Fewer than one-third of the world’s countries – just 62 out of 197 – have submitted their climate action plans to the United Nations, and even those fall drastically short of what is needed to limit global warming, a new U.N. report found. The analysis has renewed doubts about the world’s ability to meet the 2015 Paris Agreement targets.
Released Oct. 28, the U.N. report reviews national climate pledges, known as nationally determined contributions (NDCs). However, major emitters such as China and the European Union have yet to submit detailed plans, though both have previously outlined emission-reduction goals.
The report concludes that current pledges would reduce global carbon emissions by only about 10% by 2035 compared with 2019 levels – just one-sixth of the reduction required to keep temperature rise below 1.5 degrees Celsius. Beyond that, China’s earlier proposal to cut emissions by 7% to 10% from its peak by 2035 has been widely criticized as inadequate, while the EU remains divided over setting a target between 62% and 72.5%. The United States, under President Donald Trump, withdrew from the process altogether.
Experts warn that, at this pace, global temperatures could rise more than 2.5 degrees Celsius this century, triggering severe droughts, flooding, and widespread ecosystem collapse.
The report was released ahead of this month’s COP30 climate summit in Brazil, where countries face mounting pressure to strengthen their pledges. Developing nations argue that wealthier countries must lead by cutting emissions faster and providing greater financial support.
Environmental groups described the findings as “a wake-up call,” urging governments to act decisively and adopt stronger policies before time runs out.