CCAC NDC Watch - Pre-COP Review of the Latest Non-CO₂ Pollutants in National Climate Plans
Last week, the UNFCCC Secretariat published a report summarizing data from 64 new nationally determined contributions (NDCs) submitted up to 30th September 2025. The report reveals significant progress in climate change mitigation efforts.
Analysis shows that countries under the Paris Agreement are increasingly incorporating measures against super pollutants within their overall greenhouse gas reduction targets. Compared to NDCs before 2020, the latest submissions reflect:
- A 22% increase in the number of countries including methane and nitrous oxide.
- A 61% rise in those addressing hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs).
Although not officially recommended by CCAC Guidance, the inclusion of black carbon has doubled, and countries addressing non-methane tropospheric ozone precursors have tripled, illustrating growing ambition to tackle these pollutants.
The report also highlights a rise in countries setting quantified targets or evaluating mitigation potential in their NDCs. While only two pre-2020 NDCs quantified black carbon mitigation, as of 30 September 2025:
- 35 countries include a quantified methane target or mitigation assessment.
- 23 countries do the same for HFCs.
- 9 countries apply this approach to black carbon.
Our analysis finds that countries party to the Paris Agreement are increasingly including action on super pollutants as part of the suite of strategies integrated in their NDCs.
Compared to pre-2020 NDCs the number of latest NDCs covering methane, nitrous oxide, HFCs has increased by 22%, 22%, and 61% respectively.
The inclusion of black carbon doubled, while the inclusion of non-methane tropospheric ozone precursors tripled, indicating increased ambition on both pollutants.
Author's summary: The latest NDCs demonstrate substantial growth in commitments to reduce super pollutants, reflecting strengthened global climate action and rising ambition since 2020.