The global progress on climate protection remains inadequate, with only 10 out of 195 countries submitting updated climate plans as required by the Paris Agreement. Experts stress the need for ambitious targets by 2035, particularly from major economies like the EU and USA. While some nations have shown intention to improve their commitments, significant challenges persist, including funding concerns and the need for developing countries to enhance their climate strategies. Upcoming climate conferences are crucial for advancing global climate goals.
Is the World Making Progress on Climate Protection?
The question of whether the world is on the right path towards climate protection is pressing. Under the Paris Climate Agreement, nations are mandated to present new climate action plans every five years. Unfortunately, only a select few have adhered to this timeline.
The climate plans of nearly 200 countries are central to the Paris Agreement. However, their impact seems muted at the moment. According to the climate portal Carbon Brief, only 10 out of 195 signatory nations have submitted their updated climate strategies on schedule to the UN Climate Secretariat. Notably, the European Union, which includes Germany, has also missed this crucial deadline.
The Need for Ambitious Climate Goals
Climate researcher Niklas Höhne from the New Climate Institute expressed disappointment over the situation: “Understanding each country’s climate protection status as soon as possible is vital for effective preparation.” Environmental organizations like Germanwatch and Misereor are urging the EU to submit a comprehensive climate plan by September, emphasizing the necessity for ambitious targets by 2035. A robust plan should not only focus on greenhouse gas reduction targets but also outline concrete steps, such as eliminating the use of fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas.
Extreme weather events are indicating that society is reaching its limits, leaving many feeling overwhelmed by the climate crisis. Simon Stiell, head of the UN Climate Secretariat, had anticipated the subdued response. He noted that many countries have expressed their intention to submit new climate plans this year, suggesting that extending the timeline could lead to more ambitious commitments.
The inability of numerous countries to meet the UN deadline is not unexpected, especially with the multitude of elections and new governments anticipated in 2024. Petter Lydén, head of International Climate Policy at Germanwatch, reminded us that the EU Commission was only recently formed in November. While there are proposals for a 90% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions for the EU by 2040, these have yet to be officially ratified. Furthermore, not all EU member states are on board with strong climate goals.
Höhne believes that nations had ample time to prepare for this deadline, given that the requirement to submit a new climate plan has been known since the Paris Agreement was established in 2015: “This deadline has been in place for ten years. Countries could have made significant progress toward it.”
As the upcoming climate conference approaches, the pressing question remains: How can we ensure that global warming does not exceed the critical threshold of 1.5 degrees?
Experts are calling on major industrialized nations like the EU and the USA to present their climate goals promptly and ambitiously. Although the USA submitted a climate plan last year during Joe Biden’s administration, it is supported by only half of the states. The new president, Donald Trump, initiated the USA’s withdrawal from the Paris Agreement shortly after taking office.
With the USA’s departure, experts are now looking to the EU to take a leadership role in climate protection. “There must be countries that take the initiative, and with the USA out, it must now be the EU,” Höhne states.
Concerns about funding have also been raised. India and China have not yet submitted their climate action plans outlining how they intend to reduce emissions by 2035. While both nations are classified as developing countries under the UN Climate Framework Convention, China’s significant emissions over the past two decades have led some member states, including the EU, to believe that China has a responsibility to enhance its climate commitments.
During the last World Climate Conference in Baku, the EU urged China to contribute to the international climate financing goal. Typically, only industrialized nations are required to provide such funds. Yet, the more financial support is pledged, the more likely it is that developing countries will commit to ambitious climate plans, according to the EU’s perspective.
However, India expressed disappointment at the Baku conference, stating that the proposed $300 billion annually until 2035 is “disappointing and a sign of lack of trust.” Lydén from Germanwatch remarked, “This is a political statement. India has significant resources and is currently undergoing transformation.” Nonetheless, it is evident that industrialized nations, which have prospered through fossil fuel use, bear the responsibility to financially support developing countries in their climate efforts, giving India a strong argument.
The recent climate policy negotiations in Azerbaijan lasted two weeks. What outcomes emerged from these discussions?
Looking ahead, Brazil is set to host the next World Climate Conference and is now positioned to elevate global climate ambitions in diplomatic discussions. Lydén sees promise in Brazil’s presidency of COP29, but acknowledges that much work remains to be done. Brazil has already submitted a climate plan for COP29, mirroring the actions of the United Arab Emirates. However, researchers from the Climate Action Trackers have indicated that the goals outlined in these plans are insufficient to keep global warming within the 1.5-degree limit.
This report was initially aired by Deutschlandfunk on February 10, 2025, at 4:00 PM.