The Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT)
alliance
alliance
alliance@cgiar.org
Let’s talk about NDCs: What are they and why are they important for climate action?
- From
-
Published on
12.06.25

The term NDC has become increasingly relevant in the context of climate change. However, as with many acronyms, people’s understanding of its meaning is often taken for granted, leaving many people out of the conversation. If you’ve ever wondered what NDCs are and why they matter, this blog is for you.
What are NDCs?
First, let’s be clear: NDC does not stand for “National Donut Council”, nor is it shorthand for “Napping During Class” in WhatsApp slang. NDC stands for Nationally Determined Contribution. In simple terms, these are the commitments that each country makes to address climate change and contribute to the global goal of limiting the increase in the planet’s average temperature to 1.5°C.