What is the NDC Equity Tracker?

We are training the next generation of young feminists to challenge country’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement in their efforts to center gender and intergenerational justice, thereby, harnessing the power of non-traditional data to advocate for and empower more inclusive climate policy commitments.

Our database highlights over 84 country pledges for climate action covering 80% of global emissions. Through the analyses, NDC Ambassadors provide key recommendations to strengthening ambition, intergenerational equity, and gender mainstreaming in their own country’s NDC. The NDC Equity Tracker is not only a tool for empowering young leaders to engage in the climate space, but hold their country leaders accountable to commitments that center their needs.

Our Methodology

Young people are trained about NDCs and given guidance on reviewing their country’s commitment across three primary categories: Emissions (20 points), Gender Mainstreaming (40 points), and Youth Inclusion (40 points). When combined, the country is given a total score reflective of its ambition and inclusivity relative to the Ambassador’s perspective:

🟢 Exemplary (Score 81-100 points) = The NDC is considered very ambitious compared to its relative responsibility and balanced in its efforts to center gender and intergenerational justice. The NDC acknowledges youth and women as agents of change, and include these communities in climate policy across all sectors that will lead to a sustainable future for all. There may still be room for improvement, but the implementation of the NDC should result in transformative shifts towards a just future relative to youth expectations.

🟡 Aspiring (Score 61-80 points) = The NDC is aspiring towards excellence, but there’s still notable room for improvement. It implies that efforts have been made to include gender and young people as cross-cutting priorities, indicating a few specific measures for continued engagement and action to increase their role as agents of change in all sectors. This level indicates a moderate level of accomplishment relative to youth expectations based on their recommendations.

🟠 Average (Score 61-80 points) = The NDC meets basic expectations. The NDC may acknowledge the significance of gender mainstreaming and/or youth inclusion, particularly recognizing vulnerabilities to the climate crisis, but efforts across both cross-cutting principles may not be balanced or focus on women and young peoples roles as agents of change. This level indicates a bare minimum approach relative to youth expectations.

🔴 Insufficient (Score 21-40 points) = The NDC content is below expectations and insufficient in achieving youth and gender inclusion. The NDC suffers shortcomings in ensuring youth and gender populations are acknowledged as stakeholders of the climate movement and are represented in climate policy. The NDC needs significant improvement and requires additional support, resources, or guidance to enhance their progress and meet youth and gender equality through implementing youth recommendations.

🟣 Critically Deficient (Score 0-20 points) = This label suggests the NDC is severely lacking and unambitious. It implies a significant gap in addressing the inclusion of marginalized communities, specifically youth and gender, indicating that equity goals have not been met or considered. NDCs labeled as “critically deficient” require significant intervention, reassessment of goals and climate policy, and/or a complete overhaul of strategies to achieve more equitable and inclusive climate action.

Care About Climate Team

Welcome to Care About Climate’s NDC Equity Tracker team, where passion meets purpose in our collective mission to combat climate change. Together, we strive to foster a sustainable future through education, advocacy, and community engagement.