Key Takeaways from the NDC 3.0 Regional Forum for Latin America and the Caribbean

Bogotá, Colombia – The Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) 3.0 Regional Forum for Latin America and the Caribbean, held from August 27-29, 2024, reaffirmed the region’s commitment to ambitious climate action. LAC countries reiterated their commitment to ambitious NDCs and highlighted challenges around availability of finance for implementation, credibility of monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) frameworks, and development of NDC tracking systems.  

The Forum provided an opportunity to strengthen partnerships with partners and members of the CCAC and Global Methane Pledge (GMP), enhance awareness of the urgency of reducing super pollutants and regionally launch the new CCAC Guidance on Including Super Pollutants in NDCs. It also provided an opportunity to connect on regional concerns. Adaptation remains a focus for countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, especially small island developing states (SIDS). Countries reflected on the need to look beyond the adaptation co-benefits of mitigation action and to prioritize adaptation in NDCs. Twelve Coalition state partners were present: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Domincan Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay and Peru.

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During the Forum, the CCAC Secretariat delivered an intervention on the importance of integrating non-CO₂ super pollutants in the NDCs 3.0 and led two thematic tables on 1) agriculture, and 2) the role of Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) in implementing NDCs. In the agriculture thematic table, countries reflected on the challenges of prioritizing agriculture mitigation measures in the 2025 NDC revisions. Coordination between ministries remains a key barrier to identifying targets for the sector and implementing systemic shifts in production practices. Some opportunities to improve coordination include establishing roundtables that connect stakeholders in the environment and agriculture sectors and empowering ministries of agriculture and livestock in NDC target setting. Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs) in Costa Rica, Colombia, and Dominican Republic have illustrated the potential for low-carbon and low-methane practices in key agricultural products.

In the role of MDB in implementing NDCs table, participants reflected on the challenges they faced to structure bankable projects to implement NDCs as well as restrictions countries have, to get credits due to internal fiscal rules frameworks. They also highlighted challenges to become accredited institutions to access global climate funds. Interinstitutional coordination with the finance, planning, development and environment authorities in the countries would provide a better understanding for prepare and develop projects to be submitted to MDBs and other funding opportunities of the international cooperation.  

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This was the second in a series of regional fora on the new generation of NDCs organized to help countries shape the next round of their climate pledges under the Paris Agreement. The Forum was hosted by the Government of Colombia in Bogotá and was co-organized by UNEP, UNDP, NDC Partnership, in cooperation with UNFCCC secretariat and with support from the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) Secretariat and the German Development Cooperation (GIZ). The CCAC was represented at the NDC 3.0 Forum by Luisa Gonzalez and Gregory Kohler.