Current status of national climate targets
Just 63 countries worldwide have submitted or announced their national climate targets by 2035, according to Carbon Brief. This represents only one-third of nations, though together they account for nearly half of global greenhouse gas emissions.
Why national climate targets matter
Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) must be updated and communicated every five years under the Paris Agreement, the historic accord designed to limit global temperature rise to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels, with efforts to cap it at 1.5°C by the end of the century. Governments were required to submit their NDCs by February 10, 2025.
Yet nearly 95% of countries missed the deadline. Simon Stiell, the United Nations climate chief, gave lagging nations until the end of September. At the UN Climate Summit in New York on September 24, however, many governments admitted they were still working on their NDCs and would present them before or during COP30 in Brazil this November.
NDCs, where things stand
A new Carbon Brief analysis shows that nearly one-third of countries have submitted national climate targets by 2035, covering about half of global greenhouse gas emissions. That still leaves two-thirds missing.
Some countries filed their commitments during last week’s UN summit in New York, including China, Russia, Turkey, Palau, Tuvalu, Kyrgyzstan, Peru, São Tomé and Príncipe, Fiji, Bangladesh, and Eritrea. Notably, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced for the first time a 7–10% reduction compared to an unspecified peak level. Nigeria also set economy-wide greenhouse gas reduction goals for the first time.
Together, these countries account for 36% of global emissions, with China alone representing 29%. Nearly 53 countries had already submitted their 2035 targets to the UNFCCC, representing 14% of global emissions. Adding the new group brings the total coverage close to 50%. The figure excludes both the United States, which has signaled its intent to exit the Paris Agreement, and the European Union.
Who is still missing?
The European Union missed the September deadline but issued a declaration of intent, pledging to submit its official post-2030 NDC before COP30. Brussels indicated that its 2035 target would likely fall within a 66.25% to 72.5% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 levels.
Despite the recent announcements, two-thirds of governments worldwide still have not submitted their plans. Among the laggards are India, Indonesia, and Mexico. According to The Hindu, New Delhi plans to submit its contribution at the start of COP30 in November. With the conference just weeks away, UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged governments not to waste more time: “COP30 in Brazil must conclude with a credible global response plan to get us back on track.”
[Here is the full registry of submitted NDCs.]