World Enters New Era of Climate Action, Urgent Steps Needed

Ford will manufacture electric vehicles at its new manufacturing center in Michigan, pictured in this computer graphic.

UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell struck an optimistic tone on Tuesday, urging countries to accelerate action following the release of a new report on updated national climate commitments.

The report details the latest round of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) submitted by governments, assessing both progress achieved and major challenges that remain.

Taken together, Mr. Stiell said, the NDCs reveal “some green shoots of good news” and provide “clear stepping stones towards net-zero emissions.”

If countries deliver on their current pledges, global emissions could decline by around 10 per cent by 2035, according to the UN climate chief. However, he cautioned that “action must be accelerated” to prevent further global warming.

Holistic approach

Many of the new NDCs adopt a “whole-of-society” approach, incorporating gender and youth perspectives, and ensuring all sectors benefit from the shift to a low-carbon economy.

Mr. Stiell described this generation of commitments as a “step-change in quality, credibility, and economic breadth,” calling on governments to implement policies that allow every nation to share in the benefits of clean energy and climate resilience.

He added that the private sector is also moving in the right direction, attracted by the economic opportunities of the clean economy:

“As the global shift to clean energy continues to scale, the dividends to follow will be far greater still, as climate action emerges as the economic growth and jobs engine of the 21st century.”

Is 1.5 still achievable?

On the same day, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said humanity has failed to limit global warming to the 1.5°C target, warning of “devastating consequences.”

He stressed that delegates preparing for COP30 in Belém, Brazil, in November must bring about “a dramatic decrease of emissions as soon as possible.”

Nevertheless, Mr. Stiell said the science shows temperatures can still be limited to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels by substantially stepping up climate action.

Synthesis Report: Key Points

Progress and Ambition: The 64 new NDCs show improved quality and broader economic coverage, with 89% of countries setting economy-wide targets. Emissions are still not declining fast enough to meet Paris Agreement goals.

Emission Reductions: Full implementation of these NDCs could reduce emissions by 17% below 2019 levels by 2035, with a projected peak before 2030.

Integration of Global Stocktake: 88% of countries incorporated outcomes from the first Global Stocktake, aligning their NDCs with long-term net-zero targets and policies aimed at tripling renewable energy capacity.

Comprehensive Scope: All NDCs include adaptation, finance, technology transfer, and loss and damage alongside mitigation.

International Cooperation: Implementation depends on cooperation, innovative financing, and capacity-building, especially for developing countries, with significant gaps in funding and technical support.