Strengthening Nationally Determined Contributions to catalyze actions that reduce short-lived climate pollutants

Early and ambitious action to reduce short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs) is essential to achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals. SLCPs include methane, hydrofluorocarbons, black carbon, and tropospheric ozone. Actions to reduce these highly potent pollutants help avoid crossing important thresholds, such as a 1.5°C temperature rise above pre-industrial levels, and potential climatic tipping points, which will affect poor and vulnerable communities first and worst. Despite the importance of reducing SLCPs, actions to mitigate these potent pollutants were often underrepresented in the first nationally determined contributions (NDCs) submitted by Parties to the Paris Agreement. This paper presents a set of options for how targets, policies, and actions on SLCPs can be incorporated in new or updated NDCs to support the achievement of global climate goals and national development objectives.