Making Sense of Countries’ Paris Agreement Climate Pledges

When the Paris Agreement was adopted in 2015, countries agreed to return in five years to make a new round of climate commitments, known as nationally determined contributions, or NDCs. Countries whose initial commitments extended through 2025 would make new commitments, while countries whose commitments extended through 2030 would communicate or update them.

Delayed a year by the coronavirus pandemic, the United Nations established October 12 as the deadline for these communications to be included in the synthesis they will present at COP26 in Glasgow. (Countries also have the option to submit NDCs after that date.) With the deadline past and COP26 days away, now is a good time to take stock of the countries’ commitments.Read More…