Yet, the formerly strict divide appears to become blurrier in the 2nd NDCs. Emerging & industrialized economies (Umbrella, EU, BASIC) present plans for green growth. In contrast, developing countries with lower income (LDCs) emphasize conventional growth plans to combat poverty.

We additionally make sense of the two innovative changes: First, the low-carbon economy discourse seems to be driven by competition in higher income countries. This discursive pathway to a low-carbon transition may open up opportunities for actors pushing for decarbonization.