Background

The effective implementation of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) is fundamental to translating climate pledges into tangible action and measurable progress. Successful NDC implementation demonstrates a country's commitment to achieving its climate goals, fosters credibility within the international community, and provides critical insights for the development of future NDCs. Further, it can contribute to national social and economic development while offering opportunities to catalyze the transformation of key sectors, stimulate innovation in clean technologies, and facilitate the mobilization of climate finance by sending clear signals to investors, thereby creating a positive feedback loop that supports increasingly ambitious climate action.

A large number of developing countries continue to encounter significant challenges in accessing climate finance, which is a key enabler for NDC implementation and crucial for raising ambition in the design and implementation of NDCs. This was clearly highlighted by several countries that participated at the 2024 NDC Regional Forums that were organized by the secretariat in collaboration with UNEP, UNDP, and the NDC Partnership.

Building on these 2024 NDC Forums, the UNFCCC secretariat, working closely with UNEP, UNDP, and the NDC Partnership, will organize an NDC Clinic at the first Climate Week 2025: Dialogue for Ambition and Implementation. This will be the first in a series of such capacity-building activities that will take place throughout the year. Given that the first Climate Week will be hosted by the Government of Panama, this NDC Clinic will incorporate both regional and global perspectives, showcasing best practices from Latin America and the Caribbean to a global audience, and exploring the application of global experiences to enhance action within the region.

Objectives

The NDC Clinic will aim to provide practical support to the participating countries for exchanging knowledge and experiences in the following key areas:

• Needs for NDC implementation, covering requirements for accessing means of implementation mainly through understanding different sources of finance.
• Enabling alignment around NDC implementation and broader policy frameworks, including strengthening institutional capacities and inter-ministerial coordination.
• Enhanced understanding of different approaches to attract private capital, including by tracking progress, gaps and needs in NDC implementation under the Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF), as well as through innovative financial instruments such as incentives, risk mitigation approaches and blended finance.
• Strategies to attract private capital and enhance private sector engagement, including financial institutions and private investors, as well as effective broader stakeholder engagement in NDC implementation.
• Knowledge-based NDC implementation and integrating scientific data into NDC investment planning to maximize climate, economic and social impact.