In New York, Countries Show Climate Action is at the Top of Their Agenda
25 Sept. 2025, New York — At the Special High-Level Event on Climate Action, over 120 countries made clear that climate action is at the top of their agenda.
Even amidst rising geopolitical tensions, political leadership and ownership remain strong, with countries recognizing climate action as key to unlocking climate-resilient economic growth and development.
As countries anchor climate goals in national development strategies, Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) are becoming central to broader domestic priorities — creating opportunities for economic growth and risk mitigation.
“Economic growth and climate action are inseparable. Ignore the climate, and development will unravel,” said President William Ruto of Kenya.
Countries are using third-round NDCs as tools to drive development. Nigeria aligned its NDC with the Climate Change Act and Energy Transition Plan, targeting 840,000 new jobs by 2060. Brazil aims to protect 6 million hectares of Amazon rainforest by 2030 and 24 million by 2050 — efforts that could generate more than 10 million jobs and strengthen the bioeconomy.
NDCs are the best tool countries have to deliver cleaner air, more reliable food supplies and stronger protection from floods — directing finance to national priorities like irrigation, clean energy and coastal protection. When grounded in sectoral detail, financing strategies, credible policies and inclusive processes, NDCs build investor confidence and attract the funding needed to turn plans into action.
The event took place amid growing calls for countries to submit their NDCs ahead of COP30, ensuring a clear picture of global ambition. Nearly 190 are expected to submit an NDC — most by the end of the year — signaling the urgency for countries to finalize and deliver pledges that unlock the transformational benefits of climate action.
“The timing of submissions matters, but so does the quality of an NDC,” says Pablo Vieira, Global Director of the NDC Partnership. “Countries need strong technical and political foundations to deliver NDCs that are actionable, nationally backed and capable of mobilizing finance for implementation.”
NDC development is a deliberate process requiring time, consensus building and technical rigor. Timely NDC submissions indicate the trajectory of climate action — but real impact comes when NDCs set out concrete actions, reflect broad national consensus and attract finance for implementation.
The NDC Partnership has supported nearly 100 countries in preparing their third-round NDCs. Since 2023, countries have received support for a range of needs, from modeling and costing to coordinating government stakeholders and engaging civil society and the private sector. This work helps countries move from planning to implementation, turning NDCs into funded programs, policies and projects.
“Countries recognize climate action as a catalyst for growth and development — not separate from prosperity but fundamental to it,” says Pablo Vieira, Global Director of the NDC Partnership. “As countries anchor climate goals into their national development strategies, climate action is becoming more deeply rooted in broader domestic priorities.”
With their NDCs, countries are not just responding to risk — they are reshaping development and pursuing economic opportunities.
Photo by vacant / Adobe Stock