CCAC NDC Watch - Pre-COP Review of Non-CO₂ Pollutants in National Climate Plans
Last week, the UNFCCC Secretariat released a report summarizing data from 64 new nationally determined contributions (NDCs) submitted in 2025 up to September 30. The report highlights tangible and growing progress in climate action.
Our analysis reveals that parties to the Paris Agreement increasingly incorporate measures targeting super pollutants into their overall greenhouse gas mitigation strategies. This is reflected in the rising number of countries addressing methane, nitrous oxide, and HFCs in their NDCs. Compared to NDCs before 2020, the latest submissions show an increase of 22% for both methane and nitrous oxide coverage, and 61% for HFCs.
"Inclusion of black carbon doubled, while the inclusion of non-methane tropospheric ozone precursors tripled, indicating heightened ambition on both pollutants."
Though not explicitly recommended by CCAC Guidance, black carbon coverage has expanded significantly. Additionally, the number of countries setting additional quantified targets or evaluating the mitigation potential of their measures has risen sharply from nearly zero in pre-2020 NDCs. Previously, only two NDCs included black carbon in this way.
As of September 30, 35 countries have included a quantified methane target or mitigation potential assessment in their latest NDCs. For HFCs and black carbon, 23 and 9 countries respectively have done the same.
Key Highlights
- 22% increase in methane and nitrous oxide coverage compared to pre-2020 NDCs
- 61% increase in HFC coverage
- Doubling of black carbon inclusion despite it not being strictly recommended
- Tripling of non-methane tropospheric ozone precursor inclusion
- Sharp growth in countries using quantified targets or mitigation potential assessments
Summary: Countries are progressively enhancing their NDCs by integrating more ambitious and quantified actions on super pollutants, marking significant advancement in comprehensive climate strategies.