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Global Climate Change and Its Impacts

gences in addressing climate change, particularly regarding energy transitions and industrial
restructuring. Moreover, global economic uncertainties further complicate the implementa-
tion of international climate agreements.

II. The Role of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)

Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) are the core mechanism of the Paris
Agreement, designed to advance global climate governance through countries formulating
and submitting emission reduction targets and action plans based on their national circum-
stances. The introduction of NDCs embodies the principle of “common but differentiated re-
sponsibilities,” respecting countries’ development needs while enhancing the flexibility and
inclusiveness of global emission reduction efforts.
(1) Basis and Process of NDCs Formulation by Countries
When formulating NDCs, countries typically consider the following factors comprehen-
sively:
[1] National Circumstances and Development Stage
When developing NDCs, countries first need to consider their national conditions and
development stage. Developed countries generally possess higher economic development
levels and stronger technological capabilities, thus their NDCs often set more ambitious
emission reduction targets, such as absolute emission reductiontargets or carbon neutrality-
targets. In contrast, developing countries with lower economic development levels and chal-
lenges like poverty, energy access, and inadequate infrastructure typically set relatively mod-
erate emission reduction targets in their NDCs, such as emission intensity targets or relative
emission reduction targets.
2. Economic Structure and Energy System
A country’s economic structure and energy system also serve as critical foundations for
formulating NDCs. For instance, countries relying primarily on fossil fuels (e.g., Australia
and Saudi Arabia) must consider the costs and feasibility of energy transition when develop-
ing NDCs, setting targets to gradually reduce fossil fuel use. In contrast, countries dominated
by renewable energy (e.g., Germany and Denmark) can establish more ambitious emission
reduction targets and accelerate their energy transition efforts.
3. Impact and Vulnerability of Climate Change
The impacts of climate change vary across countries, with some nations being more
vulnerable due to their geographical locations and fragile ecosystems. For example, small
island nations (such as the Maldives and Tuvalu), threatened by rising sea levels, typically
set higher emission reduction targets and call for more proactive global mitigation actions.
In contrast, some landlocked countries (e.g., Mongolia and Kazakhstan) focus more on the
impacts of climate change on agriculture and ecosystems, and their NDCs often include mea-
sures to adapt to climate change.

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