Many countries have missed a United Nations deadline to submit updated climate targets, as efforts to address global warming face challenges following the election of U.S. President Donald Trump.
Nearly 200 nations under the Paris Agreement were expected to submit their updated national climate plans by Monday, outlining strategies to reduce emissions by 2035. However, several major polluters, including China, India, and the European Union, had yet to do so as of the deadline.
“The public is entitled to expect a strong response from their governments as global warming has now reached 1.5 degrees Celsius for an entire year, but we have seen little substantive action,” said Bill Hare, CEO of Climate Analytics.
The 2015 Paris Agreement aims to prevent global warming from exceeding 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. However, emissions reductions remain insufficient, with 2023 marking the first year global temperatures surpassed this threshold.
Countries Submitting Plans
Some large economies, including the United States, Britain, Brazil, Japan, and Canada, have announced new climate targets. However, Trump is expected to revise the U.S.’s previous commitments, having ordered the U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Agreement and suspended some federal clean energy funding last month.
UN Climate Chief Simon Stiell noted that while many countries missed the deadline, most have signaled plans to submit their targets later this year.
“Countries are taking this seriously, which is understandable given these plans are linked to the $2 trillion invested globally in clean energy and infrastructure last year,” Stiell said. “Taking more time to ensure high-quality plans makes sense.”
Challenges and Delays
The missed deadline raises concerns about the priority given to climate action, with some officials pointing to the impact of shifting U.S. climate policies on international efforts.
- European Union: EU climate chief Wopke Hoekstra stated that the bloc's policy cycle did not align with the UN deadline but confirmed that its plan would be ready for the COP30 climate summit in November.
- India: Officials reported that required studies are still ongoing before finalizing the country’s climate plan.
- China: A foreign ministry spokesperson stated that China will publish its climate plan in due course.
- Indonesia: The Environment Ministry awaits presidential instructions on submitting its targets.
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Iranian authorities have seized a foreign tanker carrying more than 6 million litres of smuggled fuel in the Sea of Oman.
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