Ambition
Ambition refers to strengthening mitigation or adaptation targets and actions over time.
Introduction
Countries, with support from CAEP, unlocked mitigation and adaptation target ambition across all 55 countries
Of the 54 countries that raised their ambition with CAEP support, this was accomplished through:
Studies and technical analysis, facilitating an evidence-based process for expanding and solidifying mitigation targets.
Developing their investment planning and engaging with stakeholders such as ministry leads or private sector representatives, enabling them to credibly ramp up their target ambitions.
Ambition is enhanced by strengthening mitigation or adaptation targets and actions over time.
55 countries enhanced the ambition pillar of their NDC. Of these, 54 had linked CAEP support through:
Watch this video to find out more about how NDC Partnership member countries have increased their NDC Ambition with support from CAEP.
Enhanced targets
Countries set higher emissions reduction targets and stronger unconditional targets.
Unconditional targets
Setting unconditional targets reflected an increased national ownership of target ambition, irrespective of international financial support.
Intragovernment coordination
CAEP supported the review of national strategies and policies and increased intragovernmental coordination, facilitating a more comprehensive approach to ramping up NDC ambition.
23 out of 24 countries that expanded their unconditional targets also increased their emissions reduction targets.
Country Examples
Argentina, Columbia, and Chile transitioned from a mix of conditional and unconditional targets to fully unconditional, economy-wide mitigation targets, setting absolute GHG limits for 2030.
Albania and Costa Rica updated their 2015 unconditional targets by committing to greater emissions reduction.
Laos transitioned from qualitative targets in its previous NDC to establishing a new quantitative unconditional target of 60% GHG emissions reduction by 2030.
Country Examples
Pakistan
Pakistan transitioned from fully conditional commitments to a combination of conditional and unconditional commitments. It increased its overall target to 50% emissions reduction below business as usual by 2030, aiming to meet 15% of those unconditionally.
Ethiopia
Ethiopia set conditional and unconditional commitments in both NDCs. The enhancement in 2020 was observed through increasing ambition (committing to a 69% reduction in GHGs by 2030) complemented by clear baselines, actions, and targets.
The Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic aimed to meet its unconditional targets with a mix of domestic private (5%) and public financing (2%). It increased its 2030 GHG emissions reduction target from 25% to 27%, updating the underlying methodology used in the previous submission.
Expanded coverage of sectors and gases
Countries enhanced the sectoral and gas coverage of their NDCs through technical assistance on feasibility analysis and emissions modelling.
CO2 and GHG reduction targets
Additionally, 35 of these countries enhanced their targets for reducing emissions of CO2 and other gases. CAEP support focused on conducting studies and analysis of GHGs and aligning with the IPCC 2006 Reporting Guidelines.
Sectoral scopes increased
CAEP supported 23 of these 43 countries, ensuring the increase in scope was matched by expansion of monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) systems.
Across a wide range of sectors countries enhanced targets and increase scope of NDCs covering Greenhouse Gas emissions. Sectoral and GHG specific targets are important for implementation as they allow for more granular, realistic planning.
The information here reflects the number of countries out of 55 that enhanced their sector coverage or GHG coverage to include the specific sector or GHG in their NDC.
30
AFOLU
27
Waste
21
Industry
21
Energy
19
Transport
13
Buildings
8
Water
3
Oceans and Coasts
23
New GHGs
When only CO2 was previously included
26
New GHGs
When only CO2 and other GHGs were previously included
6
SLCPs
Short lived climate pollutants
Qualitative targets and measures
Qualitative targets complement emissions reductions targets by creating guidelines, criteria, and tools to reduce the vulnerability of groups or sectors.
42 out of 55 countries enhanced their qualitative targets for mitigation, and 45 did so for adaptation.
Received CAEP support for adaptation facilitating national and international expert consultations as well as a focus on domestic policy alignment.
Received CAEP support for mitigation facilitating national and international expert consultations as well as a focus on domestic policy alignment.
These measures enhance the overall ambition of NDCs by providing more specific information on targets and increasing credibility and accountability.
Country Examples
Nepal
Themes: Agriculture, mitigation
Ensure increased access to climate-smart agricultural technologies for women, Indigenous people, smallholder farmers, and marginalized groups.
Protect, promote, and support climate-resilient indigenous seeds and crop varieties through community seed banks and national gene banks.
Paraguay
Themes: Urban resilience, adaptation
Support the construction of a green corridor in the metropolitan area of Asunción, integrating and restoring green areas for public and private connectivity.
Support the development and implementation of a geographic information system for controlling and monitoring urban green areas.
Belize
Themes: Urban resilience, adaptation
Conduct vulnerability assessments of the national coastal area to identify threats and trends, including an initial assessment in 2022 and biennial updates to 2030.
Develop and implement a national marine dredging policy with robust guidelines for minimizing impact to coastal wetlands and coral reefs
Long-Term Adaptation Ambition
NDCs included more comprehensive and achievable adaptation strategies, including additional sectors, more specific measures and institutional arrangements.
Aligning long-term strategies
CAEP support focused on facilitating the alignment of strategies with national plans and conducting studies on climate risk and vulnerability.
CAEP support identified barriers
23 of those countries received linked CAEP support, demonstrating that outlining the barriers to adaptation is useful for identifying capacity gaps and planning how they could be addressed.
Addressing gaps takes action further
Understanding these barriers enables countries to develop and implement effective, long-term adaptation strategies.
Country Example: Identifying barriers to NDC adaptation strategies
Namibia
Namibia’s NDC identified barriers to implementation on a sectoral basis, including institutional, technological, organizational, and financial barriers. This allowed the government to highlight resource mobilization needs for implementing the NDC.
The NDC Partnership helped Namibia overcome three of these barriers: risks around investments in climate activities, funding needs, and technical expertise. It did so through a coordinated and collaborative process that linked the government with experts and implementing partners.
For example, the NDC Partnership’s financial and technical support helped Namibia close information gaps around low-carbon technology investments. To improve the risk–return profile of those investments, CAEP conducted an analysis of various de-risking instruments, including insurance, guarantees, and derivative-based products.
Quality
Enhanced NDC quality supporting detailed, achievable, and strategic targets
From analytical and technical support to engagement and capacity building, CAEP support has been linked to enhancements within all assessed countries.
Process
Demonstrated enhancement in NDC transparency and inclusiveness
CAEP activities focused on NDC processes had a strong emphasis on engagement and consultation, supporting more transparent and inclusive NDCs.