A worker checks a solar installation on a roof in Santiago de Chile.

    Climate change and development policy NDC Partnership

    In the Paris Agreement, the international community has committed to limit global warming to well below two, and preferably 1.5, degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

    A novel feature of the Paris Agreement is that it is the first time that industrialised countries, developing countries and emerging economies alike have made a commitment to contribute to this goal, by submitting Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). In their NDCs, countries set out their plans for cutting emissions and adapting to climate change.

    The current NDCs are still not sufficiently ambitious to allow the Paris climate goals to be reached. The parties to the Agreement have therefore committed to continuously update their NDCs – which are at the core of the Agreement – and to raise ambition. This commitment involves submitting new, more ambitious NDCs every five years. The most recent revised NDCs (NDCs 3.0) were submitted by many parties at the 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30) in Belém in November 2025.

    In order to assist developing and emerging economies in implementing their NDCs in line with the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda, the German Development Ministry (BMZ) joined together in 2016 with the Environment Ministry (BMUKN) and international partners to establish the global NDC Partnership.

    Background The NDC Partnership at a glance

    Logo: NDC Partnership
    Still from the video "NDC Partnership"

    Video NDC Partnership: A brief overview

    The NDC Partnership, a multilateral alliance, has more than 270 members, including over 140 countries and more than 120 institutions (such as international organisations, development banks, research institutes, international partnerships and globally operating associations).

    The aim of the NDC Partnership is to assist countries in aligning the goals of the Paris Agreement with the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda. Countries which join the NDC Partnership can request support for specific efforts, for instance with regard to planning, financing or implementing their NDCs. The Partnership's development partners and implementing organisations then offer them a tailor-made package of expertise, technical assistance and financing. Civil society partners such as non-governmental organisations, research institutions and the private sector are also involved in this process.

    To facilitate NDC implementation, it is essential to translate abstract climate goals into concrete actions, budget decisions and investment plans – for the national, regional and municipal levels, and also for sectors, for example energy and water. The purpose of the support is not only to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and build resilience against the impacts of climate change but also to facilitate equitable sustainable development for the people.

    In addition to supporting the implementation of NDCs, the NDC Partnership assists member countries in updating their Nationally Determined Contributions and Long-Term Strategies. As in previous rounds, the Partnership offered a support programme for the most recent “NDCs 3.0” round of updates, which were to be submitted by the end of 2025. The programme met with a lot of demand.

    Another important element of the Partnership is the facilitation of exchange of knowledge and experience. The NDC 3.0 Navigator offers countries and partners information on how to make their NDCs more ambitious and how to implement and finance their activities effectively.

    German activities

    Solar park Soroti in Uganda

    Solar park Soroti in Uganda

    Germany is a founding member of the NDC Partnership and is making a significant contribution to the Partnership's support for partner countries. With its seat on the Steering Committee, it provides strategic direction to the Partnership. The purpose of these efforts is to ensure that the Partnership can respond quickly and flexibly to member countries' needs in the areas of climate and development.

    BMZ-funded multilateral programmes such as the Climate Promise of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) respond in a targeted fashion to NDC Partnership members' requests for support. As contributions to the NDC Partnership, the BMZ is also funding projects in partner countries that are implemented, for example, by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).

    4th National Meeting of the Platform of Indigenous Peoples on Climate Change (PIPCC) from 9 to 11 August 2023, focusing on the development of the climate finance strategy and the national position for COP28.

    Peru: Cooperation in action Dialogue processes – a key climate policy instrument

    Peru is putting the focus on dialogue. In order to give, if possible, all stakeholders a chance to make their voices heard in climate policymaking, Peru fosters dialogue with a diverse range of interest groups and particularly encourages participation by Indigenous Peoples and regional communities. The results of these dialogues are taken into account in Peru's national climate strategy.

    King Talal Dam outflow in Jordan

    Jordan: Cooperation in action Analyses and policy reforms for evidence-led implementation of the NDCs

    Jordan is one of the most water-poor countries in the world, and climate change is exacerbating the situation. The public drinking water supply and adequate water provision for agriculture are already in jeopardy, which is particularly affecting vulnerable groups within society – people in poverty and many of the several million displaced people hosted by Jordan, many of whom live in poor urban districts or temporary housing.

    BMZ videos

    Still from the video "NDC Navigator 3.0"

    NDC 3.0 Navigator

    The NDC 3.0 Navigator is an interactive knowledge tool that supports the submission of new Nationally Determined Contributions for 2035 to 2040. It pools information on ambitious, socially just, inclusive NDCs – information that is technically precise and can be implemented with strong impact.

    Still from the video "NDC knowledge portal"

    NDC Partnership Knowledge Portal

    The NDC Partnership Knowledge Portal provides guidance to countries as they draft updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs 3.0). It provides an overview of data, tools, guidelines, good practice, and funding opportunities.

    As at: 30/09/2026