HUMAN RIGHTS-BASED NDCs 2025

This guidebook provides civil society organizations with tools and strategies to ensure that Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) are based on human rights, emphasizing the obligations of Paris Agreement Parties and the effectiveness of human rights-based climate policies.

• Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) are national plans required every five years by Parties to the Paris Agreement to show their contributions to global climate goals, reflecting their highest ambition and progress regarding equity.
• Parties to the Paris Agreement are obligated to respect, protect, and consider human rights commitments, including gender equality and just transition, within climate action. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has stated that human rights-based policies are the most effective form of climate action.
• The guide outlines four primary actions for civil society to ensure human rights-aligned NDCs: contacting governments to call for strong NDCs, exercising the right to participate in the drafting process, reviewing NDCs for ambition and human rights, and holding governments accountable for implementation.
• To be aligned with international climate objectives and human rights obligations, NDCs should include specific standards such as fossil fuel phase out, participatory planning, gender justice, Indigenous Peoples’ rights and traditional knowledge, land tenure, and a just transition.

APA

Center for International Environmental Law (2025). HUMAN RIGHTS-BASED NDCs 2025. https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/NDC-Guidebook-for-CSOs_May2025.pdf

Chicago

Center for International Environmental Law. HUMAN RIGHTS-BASED NDCs 2025. 2025. https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/NDC-Guidebook-for-CSOs_May2025.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Center for International Environmental Law |title=HUMAN RIGHTS-BASED NDCs 2025 |date=2025 |url=https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/NDC-Guidebook-for-CSOs_May2025.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{centerforinternationalenvironmentallaw2025human, author = {{Center for International Environmental Law}}, title = {{HUMAN RIGHTS-BASED NDCs 2025}}, institution = {Center for International Environmental Law}, year = {2025}, url = {https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/NDC-Guidebook-for-CSOs_May2025.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }