Forests must play a crucial role if we are to keep average global temperature rise below 1.5°C. However, despite the urgency of the climate crisis, the potential of forests to mitigate and adapt to climate change is largely untapped in the current country Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). As part of the ambition mechanism of the Paris Agreement, countries are now revising their NDCs as they strive to meet global temperature goals.

This paper provides recommendations for decision-makers in governments to incorporate the full potential of forests for climate change mitigation and adaptation in NDCs under the Paris Agreement. It seeks to inform policymakers in developing measurable policies and actions for NDCs and other national climate strategies and policy documents. It presents:

• A summary of evidence on the potential contribution of forests to climate change mitigation and adaptation, including co-benefits, trade-offs and synergies with other international commitments.
• A review of available assessments of the role of forests in the first round of NDC submissions and a summary of findings in updated NDCs submitted in 2020.
• Recommendations to enhance NDCs for forests. Concrete examples of policy instruments and actions to implement enhanced NDCs in the forest sector.