Countries are increasingly linking national climate plans with a green recovery from COVID-19, according to a new report tracking efforts by 115 countries to scale up ambition on climate and implement the 2015 Paris Agreement.

“,” released by the 缅北禁地Development Programme (UNDP), showcases pledges to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, ensure that vulnerable population groups can cope with climate impacts and secure climate finance.

The countries range from higher-emitting countries to least developed countries with very low emissions. All are members of the one-year-old UNDP Climate Promise initiative. Launched at the 2019 Climate Action Summit, it operates under the aegis of UNDP in collaboration with 35 partners.

The programme helps countries prepare updated and enhanced versions of the nationally determined contributions or NDCs, which are pledges stipulated for all signatories to the Paris Agreement. Countries are expected to significantly increase the ambition and actions in their NDCs every five years; 2020 marks the first official round of revisions. Because of COVID-19, some countries will submit their new NDCs in 2021, well ahead of the Glasgow Climate Conference.

"It is one thing to press countries to raise their ambition, but we need to also consider how they will do that,” says UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner. "Through the Climate Promise, UNDP walks by the side of countries in aiming high and acting on their climate responsibilities. Our planet – our shared home – depends on it."

缅北禁地Secretary-General António Guterres has urged countries to make each new plan more ambitious than the last. If every country increases its targets, the entire world will move towards reduced emissions, stand a better chance of keeping average global temperatures from crossing the 1.5C threshold, and be more resilient to changes that are already in motion.

To hit a few highlights from what’s happening around the world:

  • Half of the 115 Climate Promise countries have made explicit links between NDCs and a green recovery from COVID-19. Costa Rica is supporting the integration of current COVID-19 economic conditions into its National Decarbonization Plan. This will inform its NDC enhancement, and help identify how NDC implementation could advance economic recovery.
  • Ten countries are building explicit financial strategies for green recovery and NDC enhancement. Thailand is assessing fiscal incentives for climate action, such as a carbon tax, that could also advance economic recovery.
  • By the end of November, eight countries had formally submitted revised NDCs, and six, Chile, Ecuador, Moldova, Mongolia, Rwanda and Suriname, adopted more stringent emissions cuts. All eight beefed up adaptation elements by adding new sectors, targets and actions; 97 percent of Climate Promise countries plan to take similar steps as they finalize their NDCs.
  • 113 countries committed to strengthening gender across their NDCs, from governance to participation to finance. 颁丑颈濒别’蝉 latest NDC features a “Social Pillar of Just Transition Sustainable Development” with eight criteria, including gender equality.
  • While young people were largely ignored in earlier NDCs, with only 40 percent referring to children or youth, 75 percent of Climate Promise countries now prioritize youth in developing their enhanced NDCs, primarily through consultations, awareness-raising and advocacy campaigns.
  • Small island developing States are leading the way. They are among the most vibrant and powerful advocates for climate action, and comprised five of the first eight countries to officially submit their enhanced NDCs. UNDP’s Climate Promise is supporting 28 of them in offering some of the most ambitious and comprehensive workplans for both mitigation and adaptation. More than 80 percent plan to increase mitigation ambition and 97 percent to raise adaptation ambition. Tonga intends to raise mitigation targets, increase adaptation to protect coastlines and marine areas, and link actions on food and agriculture to both mitigation and adaptation goals.
  • Least developed countries are also demonstrating leadership on ambition. Rwanda was the first African country and least developed country to submit a more ambitious NDC. It committed to a 38 percent reduction in emissions by 2030; amplified adaptation measures in human settlements, health, transport and mining; and makes links with the SDGs.