Global overview on inclusion of non-CO2 emissions in NDCs

This policy brief by the NewClimate Institute examines the inclusion of non-CO2 emissions (methane, nitrous oxide, and fluorinated gases) in Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), highlighting a general lack of gas-specific quantitative targets and focusing on the potential for China to increase its ambition in the next NDC cycle.

• Non-CO2 emissions account for approximately 25% of current global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, yet they generally receive less attention in NDCs than CO2 emissions, which threatens the goals of the Paris Agreement.
• There is a significant shortage of quantitative, gas-specific targets in NDCs. As of November 2023, only 20% of NDCs featured quantitative methane targets, while quantitative targets for nitrous oxide and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) are described as few or largely missing.
• Among the countries projected to have the largest non-CO2 emissions by 2030—China, the USA, Russia, India, and Brazil—only the USA has included specific targets or mentions for non-CO2 emissions in its NDC.
• China's current NDC focuses exclusively on CO2, despite non-CO2 gases representing 18% of its total national GHG emissions. However, China has indicated it will include non-CO2 gases in its updated NDC and has already launched the 2023 Methane Emissions Control Action Plan, though it lacks quantitative targets.
• International initiatives have influenced NDC ambition, particularly the Kigali Amendment, which has high G20 support (with Saudi Arabia as the only non-signatory). Other initiatives like the Global Methane Pledge and the Nitric Acid Climate Action Group have lower G20 participation.

APA

NewClimate Institute (2024). Global overview on inclusion of non-CO2 emissions in NDCs. http://www.newclimate.org/resources/publications/global-overview-on-inclusion-of-non-co2-emissions-in-ndcs

Chicago

NewClimate Institute. Global overview on inclusion of non-CO2 emissions in NDCs. 2024. http://www.newclimate.org/resources/publications/global-overview-on-inclusion-of-non-co2-emissions-in-ndcs.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=NewClimate Institute |title=Global overview on inclusion of non-CO2 emissions in NDCs |date=11 November 2024 |url=http://www.newclimate.org/resources/publications/global-overview-on-inclusion-of-non-co2-emissions-in-ndcs |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{newclimateinstitute2024global, author = {{NewClimate Institute}}, title = {{Global overview on inclusion of non-CO2 emissions in NDCs}}, institution = {NewClimate Institute}, year = {2024}, month = nov, url = {http://www.newclimate.org/resources/publications/global-overview-on-inclusion-of-non-co2-emissions-in-ndcs}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }