Almost every nation failed to meet the United Nations’ February 10 deadline to submit updated carbon emission reduction targets, with only 10 out of nearly 200 countries delivering their plans on time.
Under the Paris Agreement, nations are required to present more ambitious emissions reduction goals for 2035, along with a detailed roadmap for achieving them. However, the latest UN data reveals that the majority of countries, including major economies, missed the deadline, further complicating efforts to address the global climate crisis.
Despite rising global emissions, the world needs to cut emissions nearly in half by the end of the decade to meet the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting global warming to safer levels. UN climate chief Simon Stiell called the national pledges “the most important policy documents of this century.”
China, India, and the European Union—some of the world’s largest polluters—were among the major absentees. The United States, the United Kingdom, and Brazil were the only G20 economies to submit their targets on time. The U.S. pledge, however, is largely symbolic, coming after former President Donald Trump withdrew the country from the Paris Agreement.
While there are no penalties for late submissions, these national plans, known as nationally determined contributions (NDCs), are crucial for holding countries accountable in their climate commitments. Though not legally binding, they are a measure of a country’s efforts to meet the Paris goals.
The delayed submissions have raised concerns about a potential backslide in global climate action, as nations face internal political challenges and competing priorities. Ebony Holland from the International Institute for Environment and Development attributed the lack of participation to geopolitical tensions and shifting priorities on the international stage.
The European Union, historically a leader in climate policy, is also facing delays due to ongoing elections and internal processes. The EU has assured that it will unveil a collective target for its 27-nation bloc ahead of the COP30 climate conference in November.
China, the world’s largest emitter, is expected to release its updated NDC in late 2025, while several smaller nations, including the United Arab Emirates, Ecuador, and Uruguay, were among those that met the deadline.
Evans Njewa, chair of the Least Developed Countries group, emphasized that many poorer nations lack the resources to develop such complex climate plans. He called on major emitters to take responsibility and lead by example.
Despite the delay, some experts argue that a focus on quality over speed is necessary to ensure effective and actionable climate targets. However, Tracy Carty from Greenpeace International warned that the delay could undermine global confidence in climate action, as the worsening crisis continues to demand urgent solutions.
