Nations Face Key Deadline for Climate Action Plans, but Many Lag Behind
Nearly 200 nations had until February 10th to submit their updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)—climate action plans that outline how they will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2035. These plans are central to the Paris Agreement, but as of the deadline, only 12 countries had filed, covering just 16.2% of global CO₂ emissions.
Despite the slow response, UN Climate Chief Simon Stiell remains optimistic, emphasizing quality over speed. He noted that over 170 countries are actively working on their NDCs, with a revised September deadline to assess global progress.
Taking a bit more time to ensure these plans are first-rate makes sense,” Stiell said last week in a policy speech in Brazil. “These will be the most comprehensive climate plans ever developed.
UN Climate Chief Simon Stiell
Champa Patel, policy director of the nonprofit Climate Group, wasn’t as forgiving.
It’s worrying that countries are failing to meet the urgency of the moment,” Patel said. “The world cannot afford inaction.
Champa Patel, policy director of the nonprofit Climate Group
Countries that filed
The countries that filed by the February 10th deadline include:
Japan
Canada
Zimbabwe
Marshall Islands
Singapore
Saint Lucia
Ecuador
Lesotho
Andorra
New Zealand
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Switzerland
View the latest submissions here.
Key highlights from submitted NDCs
- UK: Targets an 81% emission reduction by 2035 (vs. 1990 levels), including phasing out new gas/diesel cars by 2030.
- Brazil: Aims for 59%-67% reductions (vs. 2005 levels) with a focus on climate justice and deforestation reduction.
- US: Submitted under Biden, but Trump’s recent withdrawal from the Paris Agreement raises uncertainty.
- Switzerland: Plan aligns more with 3°C warming rather than the 1.5°C target.
Challenges & concerns
- The world is currently on track to exceed 1.5°C warming, fueling extreme weather disasters.
- Many countries’ actual policies lag behind their climate commitments.
- The EU and China plan to submit by mid-year, while India will wait for major emitters to act first.
The UN’s final assessment in September will determine how far these plans go in slowing climate change—but experts warn that current efforts are still insufficient.
Source: Associated Press and UNFCCC
