The final conference day turned to the practical side of NDC implementation. It offered participants the opportunity to share concrete challenges, discuss best practices and learn about proven solutions around NDC implementation, scaling and replication – from funding to technology, from urban to nature-climate solutions.
In her keynote speech, Ana Toni, National Secretary for Climate Change at the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change of Brazil and CEO of COP30, pointed out the importance of standing together in a polarised world and be part of the solution, not the problem. Toni highlighted that so far only 22 NDCs have been submitted and underlined the urgence to have all NDCs delivered, just in time for the UNFCCC NDC Synthesis Report by September, prior to the COP30, in order to see how close we are to achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement, whether there is a gap and what we can do to close that implementation gap.
She gave a brief outlook to COP30, emphasizing its core spirit of cooperation and the need to accelerate implementation action, through inclusive, participatory processes involving governments, Indigenous peoples, finance ministers, civil society, and other key actors. Ethics and justice must guide the transition in all sectors – the upcoming COP30 will strengthen the narrative of climate action as a moral responsibility – highlighting intergenerational justice, equity and urgent need to act together in a fair and ethical way.
"We want to make COP30 very ambitious and at the same time very pragmatic." (...) "I would say this meeting [the Global NDC Conference 2025] is part of the COP as well, we really need the involvement of everyone in the process." – Ana Toni, CEO, COP30 Presidency, Brazil
The subsequent Case Clinic opened the space to explore 16 real-life challenges around NDC implementation and finance from several countries and regions. Climate changemakers presented concrete cases, e.g., on democratizing access to climate finance, designing and harmonising carbon pricing instruments, or ensuring effective youth engagement and capacity development. Collaboratively, the participants of the case clinics elaborated potential next steps and solutions for action.
All eyes on energy – NDC implementation in the energy sector
In a plenary fireside chat, experts from the private sector, international organisations, and the youth discussed solutions for successful NDC implementation and financing with a focus on the energy sector. The chat highlighted the rapid rise in renewable energy deployment within the power sector over the recent decades, while also acknowledging that we remain far from meeting the agreed Global Goals on Energy. Record-breaking levels of investment are beginning to empower consumers to choose low carbon products and solutions.
Speakers stressed the urgent need for radical thinking – rethinking traditional processes and fostering mutual learning – to accelerate the energy transition. The discussion underscored that high-impact change will only be possible through new regulatory systems, strong governmental commitment, advances in technology & digitalization, and improved financing conditions. These elements, working together, have the potential to reach high impact on the community, at both local and global level.
Innovative and scalable solutions to move forward
After the panel discussion, the Solutions labs opened the stage for governments, organisations and companies to showcase innovative and scalable initiatives, approaches, and projects.
Solution labs covered five different topics. From climate financing and funding to subnational and urban solutions, to technology, AI and data solutions, to nature-climate synergies and Article 6, participants had the chance to share about practical tools, participants were asked to reflect on the solutions and the potential next steps for bringing them to their country context or other stakeholder groups.
Global mutirão – bringing people together for a common future
“We are very proud of bringing the diversity of stakeholder together. The idea of this conference was to open a space for frank discussion. This conference was one in which people engage.” – Philipp Behrens, Head of Division, IKI
The conference closed with a reflection. Camila Romero, coordinator at the International Indigenous Youth Forum on Climate Change, and Mai Thin Yu Mon, a dedicated Indigenous People’s rights activist based in Myanmar, pointed to the need to integrate youth and indigenous people representatives more strongly in NDCs and international climate conferences and remove existing barriers. “Youth and indigenous peoples need to be fully included in national processes, shaping and delivering NDCs – from design to implementation and monitoring,” Romero said.
Philipp Behrens, Head of Division at the International Climate Initiative (IKI), closed the conference with a concise reflection on the learnings of the past three days. He reminded on the importance of a whole-of-society and whole-of-government approach to NDC design and implementation. He also pointed to the financing of NDCs as the next big step to reach global climate goals – and to the importance of creating more knowledge on the topic during events like the Global NDC Conference. “The biggest success of the conference was seeing people from different countries, groups, and sectors working together,” he said, referring to the mutirão concept of collective action with a common objective of the upcoming COP30.
Participants left the conference carrying a toolkit of solutions and new ideas for engagement, clarity on next steps in the NDC process and an expanded network of motivated peers.
