UNITED NATIONS, Feb 11 (Alliance News): Nearly all nations failed to meet a United Nations deadline on Monday for submitting updated targets to cut carbon emissions, raising concerns about global climate commitments amid geopolitical shifts and economic uncertainties.
Of nearly 200 countries required under the Paris Agreement to submit revised climate plans by February 10, only 10 met the deadline, according to a UN database.
The updated nationally determined contributions (NDCs) are meant to outline steeper emission cuts by 2035, crucial to halving global emissions by the end of the decade.
Despite the urgency, major economies such as China, India, and the European Union missed the deadline. Among G20 nations, only the United States, Britain, and Brazil—this year’s UN climate summit host—submitted their targets.
However, the US pledge remains largely symbolic, having been made before former President Donald Trump’s withdrawal from the Paris Agreement.
UN climate chief Simon Stiell has called these pledges “the most important policy documents of this century.” Yet, with no penalties for late submissions, many governments appear to be delaying their commitments. Analysts cite geopolitical tensions, upcoming elections, and economic crises as key factors behind the sluggish response.
The European Union, a historical climate leader, attributed its delay to internal election cycles, promising a new collective target before the UN COP30 summit in November.
Meanwhile, China, the world’s largest polluter and top investor in renewables, is expected to unveil its new climate plan in the second half of 2025.
Smaller nations, including Malawi, expressed frustration, arguing that wealthy nations responsible for most emissions should lead by example.
Experts warn that continued delays could undermine global climate efforts and fuel skepticism about countries’ willingness to act.
