3.3 Interactive activity: NDCs, and the relevant outcomes for both adaptation and mitigation at the local level
3.3.1 NDCs, and the relevant outcomes for both adaptation and mitigation at the local level
Introduction:
The Paris Agreement has allowed each country the autonomy at national level to decide how to balance domestic growth needs with greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions.
Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) are central to the overall aim of the Paris Agreement.
This interactive activity allows you to engage with your country’s NDC and assess challenges and opportunities. You will be guided by your facilitator.
Step one: Checklists
- Work on your own.
- Complete the checklists to determine if your country’s NDC includes the necessary adaptation and mitigation outcomes.
- You can access your countries NDC by going to the following website and downloading it: Click here to follow the link
Adaption targets checklist
Identify whether or not your country’s NDC adaption targets include the minimum requirements.
- Specific sectoral outcomes related to i) avoided negative impacts of climate change, and ii) reduced climate vulnerability.
- A clear timeframe, and related milestones and goals.
- Socio-economic indicators for monitoring and evaluation (M&E) increased climate resilience, based on country context.
- Links to overall economic developmental needs and policy landscape, including climate related plans or strategies.
- Assumptions and methodologies.
- Investment requirements per goal per annum.
Mitigation targets checklist
Identify whether or not your country’s NDC mitigation targets include the minimum requirements.
- Specific commitments to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, the scope/sectors, the baseline (year/measurement), and the underlying units (e.g. CO2 metric tons per capita).
- A clear timeframe, and related milestones and goals.
- Physical data indicators linked to milestones for monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) on emissions targets.
- Specific policy instruments needed or to be used in order to achieve the goals, (e.g. carbon tax, carbon budgets, regulatory standards and controls).
- Links to overall economic developmental needs and policy landscape, including climate related plans or strategies.
- Assumptions and methodologies.
- Investment requirements per goal per annum.
Identify whether or not your country’s NDC adaption targets include the minimum requirements.
- Specific sectoral outcomes related to i) avoided negative impacts of climate change, and ii) reduced climate vulnerability.
- A clear timeframe, and related milestones and goals.
- Socio-economic indicators for monitoring and evaluation (M&E) increased climate resilience, based on country context.
- Links to overall economic developmental needs and policy landscape, including climate related plans or strategies.
- Assumptions and methodologies.
- Investment requirements per goal per annum.
Identify whether or not your country’s NDC mitigation targets include the minimum requirements.
- Specific commitments to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, the scope/sectors, the baseline (year/measurement), and the underlying units (e.g. CO2 metric tons per capita).
- A clear timeframe, and related milestones and goals.
- Physical data indicators linked to milestones for monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) on emissions targets.
- Specific policy instruments needed or to be used in order to achieve the goals, (e.g. carbon tax, carbon budgets, regulatory standards and controls).
- Links to overall economic developmental needs and policy landscape, including climate related plans or strategies.
- Assumptions and methodologies.
- Investment requirements per goal per annum.
Step two: Reflection
- There are NO wrong or right answers.
- Review those items that you have identified in the checklist and those that are absent from your NDC’s adaption and/or mitigation targets.
- Reflect on what has hindered or prevented the inclusion of these NDC’s adaptation and/or mitigation targets.
- Consider how subnational government is reflected in your NDC.
- Consider the methodology of your country’s NDC: which stakeholders were included and consulted in the development of the NDC? Which stakeholders are missing?
- Make notes in the study guide.
Step three: Plenary group discussion
- The facilitator will lead the plenary group activity feedback.
- Be prepared to provide a summary of the items you have identified to include in your NDC’s adaptation and mitigation targets.
The facilitator will guide you through a discussion on the following reflection questions:
- Based on the reflection above, what is missing from your country’s NDC?
- Are there commonalities of missing items between different countries’ NDCs? Listen to what the other participants say.
- What barriers in your country prevent these items from being included in the NDC? For example financing, budgets, etc.
- What can be actioned to include the missing items or to overcome any barriers?
3.3.2 Things to note
Leverage relationships
Cities contribute the most to global GDP, consume the vast majority of energy, and are responsible for the highest proportion of global energy-related GHG emissions.
Subnational governments are on the frontlines of development, with closer relationships with those businesses and industries that generate the world’s GHG emissions, reinforcing the key role of cities in activating transformative change and driving sustainable, low-emission and resilient development at municipality and city level.
1 of 5Catalyst for change
Cities and their citizens are powerful drivers of change. They may often drive solutions to the immediate challenges that are faced at local level.
These solutions can be more progressive, more targeted and faster-acting than those delivered at national and international levels.
Therefore, urban areas provide subnational governments with the opportunity to both develop and implement innovative solutions to deal with some of the most complex challenges facing humanity.
This opportunity positions cities at the forefront of change and transformation.
2 of 5Review process
Although developing countries view their NDCs contributions as voluntary, their progress will be monitored and verified in a legally binding review process.
Progress is likely to be linked to accessing and unlocking further international climate finance for development purposes.
Results and lessons learned from subnational levels should be captured and integrated into ongoing decision-making and future NDC planning and updates.
It is important to clearly define the coordination and governance systems that support a review process for climate-related activities.
3 of 5Good governance
Good governance for NDC implementation can also support the delivery of the SDGs, especially those on strong, accountable and inclusive institutions (e.g. SDG 16) and strengthening means of implementation (e.g. SDG 17).
4 of 5Working together
For additional information on how subnational and national governments can work together to achieve Nationally Determined Contributions and honour the Paris Agreement click here.
5 of 5