Paris Agreement committee names DRC, Senegal, North Korea for missing climate plans

The Paris Agreement's Implementation and Compliance Committee has formally named the Democratic Republic of Congo, Senegal, and North Korea for non-compliance with core submission requirements. These three countries have failed to submit their nationally determined contributions (NDCs) and biennial transparency reports, and did not respond to repeated committee communications.

The committee identified the nations in a footnote to its annual report, a move intended to encourage engagement. Representatives from the DRC, Senegal, and North Korea are now invited to a committee meeting in early 2027 to identify specific challenges and constraints in their climate planning process.

Countries invited to 2027 dialogue on climate plan challenges

The decision to name the countries was explicitly facilitative. By extending an invitation for a 2027 dialogue, the PAICC aims to shift from silence to problem-solving. The committee seeks to understand the obstacles these governments face in preparing their climate plans.

Context on Paris Agreement NDC requirements

The 2015 Paris Agreement requires all parties to submit an NDC every five years, with each plan being more ambitious than the last. The latest round, setting targets for 2035, was due by February 2025. While over 30 countries have now submitted new NDCs, a number of states remain without them. Many of these are lower-emission nations.

Committee's facilitative approach to engagement

The PAICC operates as a non-punitive, advisory body focused on supporting governments. It recognizes that submission delays may stem from varying national capabilities and circumstances. In July, the committee noted 12 countries had not responded to its outreach; that number has since fallen sharply as governments began explaining their constraints and receiving support.

Tejas Rao, a researcher studying the PAICC at Cambridge University, showed the value of cooperation. "Engagement costs these governments very little and the committee has shown it will listen," Rao said. He added that silence leaves governments exposed to a narrative of disengagement.

The Democratic Republic of Congo contains much of the Congo Basin rainforest, a critical global carbon sink. Senegal, which chaired the Least Developed Countries group until late 2023, has sought major climate finance for renewable energy projects. The committee's report was published on a Friday, following a year of communications. Its members had decided in September to name states that systematically fail to make contact. The article closes on the committee's invitation for the three countries to engage in dialogue during early 2027 to address challenges in their climate plans.