UN Urges Updated Climate Targets Ahead of COP30

The United Nations has urged nearly 200 countries to submit updated and more ambitious Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) by the end of September 2025. These plans, which outline each nation’s roadmap to cutting emissions by 2035, are essential for assessing global climate progress in advance of the COP30 summit in Brazil in November Despite commitments under the 2015 Paris Agreement, most countries have yet to comply. The UN’s climate chief, Simon Stiell, emphasized in a letter that NDCs are “the cornerstone of humanity's fight against the global climate crisis,” highlighting their role as catalysts for both climate action and economic opportunity Major emitters stand out—China has committed to revising its targets this autumn, while internal EU disagreements are delaying approval of its 2040 plan, which in turn affects 2035 ambition. The UN’s review will help determine whether global efforts are sufficient to limit warming to safe levels amid escalating climate impacts.