CCAC NDC Watch - Pre-COP Review of Latest Non-CO₂ Pollutants in National Climate Plans
Last week, the UNFCCC Secretariat published a report summarizing information from 64 newly submitted nationally determined contributions (NDCs) up to September 30, 2025. The report highlights real and growing progress on climate change initiatives.
Our analysis shows that countries under the Paris Agreement are increasingly incorporating strategies to tackle super pollutants within their NDCs. This trend is evident from the rising number of countries including super pollutants in their overall greenhouse gas mitigation targets.
Progress in Inclusion of Super Pollutants
- The latest NDCs show an increase in coverage of methane, nitrous oxide, and HFCs by 22%, 22%, and 61% respectively compared to pre-2020 NDCs.
- Although not explicitly recommended by CCAC Guidance, the inclusion of black carbon has doubled.
- Inclusion of non-methane tropospheric ozone precursors has tripled, reflecting stronger ambition on these pollutants.
Quantified Targets and Mitigation Assessment
The number of countries incorporating additional quantified targets or evaluating the mitigation potential of the measures in their NDCs has grown significantly. Previously, only two NDCs included black carbon in this context.
"As of 30 September, 35 countries include a quantified methane target or assessment of mitigation potential in their latest NDC, while 23 and 9 include HFCs and black carbon in this way respectively."
This increased ambition signals a broader, more detailed approach to reducing harmful emissions beyond CO₂.
Author's Summary
The 2025 NDCs reveal growing global commitment to reduce super pollutants, with significant advances in methane, black carbon, HFCs, and ozone precursors targeting climate change more comprehensively.