The NDC Partnership is a network of over 120 countries, facilitated by UNFCCC, that is dedicated to helping each other strengthen their Paris Agreement Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) Pledges. The Partnership has just released Version 3.0 of the NDC Navigator, an interactive tool that supports the development of updated country NDCs to be submitted in 2025. Below are Climate Scorecard Country Managers’ advice to their countries of what needs to be done to strengthen their NDCs based on the framework of the NDC Partnership Navigator. 

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Dear Minister of the Environment, Marina Silva,

I am the Climate Scorecard Project Country Manager for Brazil. Climate Scorecard is a non-profit organization working to strengthen climate mitigation and adaptation efforts in leading greenhouse gas-emitting countries.

I am contacting you to share suggestions from the NDC Partnership regarding strengthening your Paris Agreement Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC).

The NDC Partnership brings together more than 200 members, including more than 120 developed and developing countries and more than 80 institutions, to create and deliver on ambitious climate action that will help achieve the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNFCCC facilitates it.

The Partnership recently issued Navigator Guidelines to countries for strengthening their NDCs that can be accessed by clicking https://ndcnavigator.org/routes/

As a signatory to the Paris Agreement, Brazil has committed to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions as part of its Nationally Determined Contributions.

The 2021 NDC Synthesis Report by the UNFCCC highlighted that the combined NDCs of 75 countries would reduce emissions by only 1% by 2030—far short of the 45% needed to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C.

Brazil’s NDCs must be strengthened across three key areas to ensure alignment with the Paris Agreement: temperature goals, global adaptation efforts, and supporting a just and equitable transition.

The NDC Navigator Guidelines offer useful frameworks for Brazil to enhance its commitments. Below, we examine Brazil’s three routes to bolster its climate action.

1. Path #1: Alignment with the Paris Agreement Temperature Target:
   Brazil’s NDC sets ambitious targets for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The country commits to reducing emissions by 48% by 2025 and 53% by 2030, compared to 2005 levels. To further align the NDC with the overall Paris Agreement target, Brazil can:

• Increase ambition: Consider bolder emissions reduction targets, especially for key sectors such as energy, transportation, and agriculture.
• Invest in renewable energy: Increase the share of clean sources in the energy matrix, reducing dependence on fossil fuels.
• Promote energy efficiency: Implement policies and incentives to reduce energy consumption and improve efficiency in the industrial, commercial, and residential sectors.

2. Pathway 2: Alignment with the Global Adaptation Goal:
   Adaptation is essential to address the impacts of climate change. Brazil can:

• Identify vulnerabilities: Assess climate risks in different regions and sectors, considering extreme events such as droughts, floods, and sea level rise.
• Develop adaptation plans: Create strategies to protect vulnerable communities, ecosystems, and infrastructure.
• Promote resilience: Invest in climate-resilient infrastructure such as drainage systems, water resource management, and reforestation.

3. Pathway 3: Support a Just and Equitable Transition:
   A just transition considers the social and economic impacts of climate change. Brazil can:

• Include all stakeholders: Engage local communities, indigenous peoples, workers, and the private sector in preparing and implementing the NDC.
• Ensure green jobs: Invest in sustainable sectors such as renewable energy, low-carbon agriculture, and clean transport.
• Reduce inequalities: Consider the different impacts of climate change on different socioeconomic groups and promote equity.

In short, Brazil can strengthen its NDC through more ambitious targets, effective adaptation, and a just transition to a more sustainable future.

By implementing these specific actions, Brazil could significantly enhance its NDCs, ensuring they contribute to global climate goals while promoting sustainable development and social equity domestically.  Climate Scorecard strongly recommends incorporating these recommendations into the upcoming NDC revision.

Please let me know if you agree with these suggestions and need any support in implementing them.

I look forward to hearing back from you.

Thank you for your continued commitment to advancing Brazil’s climate leadership.

Best regards,

Carlos Alexandre de Oliveira

Climate Scorecard Country Manager, Brazil