Sandeep Pai, Siddhant Chandra, Aaratrica Kashyap, Vidyapati Bajpai, Kumar Abhishek
Executive Summary
As we approach COP 30 in Brazil in 2025, this pivotal moment presents an opportunity to enhance the ambition of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) through strategic global engagement. At the heart of these efforts is the ratchet mechanism enshrined in the Paris Agreement, which enables countries to progressively increase their climate ambitions every five years. However, the current trajectory based on existing NDC pledges is insufficient, with a predicted rise in temperatures of 2.5 – 2.9°C above pre-industrial levels, which would be disastrous for the climate. This alarming gap emphasizes the need for stronger NDC commitments, including from Global South countries.
This study explores the role of elected representatives, particularly parliamentarians in the Global South, in making NDCs more ambitious. It focuses on three key countries from the Global South—India, Kenya, and South Africa—examining how parliamentarians can influence the NDC process. Our research identifies key ways parliamentarians can impact the formulation and implementation of NDCs, offering valuable insights for strengthening climate commitments globally.
Below, we give some insights into how parliamentarians can influence the NDC process.
- Advocate for stronger NDCs at the international level. At the international level, parliamentarians can push for stronger climate commitments by engaging with global climate bodies, promoting ratification of international climate treaties, and fostering collaborative dialogues on NDC targets.
- Push for legislative action through parliamentary procedures. Depending on the country, parliamentarians have significant leverage at the national level through legislative tools such as introducing bills, debating NDC-related motions, questioning government actions, and engaging in committee meetings. This gives them formal channels to drive the adoption of ambitious climate policies and push for more robust NDC commitments.
- Wield influence through their formalized roles in the parliamentary committees. In countries like Kenya, the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Environment, Forestry and Mining debates and reviews climate change matters where they can make efforts to ensure that the NDCs reflect broader public interests including economic and social concerns.
- Advocate for ambitious NDCs in various public forums, building pressure on decision makers. Parliamentarians can advocate for stronger NDCs using various domestic forums. For example, in South Africa, parliamentarians can convene constituency meetings to ensure that the diverse needs of communities—including businesses, labor groups, women, and youth—are considered in NDC targets. This inclusivity helps ensure that the NDCs are not just government-driven, but reflect the aspirations and developmental needs of all stakeholders.