Reception: Celebrating NDC Leadership

This event is an opportunity to celebrate those countries that demonstrated true climate leadership by presenting 2035 Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) that are ambitious, comprehensive, and implementable. The reception will provide an opportunity to recognize countries with NDCs that are 1.5C-aligned, and on a credible path towards their respective net zero goals.

One of the defining elements of international climate policy in 2025 is the submission of NDCs with a 2035 target date. The implementation of these national pledges will set the global climate trajectory for the next decade. They represent the last real chance to keep global temperature rise of 1.5C within reach, and avoid the most catastrophic impacts of climate change.

Though many of the NDCs submitted to date fall short of the ambition needed, a number of countries have stepped forth with ambitious 2035 targets, and are setting clear implementation strategies to achieve the NDC goals. These absolute, economy-wide NDCs demonstrate the bold political leadership and commitment to action needed to put the world on a 1.5C trajectory.

Many of these countries include a strong focus on nature in their NDCs and implementation plans, with forests, grasslands, and wetlands providing critical sequestration to help accelerate progress towards net zero emissions. Some of these countries have already achieved net zero status, with nature capturing more greenhouse gases each year than the country emits.

This reception will celebrate countries that have demonstrated real climate leadership with ambitious 2035 NDCs, and the role nature will play in putting the world on the path to a safer climate future.