The February 10 deadline for submitting national climate plans has come and gone, and the results are disappointing. Of the 195 parties to the Paris Agreement, only 11 countries submitted their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) on time. Among those few nations, the United Kingdom and Brazil were among the exceptions, while major emitters like India, Australia, and the European Union have yet to present their plans. In response to the delays, the UN has suggested that countries take extra time to ensure their plans are of the highest quality. These NDCs will be compiled ahead of COP30 in Brazil, which will begin in December.
UN’s Call for High-Quality Plans Over Timeliness
Under the 2015 Paris Agreement, nations are required to submit increasingly ambitious climate plans, or NDCs, every five years. Although the official deadline for this round of submissions was February 10, there are no penalties for late submissions. This has allowed countries to delay their plans without facing formal consequences.
In a speech in Brazil, Simon Stiell, the UN climate chief, emphasized that the quality of the NDCs is more important than meeting the deadline. “These national plans are among the most important policy documents of this century,” Stiell said. “Their quality must be the top priority.”
Stiell further noted that most countries are committed to submitting their NDCs this year and are taking the process seriously. “Taking a bit more time to ensure the plans are high-quality makes sense,” he explained. The UN is setting September as the critical deadline for the final submission of all climate plans. This timeline will allow the plans to be compiled and included in the NDC synthesis report ahead of COP30, the upcoming international climate summit in Brazil.
Major Emitters Lag Behind in Submission
So far, only a handful of countries have submitted their climate plans. These countries, including the United States, Brazil, the United Kingdom, and the United Arab Emirates, account for a small percentage of global emissions. As of now, the new NDCs cover just 16% of global emissions, and much of that is from the United States, which submitted its climate plan during President Barack Obama’s administration.
The delay from other major emitters such as India and Australia has raised concerns. The European Union, which submits a collective NDC, has also failed to meet the deadline. These delays could have serious consequences for the global effort to combat climate change, as many of these countries are among the largest carbon emitters in the world.
The failure to submit plans on time is not limited to the largest nations, however. Smaller countries have also struggled with the process. Nations like New Zealand, Switzerland, Uruguay, and the Marshall Islands, while committing to climate action, represent just a small fraction of global emissions—about 0.2%. Their timely submissions are important but do not carry the same weight in terms of global impact.
David Waskow, a climate expert with the World Resources Institute, pointed to a key reason for the delays: the limited resources available to smaller developing countries. Many of these nations have been working on multiple climate-related tasks at once, including progress reports and adaptation plans. “Weak plans mean a bleak future,” Waskow warned, urging countries to finalize their NDCs and submit them by September. “2025 is the year to step up,” he added.
The Need for Robust Commitments
Despite the delays, the UN has urged nations not to treat the submission of their NDCs as a mere formality. The NDCs are crucial for setting the direction of global climate policy in the coming decades. If countries fail to commit to meaningful climate action, the consequences could be severe for the planet.
The latest data shows that global emissions need to be cut by at least 45% by 2030 to keep global warming under 1.5°C, the target set by the Paris Agreement. Meeting this target requires bold action from the world’s major polluters, many of which have yet to submit their updated climate plans. As climate impacts continue to escalate, including more frequent extreme weather events, rising sea levels, and disruptions to ecosystems, the urgency to act has never been greater.
The delays in submitting NDCs underscore the challenges that governments face in balancing political, economic, and social concerns with the imperative of addressing climate change. While some countries have already made significant progress in transitioning to renewable energy and reducing emissions, others are still grappling with how to effectively implement their climate policies.
A Call to Action for Global Leaders
As the UN climate summit in Brazil approaches, world leaders must commit to taking immediate and decisive action. The final NDCs, due in September, must outline clear and ambitious plans to cut greenhouse gas emissions and prepare for the unavoidable impacts of climate change. These plans should also consider the need for financial support to help developing countries implement climate adaptation strategies.
The world’s major emitters, including the United States, China, and the European Union, hold a significant portion of global emissions and have a responsibility to lead the way. At the same time, smaller nations also need to step up their efforts. Each country’s NDC is vital to the success of global climate action. As Simon Stiell stated, the focus must be on quality over speed, but the quality of the plans must not be an excuse for further delays.
The Way Forward: COP30 and Beyond
The 2025 deadline for meeting global climate targets is quickly approaching. In order to meet these targets, countries must ramp up their efforts now, not wait until the last minute. The resumption of progress reports, national action plans, and financial commitments at COP30 will be key to evaluating global progress and ensuring that the Paris Agreement remains on track.
As countries finalize their NDCs, they must consider the long-term impact of their policies. Failure to act decisively now will lead to a world that is more vulnerable to the devastating impacts of climate change. World leaders must rise to the occasion and ensure that the next round of NDC submissions is both timely and ambitious.
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