The 4A climate action framework

Abstract Climate action under the Paris Agreement (PA) requires a strategic approach that addresses the climate action needs of the participating countries. The most relevant documents for identifying such needs are the nationally determined contributions (NDCs) submitted by the parties to the PA. Academia has paid insufficient attention to this dataset and has attempted to clarify climate action pathways by utilizing various established theories from different fields. As a result, a strategic framework for global climate action is lacking. This article examines the NDCs of 19 lower-middle-income countries (LMICs) to consolidate their climate action needs into a cohesive framework. A grounded theory approach with process coding techniques is employed, and the data are analyzed through three coding cycles: initial process coding, focused process coding, and conceptual process coding. The results suggest a 4 A cyclic process: assess, arrange, access, and action, which forms an integrated global response to climate change.