Changes

Taken together, the NDCs determine whether or not the world will achieve the long-term goals of the Paris Agreement<ref>[https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/the-paris-agreement/nationally-determined-contributions-ndcs/nationally-determined-contributions-ndcs UNFCC Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) definition] </ref>. If all the current goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions were met – and we don’t know yet if they will – this is likely to result in at least 3°C of global warming, despite the goal of the 2015 Paris Agreement to limit warming to well below 2°C<ref name=":8" />.  

Taken together, the NDCs determine whether or not the world will achieve the long-term goals of the Paris Agreement<ref>[https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/the-paris-agreement/nationally-determined-contributions-ndcs/nationally-determined-contributions-ndcs UNFCC Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) definition] </ref>. If all the current goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions were met – and we don’t know yet if they will – this is likely to result in at least 3°C of global warming, despite the goal of the 2015 Paris Agreement to limit warming to well below 2°C<ref name=":8" />.  

Because the current NDCs are not sufficient to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement, new NDCs are submitted every five years to the UN. The intention is for each country to get more ambitious in its targets, based on the goals of the Paris Agreement. Each country establishes different goals. For example, the EU has committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 55 percent by 2030<ref>[https://ec.europa.eu/clima/policies/strategies/2030_en EU 2030 Climate & Energy Framework]</ref> and the UK by 78 percent by 2035<ref>[https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-enshrines-new-target-in-law-to-slash-emissions-by-78-by-2035 UK enshrines new target in law to slash emissions by 78% by 2035]</ref>. France and the UK are among countries that have made reaching net zero by 2050 a legal requirement. Japan, South Africa, Argentina, Mexico and the EU have all announced goals to reach net zero by 2050<ref>[https://wedocs.unep.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.11822/34438/EGR20ESE.pdf?sequence=25 UN Emissions Gap Report 2020 - Executive Summary]</ref>. China pledged to reach ‘peak emissions’ by 2030^{^[4]} before transitioning to net zero by the end of 2060<ref>[https://apnews.com/article/europe-business-china-environment-and-nature-climate-change-7e29d68ea8a77ee8ebbe1460f0f09ffd China sticks to goal of having carbon emissions peak by 2030]</ref>.

Because the current NDCs are not sufficient to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement, new NDCs are submitted every five years to the UN. The intention is for each country to get more ambitious in its targets, based on the goals of the Paris Agreement. Each country establishes different goals. For example, the EU has committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 55 percent by 2030<ref>[https://ec.europa.eu/clima/policies/strategies/2030_en EU 2030 Climate & Energy Framework]</ref> and the UK by 78 percent by 2035<ref>[https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-enshrines-new-target-in-law-to-slash-emissions-by-78-by-2035 UK enshrines new target in law to slash emissions by 78% by 2035]</ref>. France and the UK are among countries that have made reaching net zero by 2050 a legal requirement. Japan, South Africa, Argentina, Mexico and the EU have all announced goals to reach net zero by 2050<ref name=":7" />. China pledged to reach ‘peak emissions’ by 2030^{^[4]} before transitioning to net zero by the end of 2060<ref>[https://apnews.com/article/europe-business-china-environment-and-nature-climate-change-7e29d68ea8a77ee8ebbe1460f0f09ffd China sticks to goal of having carbon emissions peak by 2030]</ref>.