Credit: UN Climate Change

UN Climate Change News, 28 October 2024 – On 18 October 2024, UN Climate Change, in collaboration with the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and UNEP, hosted a learning and knowledge sharing event in Geneva that brought together 20 parliamentarians and parliamentary staff from small island developing states (SIDS) and least developed countries (LDCs) to discuss their vital role in advancing and implementing national climate plans (known as nationally determined contributions or NDCs).

The full-day event, held on the margins of the 149th IPU Assembly, centred on the upcoming NDC 3.0 cycle, a critical milestone in global climate action as nations prepare to submit updated NDCs in 2025. Parliamentarians from countries including Benin, Burundi, Burkina Faso, Djibouti, Fiji and Seychelles explored how to enhance NDC ambition and overcome implementation challenges, while also participating in peer-to-peer exchanges to share experiences and best practices.

Resources for NDC Support

UN Climate Change presented on the Paris Agreement’s ambition cycle and introduced resources like the NDC 3.0 Navigator and the NDC Partnership, aimed at empowering parliamentarians with practical tools for advancing NDC 3.0.

UNEP introduced the Montevideo Environmental Law Programme and its digital Law and Environment Assistance Platform, which offers technical legal support for developing environmental legislation. UNEP also highlighted its updated Climate Change Framework Laws Module within the Law and Climate Change Toolkit.

The IPU presented its new guide, 10 Actions to Strengthen National Climate Commitments, and an update on its Parliaments for the Planet campaign, which seeks to mobilize legislative bodies for stronger NDC implementation through legislation, budget prioritization, and government accountability.

Training and Best Practices for Climate Legislation

A practical session provided real-world examples of climate legislation, building capacity for parliamentarians to develop and review climate laws that align with NDC goals.

Participants gained first-hand experience on scrutinizing bills and existing climate laws to ensure they feature clear objectives, appropriate rules, solid implementation mechanisms, understandable and accessible language, and effective monitoring and review systems.

Parliamentarians expressed a strong interest in continuing to build their capacities on Paris Agreement implementation through domestic climate legislation. Several participants committed to advancing climate action within their respective parliaments to drive NDC implementation and strengthen responses to climate change.

The 20 participants left the session with a renewed understanding of the importance of their role in meeting climate goals and implementing effective, impactful climate legislation.