As the world prepares for COP30 in Brazil, countries are being called upon to strengthen their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). But strong ambition must be matched with actual implementation. For climate-vulnerable countries Climate Prosperity Plans (CPPs) offer a powerful mechanism to turn climate targets into climate-smart, investment-ready solutions.
The Global Renewables Congress project is proud to be working with the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF) to create awareness and contribute to advancement of CPPs, in particular amongst Parliamentarians. This work directly complements national NDCs by helping governments attract finance and deliver on their climate and development commitments, working with targets and projects that are especially tailored to country contexts, needs and opportunities https://ndcpartnership.org/.
What are NDCs and why are they important?
Under the Paris Agreement every country is required to submit a Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), which are nationally relevant climate plans that outline commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, build resilience to climate impacts, and set measurable and achievable goals that will contribute to the global goal of limiting warming to 1.5°C. NDCs function both as a climate accountability mechanism and a strategic development tool, especially for climate-vulnerable countries seeking to align climate action with socio-economic priorities. With the 2025 deadline approaching, countries are preparing to submit their third-generation NDCs, also referred to as “NDC 2.0”, which are expected to raise ambition and focus more heavily on implementation. For a an update on the process, have a look at the NDC Partnerships page. (Click here)
What Is NDC 2.0?
The NDC 2.0 process refers to the next round of Nationally Determined Contributions, due in 2025, which are expected to reflect significantly increased ambition following the outcomes of the Global Stocktake. These next-generation NDCs must align with a 1.5°C pathway, including commitments to phase out fossil fuels and scale up renewable energy. They are also expected to be more detailed and actionable, featuring robust adaptation strategies, just transition components, and clearly articulated financing needs. Crucially, NDC 2.0 should be implementation-ready, closely linked to sectoral investment plans and complementary frameworks like Climate Prosperity Plans (CPPs). This cycle represents a pivotal moment in climate action. It may be a final realistic opportunity for governments to put forward climate plans that are both ambitious enough and operationally grounded to keep the 1.5°C goal within reach.
What Are Climate Prosperity Plans (CPPs)?
Climate Prosperity Plans are strategic, finance-focused frameworks developed by member countries of the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF). The CVF is a coalition of 68 of the world’s most climate-vulnerable countries. CPPs cover a medium to longer term timeline and are designed to be living documents, revised to reflect evolving climate realities, policy updates, and financing opportunities. CPPs are country-led and require approval by national governments, often endorsed by relevant ministries such as environment, finance, or energy, to ensure full political ownership and alignment with national priorities.
The CPPs can support and translate ambitious NDC targets into bankable investment opportunities by aligning climate action with economic growth. The CPPs can go beyond NDCS with more context and local level targets and actions. They focus on mobilising finance from public, private, and blended sources to create jobs, boost GDP, reduce poverty, and build resilience against climate impacts. By linking climate goals with economic development, CPPs provide a practical, investment-ready blueprint for delivering sustainable and inclusive climate action. They benefit from a strong legislative framework that supports the goals and creates the enabling environment.
CASE STUDY GHANA
NDC and CPP: Strategic Goals
Ghana’s updated NDC, submitted in 2021, serves as a strong example of the integrated and ambitious planning that the upcoming NDC 2.0 cycle encourages. The plan sets a clear emissions reduction target of 64 MtCO₂e by 2030, which includes a 15% unconditional commitment and a more ambitious 45% reduction conditional on receiving international support. (Source: NDC Partnership) Ghana’s NDC prioritises key sectors such as energy, transport, forestry, agriculture, waste management, and water resources, reflecting a holistic approach to climate action. Additionally, the plan places significant emphasis on adaptation, with concrete measures targeting improvements in public health, water security, and climate-resilient infrastructure.
To achieve these goals, Ghana has identified a financing need of approximately USD 9.3 billion, of which around 80% depends on international climate finance and partnerships.
Ghana’s CPP, launched at COP29 in Baku, aims to transition Ghana by focusing on creating quality jobs, stimulating green economic growth, and enhancing resilience to climate impacts. The CPP can help Ghana achieve NDC commitments by detailed investment strategies and project pipelines, effectively bringing the NDC’s ambitious targets to life through actionable and finance-ready programs that are clear for potential investors and government stakeholders. (show a picture of ghana or the cover of the CPP)
NDCs and CPPs: How They Complement Each Other
| NDCs | CPPs | |
| Legal Status | Binding under Paris Agreement | Voluntary, strategic, investment and prosperity driven framework |
| Focus | Climate targets (mitigation & adaptation) | Implementation through investment |
| Scope | Policy and targets | Target, bankable plans and financing mechanisms |
| Target | Sets national goals | Operationalises those goals |
| Example in Ghana | Emission targets, adaptation actions | Project pipelines, economic modelling, finance mobilisation |
The Importance of Engaging Legislators to Support CPPs
Effective implementation of CPPs requires more than just strong technical frameworks, bankable projects and finance strategies; they require robust legal and political support. Engaging Legislators early and continuously is crucial because they play a central role in creating the legal frameworks and policies that create the enabling environments for CPPs to succeed.
Legislators can help embed CPP goals into national law, providing clear mandates and regulatory certainty that encourage investment and guide action across sectors. This legal backing strengthens accountability mechanisms, ensuring local and national stakeholders remain committed to delivering on their climate and development promises over time.
Legislators also bring a longer-term perspective to policymaking, which is essential for future-just climate policies. Future-just policies balance economic growth, environmental sustainability, and social equity. Engaging with Legislators promotes inclusive dialogue, helping to integrate diverse voices and interests into climate plans, especially from vulnerable and marginalised communities. This ensures that CPPs not only drive climate resilience and prosperity but do so in a way that is fair, transparent, and politically sustainable.
By fostering strong partnerships with Parliamentarians and by helping to identify optimal legal frameworks, CPPs gain the political legitimacy and legal grounding needed to transition from strategic plans into effective, supported and enforceable actions.
Why Strong NDCs and CPPs Matter
As the global community prepares for COP30 in Belem Brazil this November, the pressure is intensifying on countries to submit stronger, more ambitious NDCs that align with the urgent goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C. This moment represents a critical juncture in international climate diplomacy, as nations must not only raise their climate targets but also provide clear, actionable plans that demonstrate how these targets will be achieved on the ground, particularly in climate-vulnerable regions of the Global South, where the challenges of adaptation and resilience are most acute.
However, ambitious NDCs alone are insufficient if they remain unimplemented. This is one way that CPPscanplay a vital role. CPPs serve as a concrete bridge between ambition and action, helping governments translate their climate commitments into detailed investment strategies and project pipelines that can attract the necessary financing from public, private, and blended sources. CPPs enable countries to demonstrate their readiness not just to set goals, but to deliver tangible, climate-resilient development outcomes that foster economic growth, job creation, and social inclusion taking into account local contexts.
Our ongoing collaboration with the Climate Vulnerable Forum focuses precisely on strengthening this bridge. By supporting the development and implementation of CPPs through targeted engagement with Parliamentarians, we help to raise awareness for ambitious NDC commitments and practical, finance-ready implementation opportunities. This approach is essential for transforming climate promises into climate action, helping vulnerable nations to move beyond pledges to achieve real, lasting prosperity on the ground.
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