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.
A WaterAid study finds major cities swinging between droughts and floods as climate change disrupts water cycles. Asia faces more floods, while Europe and the Middle East dry out. Cities like Hangzhou and Jakarta suffer extreme shifts, urging urgent infrastructure adaptation.
Despite the US exit from the Paris Agreement, UK climate envoy Rachel Kyte reaffirms Britain’s commitment to climate goals, stressing the importance of global action and green energy investments.
Twenty three people remain trapped under snow in an avalanche in India's mountain state of Uttarakhand after heavy snowfall.
One person has died and two others are missing after cyclone Garance made landfall in French overseas territory, La Reunion with top speeds of 96 mph.
Almond trees in northeastern Spain started to bloom in late January, nearly three weeks earlier than usual.
Donatella Versace is to step down as the main designer for the Versace brand after almost three decades, a move that has fanned talk of a sale of the business to rival Italian fashion house Prada.
European Union leaders announced a 4.7 billion euro ($5.10 billion) investment package during a visit to South Africa on Thursday, at a time when both are on worse terms with the United States than they have been for decades.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has agreed in principle to a 30-day ceasefire proposal from U.S. President Donald Trump, aimed at reducing hostilities in Ukraine. While the ceasefire presents a potential opportunity for peace talks and humanitarian aid, the terms are still under negotiation.
A U.S. judge has directed Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to provide records and answer questions about their federal spending reduction efforts. The order stems from a lawsuit filed by 14 Democratic state attorneys general, alleging constitutional violations by Musk.
Foreign ministers from the world’s leading democracies meet in Canada to navigate rising tensions with the U.S., as Trump’s policies on Ukraine, tariffs, and Russia spark divisions. Diplomats seek common ground while confronting Washington's unpredictability.
Italy’s League party urges the government to favour Starlink over French-led Eutelsat for satellite communication systems, citing Starlink's technological edge. The push comes amid delays in the EU’s IRIS² program, as Italy seeks secure communication solutions for officials.
XPeng Motors plans to mass-produce flying cars by 2026, becoming the first company globally to do so. CEO He Xiaopeng also highlighted advancements in autonomous driving and humanoid robotics as part of the company’s future tech initiatives.
World leaders welcomed the 30-day ceasefire proposal that Ukraine has agreed to, calling it a step toward ending the conflict with Russia.
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) is set to condemn Trump’s Gaza “Riviera” plan, backing Egypt’s $53 billion reconstruction proposal. A classified draft resolution, rejects the relocation of Gazans, calls for urgent international support, and mobilises opposition to the U.S. stance.
In Tuesday’s closely watched parliamentary election, Greenland’s pro-business opposition Demokraatit party took a commanding lead after over 90% of the ballots were counted.
Ireland has committed €15 million ($16.3 million) to Brazil's Amazon Fund over the next three years, aiming to support efforts to combat deforestation in the world's largest tropical rainforest.
The world’s leading banking climate coalition is reassessing its membership rules following the departure of major banks and slower-than-expected progress on climate goals, its chair told Reuters.
A WaterAid study finds major cities swinging between droughts and floods as climate change disrupts water cycles. Asia faces more floods, while Europe and the Middle East dry out. Cities like Hangzhou and Jakarta suffer extreme shifts, urging urgent infrastructure adaptation.
Climate change is threatening the sustainability of low Earth orbit, with new research from MIT revealing that shrinking atmospheric layers could significantly reduce the number of satellites able to operate safely by the end of the century.
Bulgaria can play a key role in the development of the Green Energy Corridor project, - said Energy Minister, Zhecho Stankov, at the 10th ministerial meeting in connection with the strategic partnership agreement for the development and transmission of green energy.
Donatella Versace is to step down as the main designer for the Versace brand after almost three decades, a move that has fanned talk of a sale of the business to rival Italian fashion house Prada.
European Union leaders announced a 4.7 billion euro ($5.10 billion) investment package during a visit to South Africa on Thursday, at a time when both are on worse terms with the United States than they have been for decades.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has agreed in principle to a 30-day ceasefire proposal from U.S. President Donald Trump, aimed at reducing hostilities in Ukraine. While the ceasefire presents a potential opportunity for peace talks and humanitarian aid, the terms are still under negotiation.
A U.S. judge has directed Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to provide records and answer questions about their federal spending reduction efforts. The order stems from a lawsuit filed by 14 Democratic state attorneys general, alleging constitutional violations by Musk.
Foreign ministers from the world’s leading democracies meet in Canada to navigate rising tensions with the U.S., as Trump’s policies on Ukraine, tariffs, and Russia spark divisions. Diplomats seek common ground while confronting Washington's unpredictability.
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