Cooler NDCs, Safer Futures

Updated every five years, Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) are countries’ climate plans under the Paris Agreement, setting out how they will reduce emissions and adapt to climate impacts. NDCs 3.0 represent the third round of these national plans, following the first submissions in 2015 and updated versions in 2020. The first Global Stocktake confirmed that current commitments remain insufficient to limit global warming to 1.5°C, underscoring the need for stronger and more integrated action across sectors. Cooling is a critical factor that can make the difference, as it sits at the intersection of mitigation and adaptation: it can significantly reduce emissions through improved energy efficiency and refrigerant management, while also protecting people, productivity, and public health as extreme heat intensifies. Embedding sustainable cooling in NDCs 3.0 therefore enables countries to translate higher ambition into practical, near-term action that delivers development, resilience, and fairness in a warming world.