UN-Led NDC 3.0 Forum in Istanbul Emphasizes Urgent Climate Action for Eastern Europe and Central Asia

In early September 2024, the United Nations, with support from the Government of Türkiye, hosted the ‘NDC 3.0 Regional Forum for Eastern Europe and Central Asia’ in Istanbul. The event, titled “Pathways to Progress: Crafting Ambitious and Implementable NDCs,” is the third in a series of regional fora designed to increase ambition in the next round of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement.

Countries are required to submit new NDCs, known as NDCs 3.0, in 2025. These plans aim to establish ambitious, economy-wide emission reduction targets for 2035 that align with limiting global warming to 1.5°C while increasing resilience to climate impacts. The forum, organized by the UN Development Programme (UNDP), UN Environment Programme (UNEP), and the NDC Partnership, in collaboration with the UNFCCC secretariat and supported by partners like FAO and UNICEF, provided a critical platform for discussing how countries can accelerate climate action.

Representatives from 17 countries, along with UN organizations and partners like GIZ, IRENA, and the Asian Development Bank, participated. Discussions focused on lessons from previous NDCs, sectoral and regional opportunities, financing NDC 3.0, and the integration of social and economic considerations to enhance climate action and sustainable development. Amid growing concerns about the state of the global climate, the forum highlighted the urgent need for immediate, coordinated action.

The UNEP Emissions Gap Report 2023 underlines the gravity of the situation, warning that current climate pledges could result in a global temperature rise of 2.5-2.9°C by the end of the century. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) emphasizes the need for global greenhouse gas emissions to decrease by 43% by 2030 and 60% by 2035, compared to 2019 levels, to keep global warming within the 1.5°C target.

In his opening remarks, Professor Dr. Halil Hasar, President of Climate Change Directorate at Türkiye’s Ministry of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change, stressed the urgency of addressing climate threats, referencing over 1,500 climate-related disasters in Türkiye in 2024 alone. He announced that Türkiye’s national climate change strategy and adaptation plans were being revised, with a long-term climate strategy to be finalized soon. Azerbaijan’s Deputy Minister of Energy, Elnur Sultanov, and COP29 Youth Climate Champion, Leyla Hasanova, echoed the call for immediate action, emphasizing the far-reaching impact of today’s climate decisions.

Experts at the forum called on countries in the region to take a leadership role in the global energy transition, leveraging their potential in renewable energy and dynamic economies. A key takeaway was the need for a “whole-of-society approach” to climate action, ensuring the meaningful engagement of all societal groups in shaping future NDCs.

Throughout the event, participants explored how to make NDCs more investable and better aligned with national policy frameworks. Effective monitoring and tracking were emphasized as crucial for ensuring transparency in climate commitments. Participants reflected on lessons from previous NDC cycles, identifying challenges such as limited access to climate finance, data quality issues, and the need for political support to meet ambitious climate targets. Strengthening monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) processes, as well as fostering private sector engagement, were proposed as solutions to address these gaps.

Financing remains a significant barrier to achieving climate goals, and participants discussed innovative approaches to attract investment. UNDP and its partners emphasized the importance of making NDCs attractive to private investors to unlock necessary resources for implementation.

On the second day, discussions focused on sector-specific solutions, with countries highlighting best practices for driving climate action in key areas. Regional cooperation was identified as essential for accelerating the shift to renewable energy, while sustainable agriculture and nature-based solutions were seen as critical for building resilience in sectors like water and farming.

The forum concluded with a focus on tracking NDC progress, including the Biennial Transparency Reports (BTRs), due by December 31, 2024. These reports are vital for maintaining accountability and ensuring the effective implementation of NDCs on the ground.

The forum reinforced the UN Secretary-General’s call for UNDP to leverage its Climate Promise 2025 initiative to drive coordinated, system-wide support for NDCs. Since its launch in 2019, UNDP’s Climate Promise has become the world’s largest provider of support for NDCs, assisting 85% of developing countries with their submissions to the UNFCCC secretariat.

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