Urban Content in NDC 3.0: Cities at the Centre is the most comprehensive global analysis to date of how cities feature in national climate plans. Drawing on 142 third-generation Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs 3.0) submitted by mid-April 2026, the report delivers findings across sectors, regions, income groups, and NDC revision cycles, at a scale and depth not previously possible.
The findings show that countries are prioritizing cities and housing in their national climate plans at an unprecedented level. 80 per cent of submitted NDCs 3.0 now feature well-developed urban content, up from 49 per cent in the previous cycle. Urban mitigation and adaptation responses have reached record levels. Housing and informal settlements have emerged as a cross-cutting climate priority in almost half of submitted NDCs 3.0, signaling how countries are recognizing the ways in which the housing and climate crisis are interconnected. Nearly three-quarters of NDCs now include concrete urban delivery mechanisms, particularly through multilevel governance and capacity-building, indicating a growing recognition that cities and regions are essential partners in turning national commitments into on-the-ground action.
For the more than 50 countries still developing their NDC 3.0, this report is a practical resource: it shows where urban ambition is strongest, which sectors and mechanisms are proving most effective, and where critical gaps remain. For countries that have already submitted NDC 3.0, it provides a benchmark for strengthening implementation. This report also provides the evidence base for UNFCCC COP’s initiatives such as CHAMP and SURGe, illustrating what becomes possible when national climate commitments are connected to cities and regions, ensuring that implementation reaches where it matters most and that the goals of the Paris Agreement are achievable.
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