Parliamentary oversight of national climate commitments

The first global stocktake, concluded in 2023 at COP28, revealed significant gaps in progress towards the Paris Agreement goals, highlighting a substantial shortfall between current national commitments and the necessary actions to limit global warming to 1.5°C by 2030. Rising global temperatures continue to set records, exacerbating impacts that disproportionately affect vulnerable populations and countries. Immediate and enhanced mitigation and adaptation measures are urgently needed, alongside substantial financing to turn plans into concrete actions.

As governments prepare to submit updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) by early 2025, parliaments have an important window of opportunity to influence their countries’ climate actions. Parliamentary engagement and oversight are vital to ensure these commitments are ambitious, achievable and aligned with global climate goals, while also prioritizing the protection of vulnerable populations and ecosystems. This involvement allows parliaments to hold governments accountable for their national and global commitments.

This toolkit offers parliamentarians focused guidance on overseeing national climate actions, aligning with the findings of the first global stocktake and the NDC submission cycle.