A decade after the signing of the Paris Agreement, the most ambitious climate pact to date, the international community faces a crisis of speed and ambition.
According to Simon Stiell, executive secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, progress is real, but too slow to avoid the worst scenarios.
“The course improves every year, but we need to inject much more speed,” he warned while presenting the report on the new climate commitments of the States.
Updated commitments: few countries, little impact
The 2015 Paris Agreement set the goal of limiting global warming below 2°C, and doing everything possible to not exceed 1.5°C.
Every five years, countries must update their targets. The last deadline expired at the beginning of 2025, but only 65 countries —representing 36% of global emissions— have submitted their new objectives.
According to the UN report, if fulfilled, they could reduce global emissions by 10% by 2035, a figure insufficient given the magnitude of the challenge.
Exceeding 1.5°C: the threshold that will no longer be avoided
The Secretary-General of the UN, António Guterres, was blunt: “Let us acknowledge our failure. We have not managed to avoid exceeding 1.5°C in the coming years.”
The consequences include points of no return in key ecosystems such as the Amazon, Greenland, West Antarctica, and the coral reefs.
Major emitters: disparate commitments and confusing signals
- European Union: presented a statement of intent to reduce its emissions by 66.25% to 72.5% compared to 1990. Although it shows progress, experts warn that the lack of clarity can affect investor confidence and competitiveness.
- China: announced a reduction of 7% to 10% from its peak emissions. Analysts believe that it will meet —and even exceed— its target, although the commitment seems modest.
- Australia and Japan: updated their targets, but were criticized for lack of ambition.
Energy transition: growing investment, insufficient pace
“The transition is underway, but not at the pace we need,” acknowledged Melanie Robinson from the World Resources Institute (WRI).
There is more investment in solar energy, electric vehicles, and climate financing, but there is still a lack of a decisive global response that reaffirms the 1.5°C target and accelerates sectoral strategies to achieve net zero emissions.
Beyond emissions: adaptation and financing
The UN report highlights that current commitments also include adaptation goals and climate financing for developing countries, key elements for a just and resilient transition.
“The world is already paying a high price for global warming, but it is also approaching positive economic tipping points,” concluded Stiell.
The COP30 in Belém, Brazil, will be a decisive moment to reconnect ambition with action, and for countries to translate their promises into concrete, urgent, and equitable policies.
Time is running out, and the planet needs more than declarations: it needs structural transformation, international cooperation, and real climate justice.
