Fresh on the heels of the rapid entry into force of the Paris Climate Change Agreement on 4 November 2016, the first long-term strategies have been submitted by the United States, Mexico, Germany and Canada.

The United States has presented a pathway for emissions reductions of 80 percent or more below 2005 levels by 2050. Mexico's pathway is a 50% reduction of greenhouse gases by 2050 compared to the year 2000. Germany has the goal of "extensive greenhouse gas neutrality" by 2050. Canada's emissions reduction goal is for net emissions to fall by 80% by 2050 compared to 2005 levels, consistent with the Paris Agreement's objective of a maximum global average temperature rise of 1.5°C to 2°C.

The Paris Agreement encourages all Parties to formulate and publish long-term low greenhouse gas emission strategies.

Further long-term climate change strategies are expected to be published by countries in the near future. This is further testimony to the continued global momentum for strengthened action on climate change.

Even before the historic climate change conference in Paris in 2015, during which the Paris Agreement was adopted, countries submitted national climate action plans (Nationally Determined Contributions, or NDCs), which detail what each country will contribute to the global response to climate change, in line with their national circumstances. The long-term climate strategies complement countries’ NDCs.

To view published long-term strategies, see here

To view the NDC registry, see here