2022 Review of climate ambition in Asia and the Pacific raising NDC targets with enhanced nature-based solutions

As of August 2022, 39 out of the 49 Asia-Pacific member States included in this report have made carbon neutrality and net-zero pledges, and have started developing enabling frameworks to the support implementation of their commitments. However, very few of these pledges are supported by updated and ambitious NDC commitments that will scale down greenhouse gas emissions to keep global warming within 1.5°C pathway. The Asia-Pacific region will only be able to drive ambitious climate action when such pledges are supported with higher ambition of NDC commitments. Since COP26, 13 countries have updated their approach to fight climate change. Progress is being made across different subregions, and by countries with different income levels. While there is some progress in developing synergies between green growth, development strategies and long-term low emissions strategies, more can be achieved during the NDC updates process, which can start anytime with a final submission in 2025. Indeed, those Asia-Pacific countries that have included innovation and roll out of decarbonization technologies will be at an advantage during the implementation of their commitments. Given the current volume of greenhouse gas emissions in the Asia-
pacific region, it is important to focus on removing the barriers to decarnonization of key and carbon-intensive sectors through phasing down and phasing out coal, reducing dependence on other fossil fuels, scaling up penetration of renewable energy resources and e-mobility, and enhancing energy efficiency, as well as encouraging low-carbon recovery from COVID-19 pandemic, which can create jobs and contribute to sustainable economic revival.