UN Report: Climate ‘Turning Point’ Needed Worldwide

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Simon Stiell, UN Climate Change Executive Secretary - Credit: UN Photo/Loey Felipe
The 2024 UN Nationally Determined Contributions Synthesis Report says countries need to take action for Paris Agreement goals of preventing global warming

The 2024 Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) Synthesis Report shows that countries are not doing enough to reach global climate goals.

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) says greenhouse gas emissions hit a new record, sitting at 54% higher than in 1990.

To limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, GHG emissions need to reduce 43% by 2030 relative to 2019.

Simon Stiell, UN Climate Change Executive Secretary, says the report “must be a turning point, ending the era of inadequacy and sparking a new age of acceleration, with much bolder new national climate plans from every country due next year”. 

Simon Stiell, UN Climate Change Executive Secretary - Credit: UN Climate Change

“The report’s findings are stark but not surprising – current national climate plans fall miles short of what’s needed to stop global heating from crippling every economy, and wrecking billions of lives and livelihoods across every country. 

“By contrast, much bolder new national climate plans can not only avert climate chaos – done well, they can be transformational for people and prosperity in every nation.”

What is the NDC Synthesis Report?

Under the Paris Agreement, countries must have an NDC for domestic mitigation measures to fulfil their commitments.

NDCs are a vital tool in combating climate change, driving forward international sustainability goals on a national scale.

What is an NDC?
  • NDCs are national climate action plans by each country under the Paris Agreement
  • A country's NDC shows how it plans to reduce GHG emissions to meet global climate change goals
  • NDCs can also show how countries will adapt to the impacts of climate change
  • The next round of NDCs are due in early 2025 and will show plans through 2035

All countries regularly report on their NDCs, and this information is analysed together in a Synthesis Report to look at contributions around the world and their impact.

The first report was published in February 2021, and they have been published regularly ever since.

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Usually, the reports are published ahead of the annual Convention of the Parties (COP) conferences on climate change. 

The NDC Synthesis Report’s facts and figures

Total GHG emissions worldwide, taking into account implementation of the latest NDCs, are estimated to be around 53 gigatonnes of CO2 in 2025 and 51.5 gigatonnes of CO2 in 2030.

Types of mitigation target and share of Parties that communicated them in nationally determined contributions

In the 2023 NDC Synthesis Report, this was around 53.2 gigatonnes of CO2 in 2025 and 51.6 gigatonnes of CO2 in 2030.

These levels have only slightly reduced in 2024, showing a stagnation in NDC ambition level.

A total of 81% of Parties have economy-wide NDCs. All NDCs cover the energy sector, and 66% cover all sectors.

Due to the range of estimated emissions levels for 2030, global temperature estimates are uncertain.

Comparison of scenarios assessed in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Sixth Assessment Report with projected total and per capita global emissions according to nationally determined contributions

The UNFCCC’s “best estimate” of peak global temperature in the 21st century could reach as high as 2.8 degrees Celsius. 

In total, 98% of Parties explained in their NDCs how they consider their goals to be fair and ambitious in light of national circumstances. 

What needs to be done

António Guterres, Secretary General of the United Nations, says: “Either leaders bridge the emissions gap, or we plunge headlong into climate disaster – with the poorest and most vulnerable suffering the most.

António Guterres, Secretary General of the United Nations - Credit: UN Photo/Mark Garten

“Affordable, existing technologies can achieve the emissions reductions we need to meet the 1.5 degree limit.”

The share of Parties that described the process for formulating and implementing their National Adaptation Plan (NAP) increased from 70% in previous reports to 75%.

Whilst 37% of Parties have already developed a NAP, 38% reported their intention to do so. 

To prevent catastrophic global warming, this must continue to increase and countries need to commit to more action.

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