significant number of countries are
committed to enhancing NDCs. This publication
guides governments through this process. The NDC
enhancement process is also an opportunity for
countries to demonstrate their climate leadership
while advancing development benefits—such
as improved health, access to clean energy, and
economic growth—in line with the Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs). Enhancing NDCs
can help capture some of the estimated USD 26
trillion in economic benefits associated with taking
ambitious climate action between now and 2030.
Enhancing NDCs: A Guide to Strengthening National Climate Plans by 2020 1
2
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This report aims to help government officials identify options for
enhancing Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) in line with
the Paris Agreement. It offers guidance on establishing a process
for NDC enhancement, enhancing mitigation and adaptation
components of NDCs, and communicating NDCs transparently.
Additionally, it reflects on aligning NDCs with the Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs), and on the role of finance in NDC
enhancement.
Enhancing NDCs: A Guide to Strengthening National Climate Plans by 2020 3
Highlights Executive Summary
Context
▪▪ At the Paris climate negotiations in 2015, countries The Paris Agreement established a series
agreed to establish 2020 as a key milestone in the of five-year cycles to increase ambition,
global effort to fight climate change. As part of the including through NDCs that would grow
regular five-year cycles to strengthen ambition laid more ambitious over time. Countries also
out in the Paris Agreement, countries are requested specifically agreed on 2020 as a critical next step
in the Paris process. Countries with an NDC time
to put forward nationally determined contributions
frame ending up to 2025 are requested to commu-
(NDCs) by 2020. nicate new ones by 2020 (UNFCCC 2015a). Those
▪▪ The rationale for updating NDCs, and particularly countries whose NDCs have a time frame ending up
to 2030, in turn, are requested to communicate or
for enhancing mitigation ambition, is greater than
update their NDCs by 2020. This guidance refers to
ever: The latest climate science underscores the
the process of developing new or updated NDCs as
need for ambitious, immediate action to keep the “NDC enhancement.”
Paris Agreement goals within reach; technological
advances increasingly facilitate ambitious action; It is imperative that the NDC enhancement
and the alignment between ambitious climate process deliver greater mitigation ambition.
Scientific evidence suggests that the window of
action and socioeconomic benefits is increasingly
opportunity to limit the global mean temperature
well documented and understood. well below 2°C, or 1.5°C, is closing rapidly (IPCC
▪▪ This guidance provides a structure to help 2018). Hence, it is crucial that countries enhance
the mitigation ambition of their NDCs by 2020.
countries think through the process of enhancing
their NDCs along three dimensions: mitigation, NDC enhancement also provides an impor-
adaptation, and transparent communication. tant opportunity to make adaptation plan-
▪▪ With regard to mitigation, this guidance places ning more robust and to advance transpar-
ent communication of the NDC. Enhancing
a priority on enhancing ambition and reducing the adaptation component of an NDC can increase
emissions to achieve the temperature goals in the the visibility and profile of adaptation to achieve
Paris Agreement, while noting that NDCs can also balance with mitigation, strengthen adaptation
be enhanced to strengthen implementation in action and support, provide inputs to the global
various ways. stock-take, and enhance learning and understand-
ing of adaptation needs and actions. Enhancing
▪▪ Enhancing an adaptation component of an NDC transparency can clarify the emissions level implied
depends strongly on a country’s objectives with by the NDCs, facilitate global aggregation of NDCs’
regard to adaptation and the relationship between greenhouse gas (GHG) effect, their sectoral and
the NDC and other adaptation-related processes. GHG coverage, and their underlying assumptions
▪▪ Clear communication of NDCs builds trust and
and methodologies, among other elements.
facilitates effective implementation. Guidance
on communication—or clarity, transparency, and
understanding—is based on the Paris Agreement
Work Program adopted in 2018.
4
There are many additional reasons to This overarching framework will be supple-
enhance NDCs in 2020: mented by more detailed guidance on par-
▪▪
ticular sectors and themes. These subsequent
Taking advantage of major technological modules will address electric power generation and
advances use, transportation, agriculture, forest and land
▪▪ Avoiding carbon lock-in use, oceans, short-lived climate pollutants, and
▪▪ Reducing transition costs potentially other sectors.
▪▪ Aligning with carbon neutrality and long-term
strategies
Summary of the Guidance
▪▪
The guidance first presents considerations
Building on action by subnational and nonstate for establishing a process to enhance NDCs,
actors and then guides countries through the main
▪▪ Seizing opportunities for economic growth and
development
components of NDC enhancement: mitiga-
tion, adaptation, and transparent commu-
▪▪ Maximizing synergies with the Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs)
nication (Figure ES-1). Each section presents
the rationale for enhancing that component as well
▪▪
as guidance on taking stock of the current situation
Attracting climate finance and investment and identifying options for enhancement. Finally,
▪▪ Bolstering implementation it includes examples of additional resources that
▪▪ countries can consult throughout the process of
Building broader buy-in from key ministries enhancement.
and stakeholders
Establishing a clear and inclusive process to
About This Guidance enhance the NDC is a vital first step (Figure
The objective of this guidance is to help ES-2). In establishing such a process, countries
countries design an enhanced NDC for should consider how to ensure coherence with
communication to the UNFCCC by 2020. national planning processes, gain support from
The guidance proposes an overarching framework affected constituencies and those who will imple-
that countries can use to think through the process ment the NDC, define institutional arrangements to
of, and options for, updating their NDCs. Its use ensure leadership and coordination, engage stake-
is entirely voluntary; countries are free to use it in holders, and develop a work plan with defined roles
whole or in part and to adapt it to their national cir- and responsibilities to undertake the enhancement.
cumstances as relevant. The guidance is intended For both mitigation and adaptation, countries
to complement, but not substitute for, NDC provi- should explore how climate actions in the NDC can
sions in the Paris Agreement and the Paris Agree- also help the country achieve national development
ment Work Programme. objectives, including implementation of the SDGs.
Figure ES-1 | Elements of the NDC Enhancement Process
Designing an enhanced
mitigation component of
an NDC
Establishing a process for Communicating an
NDC enhancement enhanced NDC transparently
Designing an enhanced
adaptation component of
an NDC
Source: Authors.
Enhancing NDCs: A Guide to Strengthening National Climate Plans by 2020 5
Figure ES-2 | Steps to Establish an NDC Enhancement Process
1 2 3 4 5
ESTABLISH PLAN FOR
SECURE HIGH-LEVEL DEFINE DOMESTIC DESIGN A
INSTITUTIONAL STAKEHOLDER
BUY-IN OBJECTIVES WORK PLAN
ARRANGEMENTS ENGAGEMENT
▪▪ Prime minister’s or ▪▪ Lead institution ▪▪ Civil society ▪▪ Driving action ▪▪ Roles and
president’s office responsibilities
▪▪ Intra-governmental ▪▪ Academia ▪▪ Directing finance
▪▪ Key ministries coordination ▪▪ Private sector ▪▪ Timeline and
▪▪ Generating political
milestones
▪▪ Alignment with ▪▪ Subnational actors support
development ▪▪ Monitoring
▪▪ Trade unions ▪▪ Mainstreaming
objectives mechanisms
climate change
▪▪ Vulnerable
populations ▪▪ Reflecting mitigation
and adaptation in key
sectors
Source: Authors.
In this guidance, enhanced mitigation
ambition is defined to mean that the
▪▪ Apply the following diagnostic questions at the
sectoral and cross-sectoral level with a view
enhanced NDC, if fully implemented, both to identify and fill gaps in the NDC and to
results in lower cumulative emissions than enhance its existing elements:
the fully implemented initial NDC (Fransen
et al. 2017). Countries should undertake the steps Improving Paris alignment
described below with a view toward promoting this □□ oes the NDC as a whole, and its treatment
D
result. of each sector individually, lead to a
Countries can undertake the following steps trajectory that aligns with the benchmarks
to identify options for mitigation enhance- for achieving Paris Agreement temperature
ment and reflect them in their NDCs (Fig- goals?
ure Es-3): eflecting new developments,
R
▪▪ Take stock of recent developments, including
updated GHG inventories, trends in key
innovation, and best practices
□□ Does the treatment of the sector in the
sectoral indicators, changes in national initial NDC reflect up-to-date assumptions
policies and measures, actions and plans by regarding available technologies and their
nonstate and subnational actors, and economic costs?
and technology trends. National emissions
projections should also be updated as feasible □□ Does the NDC as a whole, and its treatment
and relevant. of each sector individually, reflect the
▪▪ Take stock of long-term objectives and
benchmarks to inform NDC enhancement.
relevant plans, policies, and measures that
are being implemented and considered
These include the the global and sectoral at the national level or that ought to
benchmarks for mitigation to achieve the be considered based on available best
temperature goals in the Paris Agreement, as practices?
well as the SDGs and other global and national
□□ Does the NDC as a whole, and its treatment
frameworks and plans. Review the global
of each sector individually, reflect the
emissions and associated sectoral benchmarks
relevant climate action commitments being
associated with the temperature goals in the
made by nonstate and subnational actors in
Paris Agreement and consider their relevance
the country?
in the particular country.
6Figure ES-3 | Steps to Enhance Mitigation in the NDC
1 2 3 4 5
REFLECT
TAKE STOCK OF TAKE STOCK OF LONG- IDENTIFY OPTIONS AGGREGATE, ITERATE,
ENHANCEMENTS
PROGRESS TO DATE TERM OBJECTIVES FOR ENHANCEMENT AND REFINE
IN NDC
▪▪ GHG, sectoral, and ▪▪ Global and ▪▪ Improve Paris ▪▪ Aggregate impact on ▪▪ GHG target
socioeconomic sectoral mitigation alignment GHG emissions other ▪▪ Sectoral, non-GHG
projections benchmarks ▪▪ Reflect new select indicators target(s)
▪▪ National policies ▪▪ SDGs and other global developments, ▪▪ Iterate to refine list of ▪▪ Policies and measures
frameworks innovation, and best enhancement options
▪▪ Subnational and non-
practice ▪▪ Alignment with long-
state commitments ▪▪ Long-term, low-GHG term goals
emission development ▪▪ Maximize benefits
▪▪ Development
strategies ▪▪ Fill gaps
objectives
▪▪ Long-term national
▪▪ Mitigation finance ▪▪ Address finance
development plans and implementation
issues
Source: Authors.
Maximizing the benefits as GHG reduction potential, feasibility, and
benefits and costs. To the extent feasible,
□□ Does the NDC as a whole, and its treatment aggregate the impacts of the proposed
of each sector individually, maximize enhancement opportunities and iterate the
synergies and reduce potential conflicts previous steps to refine and finalize the list of
with development objectives, including mitigation enhancements.
▪▪
climate resilience?
Determine how to reflect enhancements in a
Filling the gaps revised NDC, whether in the form of a GHG
target, a sector-specific non-GHG target,
□□ Does the NDC address all relevant sectors, policies and actions, or a combination of the
subsectors, and gases? above.
ddressing finance and
A The following steps can guide countries in
implementation issues determining the treatment of adaptation in
an enhanced NDC (Figure ES-4):
□□
▪▪
Could the NDC better reflect finance needs
for NDC implementation and/or policy Explore the purposes of including an
actions to align finance flows with climate adaptation component in the NDC: As
goals? a starting point, a UNFCCC decision on
adaptation communication (UNFCCC decision
□□ Does the NDC address important cross- 9/CMA.1) identifies the following objectives:
sectoral interactions?
□□ Increasing the visibility and profile of
□□ Could the NDC otherwise facilitate adaptation and its balance with mitigation.
strengthened implementation?
□□ Strengthening adaptation action and
reate a list of mitigation enhancement
C support for developing countries.
options on the basis of the diagnostic
questions. □□ Providing inputs to the global stock-take.
▪▪ Refine the list of mitigation enhancement
options on the basis of selected criteria, such
□□ Enhancing learning and understanding of
adaptation needs and actions.
Enhancing NDCs: A Guide to Strengthening National Climate Plans by 2020 7▪▪ Determine whether to include an adaptation
component in the NDC: While integrating
country’s adaptation communication, it must be
clearly indicated, and the information should be
adaptation into the NDC is voluntary, many stored in the UNFCCC registry for adaptation
countries opted to do so in the first submission communication.
▪▪
of NDCs.
Analyze relevant links, synergies, trade-offs,
▪▪ Based on the results of previous steps, identify
elements to be included and how to enhance
and opportunities to streamline with other them: As a starting point, the following
domestic and international processes; for elements drawn from the UNFCCC decision
instance, national adaptation plans (NAPs), 9/CMA.1 on Adaptation Communication
national communications (NCs) to UNFCCC, (UNFCCC 2019) could be considered, each with
mitigation planning, national or sectoral associated options for enhancement (see main
development planning processes, the 2030 text):
Development Agenda (SDGs), and the Sendai
Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015– □□ National circumstances, institutional
2030. arrangements, and legal frameworks
▪▪ Determine whether the adaptation component
in the NDC constitutes the country’s adaptation
□□ Impacts, risks, and vulnerabilities
communication solely, in part, or not at all. If □□ National adaptation priorities, strategies,
the adaptation component in the NDC is the policies, plans, goals, and actions
Figure ES-4 | Steps to Enhance Adaptation in the NDC
1 2 3 4 5
DETERMINE WHETHER DETERMINE IDENTIFY ELEMENTS
INTEGRATE THE
TO INCLUDE ANALYZE LINKS WITH RELATIONSHIP TO BE INCLUDED AND
SELECTED ELEMENTS
ADAPTATION IN THE OTHER PROCESSES TO ADAPTATION HOW TO ENHANCE
INTO THE NDC
NDC COMMUNICATION (AC) THEM
Examples of functions ▪▪ National adaptation ▪▪ Sole component of AC ▪▪ See main text for details ▪▪ New elements
served by including plans
▪▪ Part of AC ▪▪ Updated elements
adaptation: ▪▪ National
▪▪ Not related to AC
▪▪ Raising visibility and communications
profile ▪▪ Mitigation planning
▪▪ Bolstering action and ▪▪ National/sectoral
support development planning
▪▪ Providing inputs to the ▪▪ SDGs
global stocktake
▪▪ Sendai Framework for
▪▪ Facilitating learning Disaster Risk Reduction
and understanding
Note: These steps are explained in the chapter “Designing an Enhanced Adaptation Component of an NDC.”
Source: Authors.
8□□ implementation and support needs of, and
provision of support to, developing country
▪▪ Integrate the elements selected into the NDC,
with new and/or updated content, using
Parties existing information according to the sources
of information and processes listed above, and
□□ implementation of adaptation actions and complementing this with additional analyses
plans and consultations when required.
□□ adaptation actions and/or economic Finally, countries can enhance the infor-
diversification plans, including those that mation in their NDCs to facilitate clarity,
result in mitigation co-benefits transparency, and understanding (CTU)
in communicating their NDCs and to fos-
□□ an assessment of how adaptation ter alignment with the elements of CTU as
actions contribute to other international agreed at COP24 (Figure ES-5). This guidance
frameworks and/or conventions outlines how countries can fulfill the information
requirements agreed to under the UNFCCC, as well
□□ gender-responsive adaptation action
as provide additional information that facilitates
and traditional knowledge, knowledge of
even further CTU.
indigenous peoples, and local knowledge
systems related to adaptation
Figure ES-5 | Steps to Facilitate Clarity, Transparency, and Understanding in an Enhanced NDC
1 2 3 4
Use the list of information
Collect information during the Communicate the enhanced
to facilitate CTU as agreed Elaborate with additional
design of the enhanced NDC NDC domestically and
to at COP24 to document the information where possible
to ease communication internationally
enhanced NDC
Source: Authors.
Enhancing NDCs: A Guide to Strengthening National Climate Plans by 2020 9INTRODUCTION
Since its adoption in 2015, the Paris Agreement has cleared two
major hurdles. First, it entered into force less than a year after
it was adopted. Second, in 2018, countries adopted the Paris
Agreement Work Programme, fleshing out the details governing its
implementation.
Enhancing NDCs: A Guide to Strengthening National Climate Plans by 2020 11The year 2020 will mark the Paris Agreement’s next NDCs targeted 2030, but some targeted 2025, and
major milestone. To achieve its ambitious long- others targeted years beyond 2030 (WRI 2016). In
term goals, the Agreement included a five-year cycle recognition of these and other factors, some coun-
to increase the ambition of climate action over time. tries have already made changes to their NDCs in
Reflecting the urgency of early action, countries advance of 2020 (Box 1).
agreed on the following actions by 2020: Countries
with an NDC with a time frame up to 2025 are This 2020 round of NDC enhancement would effec-
requested to communicate a new NDC, and coun- tively kick-start the Agreement’s mechanism for
tries with an NDC with a time frame up to 2030 are enhancing NDC ambition. To set the stage for this
requested to communicate or update an existing moment, the Talanoa Dialogue, a year-long, col-
NDC (decision 1/CP.21, UNFCCC 2015a). A deci- lective stock-taking process, concluded at COP 24
sion at the 24th Conference of Parties in Katowice, with an invitation to countries to use its outcomes
Poland, (decision 1/CP.24) in 2018 explicitly reiter- in preparing their NDCs. The Talanoa process
ated this request for NDCs to be brought forward by included an emphasis on the need for increased
2020 (UNFCCC 2018). ambition and the wide range of opportunities for
climate action across multiple sectors that can also
Several factors motivated countries to agree that provide development, economic, and other benefits
2020 would be the next moment to submit NDCs. (UNFCCC 2018).
First, countries’ initial mitigation targets were
insufficient to achieve the Agreement’s broader As with each cycle of NDC communication, this
goals, as confirmed by a UNFCCC assessment in moment in 2020 offers countries the opportunity to
the lead-up to the Paris negotiations (UNFCCC assess whether the mitigation contributions in their
2015c). Second, many countries had prepared their NDCs reflect their highest possible ambition and
initial NDCs without adequate time or capacity to whether they could do more to contribute to collec-
fully consider key issues. Developing countries, tive efforts toward achieving the long-term goals of
in particular, have noted challenges in developing the Paris Agreement. The need to enhance ambition
their first NDCs as well as the need for technical has taken on renewed urgency in light of the IPCC
assistance to revisit their NDCs based on the Paris special report on 1.5°C, which underscored the need
Agreement (UNDP 2016). Finally, the initial NDCs to halve emissions by 2030 (IPCC 2018).
did not set a consistent timeline for action: Most
12BOX 1 | How NDCs Have Changed to Date
While the deadline for updating the first NDCs is not Lastly, some countries improved the transparency of the
until 2020, several countries have already changed their NDC since the INDC was first submitted. For example,
commitments. Some did so when ratifying the Paris Argentina, Canada, Morocco, and Uruguay have now
Agreement, when their intended nationally determined specified the level of emissions that will result if their NDCs
contributions (INDCs) were converted into NDCs. are achieved. In the case of Argentina, the country moved
Encouragingly, some of these changes have led to from a baseline scenario target to a fixed level target (to
increased ambition. For example, while Morocco kept not exceed net emissions of 483 MtCO2e by 2030, with a
its baseline scenario target type, it increased the target conditional target of 369 MtCO2e by 2030).* This brings
ambition, moving from an unconditional 13 percent greater transparency and assurances that a certain level
reduction from its baseline emissions in 2030 (and a of emissions will be achieved. Belize communicated the
31 percent conditional reduction target) to a 17 percent anticipated emissions reductions from its actions.
reduction (41 percent conditional reduction target). Note: * Determining whether a new option will enhance a Party’s level of
ambition can be technically complex. Consider, for example, an NDC that
Other countries added new commitments or actions in contains both a GHG intensity target and a renewable energy target. Say the
their NDCs. For example, Morocco added a detailed list GHG intensity target is close to current projections of GHG intensity, but the
of 55 unconditional and conditional mitigation actions, renewable energy target vastly exceeds current projections of renewable
alongside emissions reduction potential and cost estimates energy capacity. In this case, the renewable energy target is the key driver of
ambition, and raising it will likely enhance overall ambition. Conversely, if the
for 2030. Nepal added a renewable energy target, and GHG intensity target is more aggressive and the renewable energy target less
Uruguay added non-GHG targets for energy, transportation, aggressive relative to current projections, raising the renewable energy target
agriculture, land use, and other sectors. may not raise the overall level of ambition. The GHG Protocol Mitigation Goal
Standard (WRI 2014a) and Policy and Action Standard (WRI 2014b) provide
Some countries, such as Argentina, Benin, Canada, Mali,
guidance on GHG accounting that can inform analysis of ambition. This content
Pakistan, and Uruguay, also chose to include adaptation, or is adapted from Fransen et al. (2017).
expand upon its inclusion, as part of their changed NDCs.
Source: Fransen et al. 2017; Ge and Levin 2018.
Enhancing NDCs: A Guide to Strengthening National Climate Plans by 2020 13Figure 1 | Types of NDC Enhancement
MITIGATION AMBITION ADAPTATION
Update or add Update or add Update or add
information on current & near- monitoring,
Strengthen trends, impacts & term planning and evaluation &
or add a vulnerabilities action learning plans
GHG target
Strengthen or add
a sectoral non-GHG Update or add
target Update or add
information on
information on gaps &
national long-term
barriers
goals or vision
Strengthen or add
policies and actions
Align IMPLEMENTATION COMMUNICATION
implementation
of the existing NDC
with long-term Add actions Provide basic
information to Provide
goals or measures additional
to strengthen enhance clarity,
detail
implementation transparency &
understanding
Source: Fransen et al. 2017.
Defining NDC Enhancement On mitigation, the guidance aims to help countries
identify opportunities to strengthen the ambition
The term NDC enhancement captures the idea of
of their NDCs, given the very large emissions gap
NDC progression inherent in the Paris Agreement,
between the current global emissions trajectory
starting with the invitation to communicate new or
and the pathway consistent with achieving the
updated NDCs in 2020 (Fransen et al. 2017). This
Paris Agreement’s goals. We define strengthened
guidance considers the following dimensions of
mitigation ambition as when an enhanced NDC—
NDC enhancement—mitigation (noting that mitiga-
including its complete set of mitigation targets and
tion enhancements can increase ambition and/or
actions, and assuming full implementation—results
facilitate enhanced implementation), adaptation,
in lower cumulative emissions than the existing
and communication—taking into account that the
NDC. To determine the effect of NDC enhancement
objectives and requirements under the Paris Agree-
on mitigation ambition, the cumulative impact of
ment vary across these components (See Figure 1).
all changes to the NDC, including their overlap with
Ideally, the NDC enhancement process will bring
one another, must be considered (Box 2; Fransen
NDCs more closely into alignment with the goals of
et al. 2017). Aside from their effects on ambition,
the Paris Agreement, maximize the benefits of the
enhancements related to mitigation can also have
NDC for development and resilience, incorporate
the effect of facilitating stronger implementation,
relevant opportunities to strengthen implementa-
if countries commit to specific policies and mea-
tion, and improve transparency.
sures in support of existing targets, including those
related to financial flows, coordinated implementa-
tion, and greater integration with development.
14On adaptation, the guidance walks countries guidance on communication is based on the ele-
through options for enhancing various elements, ments of clarity, transparency, and understanding
taking into consideration their objectives in includ- (CTU) adopted at COP 24 in Katowice (UNFCCC
ing adaptation in the NDC as well as the relation- 2018)
ship between their NDC and their adaptation
communication, building on other processes such These elements of NDC enhancement are neither
as the National Adaptation Plans (NAPs). mutually exclusive nor interchangeable. It may be
appropriate for a country to enhance its NDC across
Finally, enhanced communication is essential “to more than one of these dimensions.
build mutual trust and confidence and to promote
effective implementation” (UNFCCC 2015b). Our
BOX 2 | Terms Related to NDC Enhancement
New or updated NDC: From the COP decision adopted action(s) articulated in the original NDC. In determining the
together with the Paris Agreement (1/CP.21), these effect on mitigation ambition, it is important to consider the
terms refer to the request in the COP decision to Parties cumulative impact of all changes to the NDC, including the
concerning NDCs in 2020. A new NDC is one subsequent to extent to which they overlap with each other as well as the
the initial NDC when a Party’s initial NDC contains a time targets, policies, and measures in the existing NDC.*
frame up to 2025. An updated NDC is one communicated by Note: * Determining whether a new option will enhance a Party’s level of
a Party whose initial NDC contains a time frame up to 2030. ambition can be technically complex. Consider, for example, an NDC that
contains both a GHG intensity target and a renewable energy target. Say the
Enhanced NDC: In this guidance, a new or updated GHG intensity target is close to current projections of GHG intensity, but the
NDC that improves upon the initial NDC with respect to renewable energy target vastly exceeds current projections of renewable
mitigation (ambition and/or implementation), adaptation, energy capacity. In this case, the renewable energy target is the key driver of
and/or communication. ambition, and raising it will likely enhance overall ambition. Conversely, if the
GHG intensity target is more aggressive and the renewable energy target less
NDC with enhanced mitigation ambition: In this aggressive relative to current projections, raising the renewable energy target
guidance, this refers to an NDC that, if fully implemented, may not raise the overall level of ambition. The GHG Protocol Mitigation Goal
would result in lower cumulative emissions than the fully Standard (WRI 2014a) and Policy and Action Standard (WRI 2014b) provide
implemented existing NDC. It is important to note that a guidance on GHG accounting that can inform analysis of ambition.
new, updated, or enhanced NDC may not necessarily lead to Source: Fransen et al. 2017 and authors.
enhanced mitigation ambition. The baseline for determining
this is the complete set of mitigation target(s) and/or
Enhancing NDCs: A Guide to Strengthening National Climate Plans by 2020 15Why Enhance NDCs in 2020 around the world. Broadly, the study finds: Renew-
able power generation costs continue to fall and
The rationale for enhancing the mitigation ambition
are already very competitive to meet needs for new
of NDCs sooner rather than later is threefold: The
capacity. Competitive procurement—including
window for climate stability is closing, countries
auctions—accounts for a small fraction of global
have a growing number of opportunities to enhance
renewable energy deployment. Yet these mecha-
their ambition, and countries that act ambitiously
nisms are very rapidly driving down costs in new
will benefit.
markets. Global competition is helping to spread
The window for climate stability is closing the best project development practices, reducing
technology and project risk and making renewables
The IPCC has emphasized that large-scale, immedi-
more cost-competitive than ever before. In devel-
ate transformation is necessary to keep the goals
oped countries, solar power has become cheaper
of the Paris Agreement in reach. Warming is likely
than new nuclear power. For example, the cost of
to reach 1.5⁰C as early as 2030 if it continues to
a lithium-ion battery pack fell to US$176/kwh in
increase at the current rate; CO2 emissions, in turn,
2018, down from $577/kwh in 2014 when many
must be slashed by almost half from recent levels
INDCs were being developed (Goldie-Scot 2019).
by that same year to avoid such an outcome (IPCC
2018).1 Current NDCs are not consistent with these Many countries have made significant progress on
goals (Rogelj et al. 2016). Delaying the process of NDC implementation, and some are on track to
increasing ambition until 2025 or beyond will dra- meet or exceed their existing targets, including six
matically constrain options for achieving the Paris of the G20 countries (UNEP 2018; den Elzen et al.
goals. It will mean needing to achieve even more 2019), countries committed to a variety of climate
rapid decarbonization, at greater cost, while rely- actions, including post-2020 greenhouse gas
ing on unproven technologies. Laying out a more (GHG) reductions. The 2020 process for enhancing
ambitious vision now, on the other hand, preserves NDCs offers an opportunity to examine the ambi-
countries’ remaining options to achieve the Paris tion of the initial NDCs in light of this progress.
objectives. Moreover, cities, states, regions, companies, and
investors have announced significant new commit-
While some countries’ enhancement of ambition
ments to climate action that were not reflected in
will clearly have greater impact due to the mag-
initial NDCs. At the Global Climate Action Summit
nitude of their emissions, the range and number
alone, 73 of the world’s largest cities committed to
of countries that enhance their NDCs can have an
carbon neutrality, 150 major corporations commit-
important impact on the political momentum for
ted to 100 percent clean energy, and 400 investors
strengthened ambition globally. Moreover, if a
managing $32 trillion in assets committed to an
wide array of countries take action in their NDCs in
ambitious climate action agenda, alongside over
critical sectors like energy, transportation, land-use,
500 other commitments by nonstate actors (Global
and agriculture, doing so can reinforce the politi-
Climate Action Summit 2018). In this sense, there
cal signals and market drivers for change in those
is an opportunity to enhance NDCs to reflect the
arenas.
national, subnational, and nonstate action that is
Opportunities to enhance ambition are growing already under way.
Since the initial NDCs were developed, innovation At the international level, the Paris Agreement
has flourished and technology costs have fallen, has taken effect, and its modalities have largely
alongside other developments that can enable taken shape. Likewise, the Montreal Protocol’s
countries to enhance their NDCs. The cost of Kigali Amendment has entered into force, defining
renewable energy technologies – including battery a schedule for phasing down hydrofluorocarbon
storage and charging infrastructure – has declined emissions.
dramatically, opening up possibilities in the power
and transportation sectors (IRENA 2018) based on Taken together, these factors create many more
the latest cost and auction price data from projects options for climate action than countries were
able to consider prior to the Paris Agreement.
Nevertheless, these developments do not suggest
16that enhancing mitigation ambition will be easy process than would be possible in cases where sepa-
or straightforward. The scale of transformation rate efforts are made for mitigation, adaptation,
needed is without precedent, and many countries and development objectives respectively.
face substantial political, financial, and capacity-
related challenges in delivering it. This guidance Finally, reflecting enhanced ambition in NDCs may
proposes that the 2020 NDC enhancement process also afford countries an opportunity to rally stake-
can be an opportunity to rally political support holders in support of implementation and to attract
to help overcome these challenges, in light of the finance, technology, and capacity-building support
growing number of options, and urgent need, for from the international community.
enhanced ambition.
How Should This Guidance Be Used?
Countries that enhance ambition stand to benefit This guidance aims to help countries through the
Although enhanced NDCs are critical to meet the process of designing enhanced NDCs for commu-
objectives of the Paris Agreement, countries that nication to the UNFCCC, with a particular focus
take ambitious action also benefit domestically. on 2020. Whether a country’s current NDC targets
They stand to reap the gains not only of being rec- 2025 or 2030, this guidance assumes that countries
ognized for their international leadership, but also will build on their most recent NDC in some way,
gains in the form of economic growth and develop- rather than starting from scratch.
ment benefits. Evidence of the alignment among
The guidance provides a framework that countries
climate action, economic growth, and development
can use to think through systematically how to go
benefits continues to accumulate. On the economic
about enhancing their NDCs. While it does not go
side, the latest analysis estimates that ambitious
into detail on particular sectors, the United Nations
climate action could generate $26 trillion in net
Development Programme (UNDP) and WRI plan
economic benefits between now and 2030 and cre-
to publish sector-specific modules over the coming
ate 65 million jobs in 2030, while avoiding 700,000
months (Figure 2).
premature deaths from air pollution (The Global
Commission on the Economy and Climate 2018). Use of the guidance is entirely voluntary; countries
are free to use it in whole or in part, and to adapt
NDCs can also contribute to achieving a wide range
it to their national circumstances as relevant. The
of development priorities, including those related to
guidance is intended to complement, but not sub-
the SDGs, as described in Box 3 (WRI n.d.). These
stitute for, NDC provisions in the Paris Agreement
synergies include sectors that are clearly related to
and the Katowice Rulebook.
climate action, such as energy, transportation, land
use, and ocean issues, as well as relevant intersec- Support for NDC Enhancement2
tions related to poverty, inequality, health, gender
equality, and the broader principle embedded in the Several NDC support programs exist to help
SDGs of “leaving no one behind” (IPCC 2018). By countries through a range of NDC-related func-
undertaking NDC enhancement in consideration tions, including enhancement as well as design,
of mitigation, adaptation, and sustainable develop- implementation, and review. For example, the NDC
ment benefits in combination, it is possible to create Partnership, a global coalition of countries and
greater benefits, make more informed and equitable institutions, works to drive transformational cli-
decisions on trade-offs, and design more efficient mate action through sustainable development. The
Enhancing NDCs: A Guide to Strengthening National Climate Plans by 2020 17Figure 2 | Overview of NDC-Related Guidance by UNDP and WRI
DESIGNING (I)NDCS IMPLEMENTING NDCS ENHANCING NDCS
Power
Transportation
Forests
Implementing NDCs
Agriculture
DESIGNING AND PREPARING UNDP et al (forthcoming)
INTENDED NATIONALLY DETERMINED
CONTRIBUTIONS (INDCs)
Oceans
KELLY LEVIN, DAVID RICH, YAMIL BONDUKI, MICHAEL COMSTOCK, DENNIS TIRPAK,
Short-lived climate pollutants
HEATHER MCGRAY, IAN NOBLE, KATHLEEN MOGELGAARD, AND DAVID WASKOW
WRI.ORG | UNDP.ORG Additional sectors and themes
Source: Authors.
partnership’s Climate Action Enhancement Package Programmer, NDC Pipeline Accelerator, NDC
is designed to deliver targeted, fast-track support Market Booster, and NDC Finance Mobilizer.
to NDC Partnership members to enhance the qual-
ity, increase the ambition, and foster the imple- ▪▪ The NDC Support Programme under
UNDP works with countries to advance the
mentation of NDCs. Many initiatives, including the implementation of the Paris Agreement and
ones mentioned below, support countries with their strategically use their NDCs as a tool for
internal resources or with resources designated for realizing inclusive, zero-carbon, and climate-
Climate Action Enhancement Package: resilient development.
▪▪ The Africa NDC Hub, established by
the African Development Bank, engages
▪▪ The World Bank NDC Support Facility is
a multi-donor trust fund created and designed
national, subnational, nonstate actors, and to help developing countries implement climate
private sector representatives on appropriate change targets laid out in the NDCs. Grants
policies, strategies, and actions tailored to provided by the facility contribute to activities
suit individual needs of African countries to that include capacity building, analytics,
enable them to deliver their climate change coordination among development actors, and
commitments under the Paris Agreement. financial leverage for climate action.
▪▪ NDC Advance is a platform of the Asian
Development Bank aimed at helping its
▪▪ World Resources Institute provides
knowledge products and technical support to
developing member countries in Asia and the countries focused on NDC enhancement and
Pacific mobilize funding to meet their goals related topics, including developing long-
under the Paris Agreement. term strategies; adaptation planning; capacity
▪▪ NDC Invest, created by the Inter-American
Development Bank and the Inter-American
building; and systems for measurement,
reporting, and verification.
Investment Corporation, serves as a one-stop
shop for countries to access resources for
transforming their national commitments into
achievable investments plans, including NDC
18BOX 3 | Aligning with and Reflecting SDGs and National Development Goals
By addressing intersections between climate objectives. The assessment process can Assessment Institutions Network 2017).
action and other national development goals
in enhanced NDCs, countries can strengthen
also help ensure alignment among the NDC
and SDGs and other national development ▪▪ Climate Watch database (WRI n.d.) and
the NDC-SDG Connections tool (Stockholm
the NDC content itself, as well as broaden buy- objectives. In many countries, the NDCs and
Environment Institute n.d.) enable users
in and support for the NDC’s commitments. their national development and SDG plans are
to examine the ways in which targets and
There are two principal ways in which these not adequately linked and sometimes even
actions in existing NDCs are relevant for
intersections can be addressed: have contradictory objectives; for example,
SDG-related objectives, which can then
involving strategies for energy sources
1) Assess the development effects of be considered in the development of
(renewables or other sources). Alignment
potential climate actions and include or enhanced NDCs.
is critical to achieving a country’s climate-
modify the NDC to maximize benefits
related and other goals. 2) Specify targets or actions that reflect
Based on an assessment of the development development benefits of climate action
The impact assessments can also be used
impacts of specific climate-oriented targets
to consider ways in which benefits might be The NDC can also explicitly specify targets
and measures in the NDC, countries can
maximized (e.g., to increase energy access or actions that reflect and aim to maximize
modify the NDC to maximize mutual benefits
provided as part of a renewable energy the benefits from climate action or reduce
with other development objectives and
target or action) and instances in which any any trade-offs. These targets or actions
address potential trade-offs. Importantly, this
trade-offs may need to be addressed (e.g., can be derived from the assessments
can be relevant for both the mitigation and
impacts on ecosystems or food security of climate actions in the NDC or can be
adaptation components of countries’ NDCs.
due to bioenergy production). In addition, developed through reference to other
Impact assessments can be quantitative—for impact assessments can be helpful in national development plans and strategies.
example, quantitative assessments and identifying indicators that a government may For example, NDCs could include targets or
modeling have been used often to assess use to measure and assess outcomes from policies for
the employment or health effects of climate
policies—or qualitative, to determine the
implementation of the NDC. Assessing impacts
and identifying a comprehensive set of impact ▪▪ increased energy access, particularly
through distributed renewable energy, and
potential linkages between climate policies indicators can also provide information and
and other development objectives and the energy security;
▪▪ increased
signals for public and private investment and
estimated magnitude of any relevant effects. help steer capital, including low-cost finance, access to affordable,
In assessing the effect of climate actions to flow to implementation of NDCs. sustainable transportation and mobility;
that might be included in an NDC, it will be Impact assessments and policy decision- ▪▪ improved air quality and health outcomes;
necessary to do the following: making for the NDC can draw on the following
▪▪ reduced
▪▪ Clearly
damages from climate-related
identify the target or policy to be resources that provide guidance for such disasters through adaptation measures,
assessed. In some cases, it may be difficult assessments: such as better land-use planning or
to undertake quantitative analysis of the
▪▪ Initiative for Climate Action Transparency’s integrated coastal zone management;
impact of broad sectoral targets (such as
renewables’ share of overall energy), so
Sustainable Development Guidance
provides guidance for assessing the
▪▪ sustainable food and agriculture systems,
particularly through measures that
it may be necessary to define policies to environmental, social, and economic increase food security;
▪▪ climate-appropriate
achieve the target. impacts of climate-related policies and
▪▪ Clearly identify the impact(s) to be actions, including both qualitative and
quantitative assessments (Initiative for
green jobs and/or just
transition programs and investments;
▪▪ health-related
assessed.* Impacts can be derived from
the SDG targets or from other development Climate Action Transparency 2018). objectives, such as
objectives, including those reflected in a
country’s national or sectoral development
▪▪ UNDP Climate Action Impact Tool
provides a framework for considering the
reductions in local air pollutants linked to
GHG reductions or reductions of climate-
plans. These could include effects such development impacts, including for the sensitive diseases such as water-borne
as those involving health, employment, SDGs, of climate actions at the program illnesses; and
food security, energy access, access to and project level (UNDP n.d.). ▪▪ gender-related objectives, such as to
sustainable transport, poverty level and
inequality, and gender-related objectives. ▪▪ SDG Climate Action Nexus tool provides
mapping for the effects of various climate
ensure women’s access to clean energy
and securing their rights and tenure to
Although impact assessments require actions on achieving the SDGs (New land, water, forests, and housing and
capacity and resources, they can be helpful Climate Institute n.d.). their access to resilience measures, and
▪▪ International
to identify and clarify priority actions of an to promote women’s participation and
Labour Organization training leadership in decision-making processes.
NDC and to enable effective communication
guide on measuring and modeling social
among various relevant ministries and Note: * The ICAT Sustainable Development Guidance
and employment outcomes of climate
agencies about how climate action in the provides options for identifying impacts to be
and sustainable development (Green Jobs
NDC relates to other national development assessed.
Enhancing NDCs: A Guide to Strengthening National Climate Plans by 2020 19ESTABLISHING A
PROCESS FOR NDC
ENHANCEMENT 3
A process for NDC enhancement may take into account how to
secure high-level buy-in, establish institutional arrangements,
engage stakeholders, define objectives for enhancement, and
design a work plan. The NDC enhancement process should
be inclusive, clear, and coherent with other national planning
processes.
Enhancing NDCs: A Guide to Strengthening National Climate Plans by 2020 21Rationale ments that can be harnessed for this purpose,
including those that were used to develop the
The process for NDC enhancement will drive the
intended INDC. However, given that many of the
content of the NDC and will ultimately underpin its
INDCs were designed quickly in the lead-up to the
successful implementation. NDC enhancement will
Paris Agreement, NDC enhancement can also be an
benefit from buy-in at the highest levels of govern-
opportunity to revisit and improve the NDC design
ment and from clear and coordinated institutional
process.
arrangements. A robust stakeholder engagement
process can also greatly strengthen support for the The NDC enhancement process as a forward-look-
enhanced NDC. Likewise, explicitly articulating the ing exercise and the NDC enhancement milestone
domestic objectives of NDC enhancement can focus for 2020 are only the starting points of the Paris
attention on key interventions. Finally, a work plan Agreement’s ambition mechanism. The design of
with clear roles and responsibilities will drive the processes to enhance the NDC, including institu-
process forward (Figure 3). tional arrangements and stakeholder engagement,
would benefit from having this long-term view
It may not be necessary to establish new processes
included, so that long-term capacity is built, and
and institutional arrangements for NDC enhance-
governments do not have to start from scratch only
ment; some countries may have existing arrange-
a few years later for the next NDC cycle.
Figure 3 | Steps to Establish a Process for NDC Enhancement
1 2 3 4 5
ESTABLISH PLAN FOR
SECURE HIGH-LEVEL DEFINE DOMESTIC DESIGN A
INSTITUTIONAL STAKEHOLDER
BUY-IN OBJECTIVES WORK PLAN
ARRANGEMENTS ENGAGEMENT
▪▪ Prime minister’s or ▪▪ Lead institution ▪▪ Civil society ▪▪ Driving action ▪▪ Roles and
president’s office responsibilities
▪▪ Intra-governmental ▪▪ Academia ▪▪ Directing finance
▪▪ Key ministries coordination ▪▪ Private sector ▪▪ Timeline and
▪▪ Generating political
milestones
▪▪ Alignment with ▪▪ Subnational actors support
development ▪▪ Monitoring
▪▪ Trade unions ▪▪ Mainstreaming
objectives mechanisms
climate change
▪▪ Vulnerable
populations ▪▪ Reflecting mitigation
and adaptation in key
sectors
Source: Authors.
221) Secure High-Level Buy-In Identify a lead institution
Despite their technical nature, NDCs are inherently If political support for NDC enhancement has
political. They commit the countries to climate been secured from the prime minister’s office,
action, steer economic and social change, and serve president’s office, or other high-level institution,
as an official communication to the UN Climate it can be helpful to situate the lead of the NDC
Change Secretariat. Support from the prime minis- enhancement process within that office to maintain
ter’s or president’s office to initiate the process can buy in. Alternatively, the institution that has been
help those tasked with NDC enhancement to gain initially charged with INDC design and/or NDC
cooperation from stakeholders within and outside implementation may be most appropriate to lead
of government. Buy-in from powerful ministries, NDC enhancement in an effort to sustain technical
such as those in charge of planning or finance, expertise and ensure that the NDC builds on the
should be viewed as fundamental. existing processes and available information, such
as the bi-annual update reports, the National Com-
Unless such ministries are already supportive of munications (NCs) and NAPs. If such an institution
enhancing the NDC, it will likely be necessary sits within the environment ministry, ensuring that
to explore the benefits and importance of NDC the lead institution has joint responsibility with
enhancement to the country. Some countries might finance and/or planning ministries can strengthen
find that it is easier to engage and sustain leader- alignment with national budget frameworks,
ship if the NDC enhancement process is approached investments, and development agendas (Levin et
in the context of development and poverty eradi- al. 2015). Ideally, if time allows, legal mandates
cation, linking climate change to other domestic can be established for roles and responsibilities of
priorities such as improving access to energy. In both the lead institution as well as others provid-
the context of NDC implementation, some coun- ing inputs. Engagement with parliament will be
tries have found that having the opportunity to critical for some countries for establishing such
announce their intentions internationally can help mandates. Some countries may have mechanisms
catalyze the process and attract high-level political to secure such roles and responsibilities on a more
attention, building political profile and showcas- rapid timeline, such as through a memorandum of
ing leadership (NDC Partnership forthcoming). understanding.
Some countries have also found that peer-to-peer
exchanges can help pique the interest of the minis- Provide for intra-governmental coordination
try of finance. For example, in an exchange between
Given the cross-cutting nature of the NDC, it is
Honduras and the Dominican Republic, organized
critically important for the lead institution or
by the NDC Partnership Support Unit, Honduras
another body to manage cooperation in the interest
gained greater appreciation of the financial oppor-
of a whole-of-government approach (Sands et al.
tunities related to NDC implementation from the
2012). Coordination across government institutions
Ministry of Economy, Planning, and Development
as well as relevant planning processes can increase
of the Dominican Republic (NDC Partnership
efficiency, the quality of inputs, and eventual imple-
forthcoming). While this example is with regard to
mentation. If a suitable coordination body (e.g., a
NDC implementation, lessons may be applicable
climate change committee) does not already exist,
to engagement of various ministries during NDC
the lead institution or another new body can be
enhancement processes.
made responsible. Ideally, the coordination process
2) Establish Institutional Arrangements will account for
The INDC design process illustrated the important
role that a lead institution plays in managing the
▪▪ all relevant ministries, including ministries not
traditionally associated with the formulation
design process, as well as coordinating with affected of climate change policy, such as gender, social
sectors, local governments, technical experts, civil development, and health;
society, and the private sector. The same is true for
NDC enhancement. ▪▪ the roles of parliament and the judiciary, as
applicable;
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