NDC Partnership Delegation Champions Climate Action in New York City
In September, government and civil society and business leaders gathered for New York Climate Week, held alongside the U.N. General Assembly. The NDC Partnership delegation, including Co-Chairs, Steering Committee members and the Support Unit Global Director Pablo Vieira and members of the team engaged in high-level discussions focused on navigating a just energy transition, climate finance targets, private sector engagement in NDC development and assessing the state of climate action since the Global Stocktake. The NDC Partnership Steering Committee also convened for a two-day session to set the strategic direction of the Partnership, with Co-Chairs Dr. Valentine Uwamariya, Minister of Environment of Rwanda, and Lars Aagaard, Denmark’s Minister for Climate, Energy and Utilities, reaffirming their commitment to advancing ambitious climate action under the Paris Agreement.
Throughout the week, the Partnership engaged in multiple fora focused on NDC investments. At a private sector roundtable co-hosted with the U.N. Global Compact, countries, businesses, investors and the High-Level Climate Champions highlighted the critical role of private sector engagement. The Partnership also teamed up with Africa Investor and the Sustainable Markets Initiative to promote early investor involvement in NDC-aligned projects. These high-level events were complemented by engagements with the German Federal Foreign Office, South Africa’s Presidential Climate Commission, WRI and Boston Consulting Group, among other partners, to review NDC investment strategies and boost private investment in mitigation and adaptation.
The NDC Partnership also spotlighted efforts needed to raise ambition in the lead-up to COP30 in Belém, including linking climate change and biodiversity actions. In a joint event with UNDP, IUCN and the NBSAP Accelerator Partnership, the UAE and Colombia — outgoing UNFCCC and incoming Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) COP Presidencies — showcased policies and financing mechanisms to align climate and biodiversity goals. At a side event organized by the Brazilian Center for International Relations, NDC Partnership Global Director Pablo Vieira emphasized that ramping up implementation is crucial to unlocking the ambition needed to address gaps identified in the Global Stocktake.
Other notable events included a Business Sweden roundtable on food system decarbonization with leading companies and global organizations like FAO, workshops on public-private cooperation and a just transitions panel where Danish Co-Chair Lars Aagaard and Rwandan Co-Chair representative Juliet Kabera championed just energy transitions that address community needs.
In a major announcement, the UAE pledged also support to the NDC Partnership through IRENA. Pablo Vieira celebrated the contribution, noting, “Today’s commitment by the UAE exemplifies the spirit of alignment IRENA brings to the Partnership.” This funding will help 20 developing countries integrate key outcomes of the UAE Consensus into their NDCs 3.0.
Read more about how the NDC Partnership is advancing global climate action and our support in NDC 3.0 preparation.