What Are Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and Why Do They Matter?

From soaring temperatures to raging wildfires and catastrophic floods, the impacts of climate change have been impossible to ignore. The mounting toll of these disasters on communities, ecosystems and economies is evidence that the world has not yet done nearly enough to halt the climate crisis.

It's not that progress isn't happening. Electric vehicle sales continue to climb; renewables made up more than 90% of new energy additions in 2024; and innovative climate solutions are cropping up in communities around the globe. But keeping temperature rise below 1.5-2 degrees C (2.7-3.6 degrees F) — the thresholds set by the Paris Agreement — will require more and faster action on every front.

2025 offers a pivotal opportunity to achieve this goal. New national climate commitments, known as "nationally determined contributions" (NDCs), are due this year for the first time since 2020. The NDCs will detail countries' plans to slash emissions and build resilience to climate impacts over the next decade. If they are ambitious enough, they could chart a path toward a safer and more livable future for everyone.

But what exactly are NDCs? And why are they so critical to halting climate change?