Ambition for action: a framework for assessing NDCs

For NDCs to drive meaningful action on the ground, they must include short-term actions which directly address the drivers of emissions—not just emission targets—based on a long-term development perspective that identifies systemic transformations. This requires a shift in how NDCs are perceived: from ambition-binding commitments to strategic instruments that demonstrate differentiated leadership and enable international collaboration. In this context, this Policy Brief provides a framework to assess new NDCs as they come out.