Implementing the Paris Agreement on Climate Change

Context

The signing of the Paris Agreement in December 2015 marked the beginning of a new chapter in international cooperation on climate change. For the first time, nearly all of the member states of the United Nations are now contributing to the fight against climate change. Their common goal: limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

To achieve this objective, all the countries have committed to developing their own climate targets in the framework of their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). They will also be submitting reports on their emissions and activities as part of an Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF) and devising corresponding long-term strategies (LTSs). The international community is supporting developing countries in fulfilling their obligations.

Objective

The implementing countries achieve their Nationally Determined Contributions, pursue their long-term strategies and build national systems to measure and report on their greenhouse gas emissions.

Approach

The project is providing technical guidance on implementing the NDCs, LTSs and ETF. It is designing platforms to foster political dialogue and mutual learning among the countries. In addition, it is supporting the countries in building up their capabilities and is disseminating knowledge and case studies to facilitate the efficient, effective and tailored implementation of climate policies during each NDC cycle. To this end, the project is working with the consulting firms adelphi, Edge Effects and denkmodell.

The project is strengthening two global initiatives and networks that are providing support to the countries: the Partnership on Transparency in the Paris Agreement (PATPA) and the NDC Partnership (NDCP). In its role as the secretariat of PATPA, for example, it is helping to create a space in which countries can discuss matters openly – including sensitive topics in the context of climate negotiations. It is also involved in processes in more than 40 developing countries around the world where NDCP is improving access to climate finance.

Last update: January 2023