Since the Paris Agreement, subsequent COP decisions have increasingly encouraged Parties to align their nationally determined contributions (NDCs) with 1.5°C, building on earlier calls to align NDCs with long-term, low-emissions development strategies (LT-LEDS) “towards just transitions to net zero.” This research examines the characteristics that might constitute alignment of NDCs with national net-zero targets, the mitigation goals in LT-LEDS, and the collective 1.5°C goal, and summarizes the implications and recommendations for those designing NDCs and assessing their alignment.