Research, analysis and innovative thought on options discussed at the international climate negotiations, including detailed modalities of the ambition-raising mechanism under the 2015 Paris Agreement towards the well below 2/1.5°C limit.
If the emissions gap is to be closed and the global warming kept well below 2/1.5°C, as the 2015 Paris Agreement aims, raising the ambition on action against climate change is urgent. The next 10 years will show if a transition towards a sustainable, greenhouse gas-free society can be made. The Paris Agreement puts into place some essential elements to ratchet up national ambition towards the well below 2/1.5°C limit and net zero emissions in the second half of this century. However, there is much further work to be done on the exact modalities to effectively raise mitigation ambition. We support the successful implementation of the Paris Agreement through research and analysis, in particular modalities of review and the global stocktake, the nature and level of commitment in Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), and the possible shape of a long-term goal of net zero greenhouse gas emissions at national level.
Associated projects
Implications of the Paris Agreement on national climate change mitigation efforts
NewClimate, in a consortium with Climate Analytics, Fraunhofer ISI and Ecologic investigates medium and long-term targets for various large emitters of greenhouse gases (Brazil, Canada, China, EU28, Germany, India, Japan, and USA).
EU Climate diplomacy
Analysis of the EU’s climate diplomacy effectiveness for developing recommendations on the EU’s strategy for the negotiations and the implementation of the Paris Agreement. Return to all expertise and projects In a consortium with E3G, Acclimatise and Perspectives, under the leadership of ICF International, NewClimate Institute supported a study on the EU’s climate diplomacy activities.… Read More
Lessons and impacts from the INDC process
Experiences from INDC preparation, and impacts and implications of the process for national climate policy making and the international climate negotiation process
Intended Nationally Determined Contribution for Vietnam
Support for the preparation of the INDC for the waste and agriculture sectors
Supporting the Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDC) process in Uganda
Technical assistance to the Government of Uganda for the preparation of the mitigation component of the INDC.
Developing benchmarks for Intended Nationally Determined Contributions
Development of benchmarks for potential Intended Nationally Determined Contributions in over 40 countries
Co-benefits of climate change contributions
Assessing the achieved and missed co-benefits of countries’ Intended Nationally Determined Contributions
Experiences and lessons learned in the preparation of INDCs
Tracking the progression of INDC preparation progress worldwide, and sharing knowledge for best practices in INDC preparation.
UNEP Emissions Gap Reports
Since 2010, UNEP synthesises information on the gap between current trend in greenhouse gas emissions and where they would have to be in order to stabilise global temperature increase below internationally agreed levels. Today the Emissions Gap Report series is one of the flagship publications of UNEP.
Assessment of progress in policy implementation and emissions scenario analysis for major emitting economies
Together with PBL and IIASA, we provide analyses on the progress of major emitting countries towards their mitigation targets and on various enhanced action scenarios to fill the emissions gap between likely emissions pathways and the pathways consistent with the Paris Agreement’s long-term temperature goal.
Accounting under a 2015 agreement
In this project funded a project consortium consisting of the Öko Insitute, NewClimate Insitute and Ecofys researches potential future accounting rules.
ACT 2015
Consortium of the world’s top climate experts to catalyze discussion and build momentum toward reaching a global climate agreement at the forthcoming UNFCCC summit in 2015. Return to all expertise and projects The Agreement on Climate Transformation 2015 (ACT 2015) consortium is a group of the world’s top climate experts from developing and developed countries… Read More
Mitigation responsibilities under a 2015 international climate agreement
Analysis of options for mitigation commitments post-2020 under the new international climate agreement to be finalised in 2015. Return to all expertise and projects A new international climate agreement was finalised in 2015. It entered into force in 2020 and includes – besides other aspects such as finance and adaptation- mitigation commitments for all countries.… Read More
Climate Action Tracker
Climate Action Tracker provides regularly updated information on countries’ emission reduction policies. It reflects the latest status of the progress being made at international climate negotiations on mitigation commitments. Return to all expertise and projects The Climate Action Tracker is a science-based assessment that provides regularly updated information on countries’ emission reduction proposals and policies.… Read More
Further reading
The Emissions Gap Report 2021 Oct 2021 - This is the twelfth edition of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Emissions Gap Report. It assesses the gap between estimated future global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions if countries implement their climate mitigation pledges and the global emission levels from least-cost pathways that are aligned with achieving the temperature goals of the Paris Agreement. 
Implications of Paris Agreement on the national emissions reduction efforts May 2021 - This report discusses inputs for countries to set their mitigation targets under the Paris Agreement, so that those targets are in line with long-term temperature limit.
The Emissions Gap Report 2020 Dec 2020 - The 11th edition of the UNEP Emissions Gap Report assesses the gap between “where we are likely to be and where we need to be”, which has become known as the ‘emissions gap’. Additionally, this year it examines two areas that are highly relevant for bridging the gap, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic: the shipping and aviation sectors.
Correcting course: the emission reduction potential of international cooperative initiatives Aug 2020 - This article quantifies the aggregate potential of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions in 2030 from full implementation of 17 major international cooperative initiatives.
Fair contributions versus fastest possible reductions Aug 2020 - In this paper with Fraunhofer ISI, we argue that only the combination of assessments on "what is a fair contribution" and of "how much could emissions technically be reduced" can give sufficient guidance for national greenhouse gas emissions targets that are in line with the Paris Agreement.
Beyond national climate action: the impact of region, city, and business commitments on global greenhouse gas emissions Mar 2020 - This article quantifies the net aggregate impact in 2030 of commitments by individual non-state and subnational actors (e.g. regions, cities and businesses, collectively referred to as ‘NSAs’) to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
The Emissions Gap Report 2019: A UN Environment Synthesis Report Nov 2019 - This is the tenth edition of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Emissions Gap Report. It provides the latest assessment of scientific studies on current and estimated future greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and compares these with the emission levels permissible for the world to progress on a least-cost pathway to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement.
Global climate action from cities, regions and businesses – 2019 Sep 2019 - This report is the second global analysis of local and regional government and corporate climate contributions, updating “Global Climate Action from Cities, Regions, and Companies” launched at the 2018 Global Climate Action Summit.
How could the concept of an “overall mitigation in global emissions” (OMGE) be operationalized under the Paris Agreement? Jun 2019 - This paper addresses questions that have been raised in relation to OMGE. It draws on a study conducted by Lambert Schneider and NewClimate Institute.
The Emissions Gap Report 2018: A UN Environment Synthesis Report Nov 2018 - This is the 9th edition of the UN Environment Emissions Gap Report. It assesses the latest scientific studies on current and estimated future greenhouse gas emissions and compares these with the emission levels permissible for the world to progress on a least-cost pathway to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement.