A guide to INDCS intended nationally determined contributions

This guide is intended to support the preparation of Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) by Least Developed Countries (LDCs) for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). It was initiated at the request of several LDCs, who asked for practical guidance, tailored to their needs. This guide was developed in consultation with a range of stakeholders, including authors of existing INDC guidance, LDC representatives and organisations working with CDKN to support INDC preparations. It seeks to address the broad spectrum of approaches being considered by LDCs in preparing their INDCs, reflecting their different national circumstances and levels of capacity, preparedness and ambition. 

 

This guide is not an official UNFCCC publication nor is it endorsed by the UNFCCC. The views within are those of CDKN and Ricardo-AEA, based on their experience of supporting the development of INDCs in a number of countries, and not of any Party or Government. This template is not mandatory and Parties should adapt this information as needed in light of their national circumstances.

 

The Lima Call for Climate Action agreed at the 20th Conference of the Parties (COP20)  reiterated the invitation to all Parties to develop and communicate INDCs as their ‘contributions’ towards achieving the ultimate objective of Article 2 of the UNFCCC: “to achieve … stabilisation of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system”.

 

Recognising concerns about the legal nature of INDCs, the decision also noted that arrangements for INDC preparation and submission were “without prejudice to the legal nature and content of the intended nationally determined contributions of Parties or to the content of the protocol, another legal instrument or agreed outcome with legal force under the Convention applicable to all Parties”.2 Further, the Lima COP agreed that special provisions would apply to LDCs i.e. that their INDCs “may communicate information on strategies, plans and actions for low greenhouse gas emission development reflecting their special circumstances” (although the precise implications of this wording are unclear).

 

This means that while the INDCs of developed countries are expected to include absolute or economy-wide emission reduction commitments, LDCs can draw on specific strategies, plans or projects to formulate their contributions, and specify the component of the contribution that would be conditional upon receiving international finance or other support.

 

This guide serves as a practical tool for LDCs to support their INDC preparations. In doing so, it addresses a number of common challenges that LDCs face: