Online Reporter
Nixon Shingai Chekenya
WITH a few months before the COP30 summit in Belem, Brazil, takes place (November 10-21), an unsettling reality looms large — many countries are yet to submit their updated nationally determined contributions (NDCs).
All the 197 countries that belong to the United Nations were required to submit their updated plans by February this year.
Surprisingly, only 25 countries have submitted their plans.
In Africa, only Zimbabwe, Zambia and Somalia have submitted theirs. Ideally, NDCs are crucial in setting out countries’ commitments to tackle climate change.
They provide direction and inform broader policy decisions and investment.
These NDCs are not just bureaucratic paperwork; they are the backbone of the Paris Agreement, representing each country’s commitment to reduce emissions and adapt to the worsening impacts of climate change. Failing to submit these commitments sends a disturbing signal — that some countries are either unwilling or unprepared to be part of the collective global solution to climate change.
The Paris Agreement, particularly Article 4, paragraph 2, is unequivocal: Every party must “prepare, communicate and maintain successive NDCs” and pursue domestic measures to achieve those goals.
This obligation is more than symbolic; it is strategic. The sum of these national efforts determines whether the world will succeed in limiting global warming to below 2°C.
But here lies the danger: When countries neglect to submit their NDCs, they do not just weaken their own credibility — they also weaken the global climate efforts.
Climate change is a shared crisis.
The failure of one country to act affects all. Extreme weather events, food insecurity, sea-level rise and biodiversity loss do not stop at national borders.
When countries delay or refuse to submit NDCs, it creates a vacuum in global planning, data tracking and climate financing.
It slows momentum and undermines trust in the international system.
In this light, non-submission becomes more than administrative non-compliance; it becomes a moral and strategic failure.
Failure to submit an NDC can trigger a credibility crisis for any government.
It raises questions about political will, institutional readiness and commitment to sustainable development.
In an era where green finance, climate adaptation funding and international partnerships are often tied to demonstrated commitments, a missing NDC can shut the door to critical climate-related support.
For developing countries, especially in Africa, this has deep implications.
The NDC process is not merely about setting mitigation targets; it is also an opportunity to highlight climate adaptation needs, financial requirements and capacity gaps.
So, by not submitting an NDC, countries are essentially forfeiting the chance to formally place their needs and priorities on the global table.
The result? Missed funding, missed technical support and missed partnerships.
Not submitting an NDC undermines the very principle of equity that developing nations have fought so hard to enshrine in global climate talks. It weakens the moral leverage poorer countries hold in demanding more ambitious climate action and climate finance from historically high emitters.
If countries that pollute less also fail to act or communicate their intentions, the argument for climate justice loses some of its force. Domestically, the failure to submit an NDC reflects poorly on governance and priority-setting. It may suggest to citizens and civil society that climate change is not high on the national agenda.
This is problematic in regions already suffering from the effects of climate change — be they droughts in Zimbabwe, heatwaves in Spain, floods in Madagascar or cyclones in Philippines. Inaction can breed public apathy, reduce accountability and stifle local innovation. Moreover, the NDC process itself is an opportunity to engage citizens, involve communities in consultations and align national development plans with climate priorities. Not participating in this process sidelines these crucial opportunities.
The global economy is moving fast towards decarbonisation. Green technologies, carbon markets and climate-smart infrastructure are becoming central to investment decisions. Countries that fail to articulate their climate plans risk being left behind in this transition.
They may face reduced direct foreign investment, lose out on carbon trading mechanisms or become unattractive for green infrastructure development.
In contrast, countries like Zimbabwe, Somalia and Zambia, which have submitted their NDCs, are better positioned to tap into climate financing, build partnerships and plan for a low-carbon future.
To delay is to gamble — not just with global temperatures, but with lives, economies and ecosystems.
Governments must urgently prioritise the submission and updating of their NDCs.
This is not a task for environment ministries alone; it requires a whole-of-government approach, political leadership and coordination across sectors. But ultimately, submission of NDCs is about political commitment. It is about saying: “We are part of the solution”. And in this climate emergency, silence is complicity.
Cliff Chiduku is a communications, public policy and governance expert with interests in climate and environmental issues. He writes in his personal capacity. Feedback: [email protected] or Call/App +263775716517.
