What We Do

The stakes could not be higher. The world continues to shatter global temperature records, and climate impacts are becoming more widespread and devastating – intertwined with evolving crises, including nature.

Tackling the climate crisis requires all countries to make and deliver bold pledges under the Paris Agreement. The objective of these national pledges, also known as Nationally Determined Contributions (or NDC), is to help limit average global temperature rise to below 1.5°C, adapt to climate impacts and attract sufficient finance to support these efforts. The Climate Promise is the framework for UNDP’s support to developing countries to achieve their NDC priorities and deliver the Paris Agreement goals.

Our efforts are organized under five thematic pillars: adaptation, mitigation, carbon markets, forests and policy. We support countries to design and implement bold climate action - defined in NDCs, national adaptation plans (NAPs), long-term development strategies (LT-LEDS), green recovery plans, and more – which in turn contribute to advancing national development priorities.

UNDP has the largest climate portfolio in the UN system, supporting climate action in more than 140 countries by delivering a portfolio of over US$2 billion in grant financing. Importantly, this portfolio leverages strong links with UNDP’s expertise on gender equality, energy, nature, poverty, health, finance and climate security, among others.