Eswatini fast-tracks NDC 3.0 submission
By Nomonde Mafu
Eswatini has reaffirmed its commitment to tackling climate change by pledging to submit its third Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0) by September 22, 2025, just days before world leaders gather in Brazil for the landmark COP30 negotiations.
Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Khangeziwe Mabuza, told stakeholders during the national validation workshop this week that the country was working tirelessly to ensure the timely submission of the enhanced climate plan.
“We are determined to finalise and submit the NDC 3.0 by September 22, 2025,” she said, adding that this would demonstrate Eswatini’s seriousness in aligning with global climate ambitions while addressing local priorities.
NDCs, or Nationally Determined Contributions, are climate action plans that each country develops under the Paris Agreement.
They outline strategies to cut greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change, while also identifying financing needs and opportunities for international support. Eswatini first submitted its NDC in 2015 and later enhanced it in 2021 with more ambitious targets.
The new NDC 3.0, which has been developed after months of consultations with government, civil society, the private sector and development partners, goes a step further.
It strengthens commitments across mitigation and adaptation while highlighting inclusivity, just transition, and transparency as core principles.
The draft NDC 3.0 proposes more ambitious emission reduction targets and introduces outcome-level measures in sectors most vulnerable to climate shocks, such as agriculture, water, health, and energy.
It also recognises the importance of climate finance, outlining clearer strategies for mobilising resources to support implementation. “This document is not just a declaration of ambition,” officials explained at the meeting, “but a vital tool to guide policy, investment and development planning in Eswatini.”
The urgency of action was underscored at the first Global Stocktake during COP28 in Dubai in 2023, which warned that countries must drastically accelerate emissions cuts and adaptation measures to stay within the 1.5°C warming limit. Eswatini’s NDC 3.0 is seen as both a response to this call and an opportunity to embed climate resilience in its broader national development agenda.
The timing of Eswatini’s submission is significant as it comes ahead of COP30, which will be hosted in Belém, Brazil, later this year. COP, or the Conference of the Parties, is the supreme decision-making body of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
The thirtieth session of the COP is expected to be a pivotal moment in global climate diplomacy, bringing together governments, scientists, civil society, and the private sector to negotiate stronger collective action against climate change.
For Eswatini, arriving at COP30 with a validated and ambitious NDC signals readiness to be part of the solution. It also offers a chance to attract international partnerships and climate finance to support green growth and resilience at home.
As Mabuza noted, their climate ambitions are tied to the aspirations of every liSwati, to secure livelihoods, protect ecosystems, and build a future that is both sustainable and inclusive.
With its NDC 3.0, Eswatini is not only declaring climate intent but also setting a roadmap for transformative action that could inspire other nations of similar size and circumstances.