Children and child-critical social sectors in NDCs 3.0: 2025 global stocktake of progress
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New research assesses the extent to which children and child‑critical social sectors are being integrated into third generation Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs 3.0). The analysis finds clear progress: 70 per cent of NDCs are now child‑responsive, up from 49 per cent in the previous cycle, and over three‑quarters have strengthened their consideration of children. It highlights growing recognition of children not only as a vulnerable group disproportionately affected by climate change, but also as key stakeholders and agents of change. Improvements are evident across sectors critical to children’s well‑being – including targeted commitments on health, education, water and sanitation, nutrition and social protection – as well as in participation, data systems and rights‑based approaches.
At the same time, ambition on paper must now translate into implementation. As countries move from planning to delivery, the focus shifts to financing, investment readiness, and measurable outcomes for children. Priority actions to strengthen child responsive climate policy include investing in climate resilient essential services, improving age- and gender-disaggregated data and monitoring systems, and ensuring meaningful participation of children and young people in decision making. As the climate crisis intensifies, embedding children’s rights and needs at the center of national climate action will be essential to building resilient communities and achieving equitable, sustainable outcomes.
