Beginning of September, the United Nations and its partners with support from the Government of Türkiye, organized the ‘NDC 3.0 Regional Forum for Eastern Europe and Central Asia - Pathways to Progress: Crafting Ambitious and Implementable NDCs’ in Istanbul. This forum is the third forum in a series of regional fora aimed at increasing ambition in the next round of climate pledges under the Paris Agreement.

In 2025, countries are required to submit new Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), known as NDCs 3.0. These plans encourage countries to set ambitious, economy-wide emission reduction targets for 2035 that align with limiting global warming to 1.5°C and increasing resilience to climate impacts.

The forum, hosted by the Government of Türkiye and organized by the UN Development Programme (UNDP), UN Environment Programme (UNEP), and the NDC Partnership, in collaboration with the UNFCCC secretariat and with support from FAO and UNICEF, provided a crucial platform for the region to explore how countries can accelerate their climate action. Participants included representatives from 17 countries in the region, UN organizations and partners such as GIZ, IRENA and the Asian Development Bank. Key discussions focused on lessons learned from previous NDCs, COP28 global stock take outcomes, sectoral and regional opportunities for the next NDC cycle, tracking and monitoring of NDC progress, financing and investibility of NDC 3.0, and the integration of social and economic considerations for increased climate action and accelerated sustainable development.

Amid growing alarm over the state of the global climate, the forum highlighted the urgency of immediate action. The UNEP Emissions Gap Report 2023 warns that current pledges under the Paris Agreement could lead to a 2.5-2.9°C temperature rise above pre-industrial levels this century, emphasizing the urgent need for increased climate action. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) emphasizes that global greenhouse gas emissions must decrease by 43 percent by 2030 and 60 percent by 2035 relative to 2019 levels to align with pathways limiting global warming to 1.5°C.

In his opening remarks, Professor Dr. Halil Hasar, President of Climate Change Directorate at Türkiye’s Ministry of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change, emphasized the critical need for urgent action referring to more than 1500 climate related disasters happened in Türkiye in 2024 alone. Prof. Dr. Hasar highlighted that Türkiye’s national climate change strategy and action plan along with adaptation plans are revised and the long-term climate strategy will be finalized soon. Azerbaijan’s Deputy Minister of Energy and Chief Executive Officer of COP29, Mr. Elnur Sultanov, and COP29 Youth Climate Champion, Ms. Leyla Hasanova, echoed this urgency, stressing that today’s decisions will shape the climate future for generations to come.

Experts at the forum emphasized on countries in the region to lead the global energy transition, leveraging their potential in renewable energy, young populations, and dynamic economies. One of the key takeaways was the need for not only “whole economy approach” but also  "whole-of-society approach" to the next NDC cycle, emphasizing meaningful engagement of all groups of society in climate action.

Throughout the event, participants explored how to make NDCs more "investable" and align climate strategies with national policy frameworks. Discussions also highlighted the importance of effective monitoring and tracking to ensure transparency in climate commitments.

On the first day, participants reflected on outcomes from previous NDCs, focusing on how to apply those lessons to the next cycle. Key challenges that were highlighted included access to adequate climate finance, data quality, alignment of NDCs with national development priorities, and political buy-in for ambitious targets. Emerging solutions included strengthening monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) processes to address data gaps and fostering private sector engagement to boost financing. Financing remains a significant hurdle in achieving climate goals. While innovative approaches were discussed, participants acknowledged that securing funding is crucial to turning NDC ambitions into reality. UNDP and its partners stressed the importance of making NDCs attractive to private investors to unlock necessary resources.

The following day, panellists delved into sector-specific solutions, emphasizing best practices in driving climate action across critical sectors. For example, countries highlighted that regional cooperation would be crucial for accelerating the transition to renewable energy, and sustainable farming and nature-based solutions were paramount for strengthening resilience in sectors such as water and agriculture.  

The final day focused on tracking and reporting NDC progress, including Biennial Transparency Reports (BTRs) which are due to be submitted to the UNFCCC by 31 December this year, as a means to help ensure consistency, accountability, and drive effective NDC implementation on the ground.