Photo Source: MADANI Berkelanjutan
Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) are a key component of the 2015 Paris Agreement, focusing on each country's commitment to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and addressing climate change. NDCs play a vital role in global climate action by setting concrete national targets and measures that contribute to the collective goal of limiting global warming to below 2°C, while pursuing efforts to keep it below 1.5°C.
NDCs are not merely national commitments; they are also a fundamental part of the global framework for climate mitigation and adaptation. Through NDCs, the Paris Agreement provides a platform for countries to collaborate, exchange knowledge, and develop innovative solutions for a more sustainable future.
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Through these commitments, countries work collectively toward a shared objective while taking into account their respective national circumstances. By increasing ambition during each reporting cycle, NDCs are expected to encourage countries to continuously strengthen their efforts to tackle climate change and its impacts.
Five Reasons Why NDCs Are Essential in Addressing Climate Change
1. Driving Global Climate Action
NDCs allow countries to establish greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction targets based on their national circumstances. This flexibility creates a global platform where every country contributes to limiting global warming to below 2°C, while recognizing differences in economic development and national capabilities.
2. Strengthening Transparency and Accountability
The Paris Agreement requires countries to regularly report their progress toward achieving their NDC targets. This reporting mechanism enables the international community to assess whether countries are fulfilling their commitments. Greater transparency and accountability help ensure countries remain on track to meet their emission reduction goals.
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3. Encouraging Greater Climate Ambition
NDCs are designed to be dynamic, allowing countries to review and strengthen their commitments every five years. This process enables governments to update their climate goals in response to advances in technology, evolving policies, and changing global circumstances. Regular revisions create opportunities to continuously raise global climate ambition.
4. Providing a Framework for International Cooperation
NDCs serve as the foundation for international cooperation on climate action. The Paris Agreement promotes information sharing and collaboration among countries, facilitating the transfer of technology, financial resources, and knowledge. This cooperation is especially important for developing countries that may face challenges in implementing ambitious climate policies.
5. Demonstrating Political Commitment
NDCs reflect a country's politi
al commitment to climate action. By establishing clear and transparent climate targets, governments demonstrate to the international community that they are serious about addressing climate change. This political commitment helps encourage the investments and policy actions needed to reduce emissions and transition toward a more sustainable economy.
At present, the Indonesian Government is preparing its Second Nationally Determined Contribution (Second NDC). The updated document is expected to align with the global objective of limiting global temperature rise to 1.5°C by the end of the 21st century.
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The Second NDC will introduce new emission reduction commitments for the 2031–2035 period, covering both unconditional (domestically financed) and conditional (internationally supported) targets. Indonesia also plans to strengthen its transparency framework by updating the National Registry System (SRN) and improving its Measurement, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) system.
Given the worsening impacts of the climate crisis on communities across Indonesia, the emission reduction targets and climate mitigation policies outlined in the Second NDC are expected to be more ambitious than previous commitments. Equally important, the drafting process should be more transparent, inclusive, and participatory, ensuring meaningful engagement with vulnerable groups, including women, Indigenous Peoples and local communities, smallholder farmers, traditional fishers, persons with disabilities, and other marginalized communities.
