Which 10 Nations Met the UN's Deadline for NDC Targets?

As the de facto body for global governance, the United Nations is faced with the challenge of establishing harmony and teamwork across all borders when it comes to issues like conflict resolution and climate action.

Global accords like the Paris Agreement and frameworks like the SDGs are viewed as successes of international diplomacy, but achieving worldwide assent to targets is not always so straightforward.

As stipulated in the Paris Agreement (first established in 2015), all countries must submit up-to-date Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), but, as of February 2025, only 10 nations have put forward renewed NDCs for UN approval.

So, while the UN initially required nations to file their emissions reduction plans by 10 February 2025, it has had to postpone the deadline until September 2025. 

The UN is urging governments to prioritise the quality of their submissions over speed.

The countries that have met the deadline are: Andorra, Brazil, Ecuador, New Zealand, Saint Lucia, Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the United States of America and Uruguay.

Some of the world’s largest emitters, including China, India and the European Union, are expected to submit their plans later this year. 

The slow response has raised concerns among climate advocates who fear that sluggish commitments could weaken global efforts to limit temperature rises.

Speaking in Brazil ahead of COP30, Simon Stiell, Executive Director of UN Climate Change, described NDCs as “among the most important policy documents governments will produce this century”.

“So taking a bit more time to ensure these plans are first-rate makes sense,” he explained.

What are NDCs and why do they matter?

Nationally Determined Contributions are at the core of the Paris Agreement. They represent each country’s commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and outline the policies they will implement to achieve these goals. 

Every five years, nations are expected to submit updated NDCs, demonstrating increased ambition to curb climate change.

NDCs play a crucial role in achieving the Paris Agreement’s central goal: keeping global temperature rises “well below 2C” and ideally within 1.5C. 

Without stronger commitments and tangible action from governments, experts warn that the world risks overshooting these limits, leading to more severe climate impacts.

How Trump’s withdrawal from the Paris Agreement is renewing geopolitical uncertainty

One of the biggest developments surrounding the NDC deadline has been the United States’ withdrawal from the Paris Agreement under President Donald Trump. 

Despite initially submitting an updated plan, Trump has ordered the US to quit the accord and halt foreign climate finance contributions.

“Geopolitical headwinds are not in our favour,” said Simon Stiell, but he emphasised that global investment in clean energy remains a reason for optimism. 

André Corrêa do Lago, President of COP30, also spoke to the increasing role of non-state actors in climate efforts.

“The engagement of actors besides national governments, such as businesses, cities and states, has become more important than ever because of important countries now leaving the process,” he explained.

Behind the delays and the criticism

More than 170 nations have indicated their intention to submit new plans this year, but observers have expressed frustration at the slow pace of action. 

Sofia Gonzales-Zuniga, Project Lead for Climate Action Tracker, voiced her disappointment over the low number of NDC submissions. “We hope this marks a turning point,” she said.

Beyond the missed deadline, some countries have come under fire for failing to deliver on past promises. 

Azerbaijan, which had previously committed to submitting an NDC, has yet to do so. Andrew Griffiths, Director of Policy and Corporate Development at Planet Mark, was particularly critical. 

“Azerbaijan has failed to set an NDC, despite committing to do so last summer,” Andrew explained. 

“They may go down in history as the least credible COP hosts ever given this plus the scandals around using the summit to sell their own fossil fuels.”

What next for climate action?

The coming months will determine whether more countries step up with ambitious climate plans. 

COP30, set to take place in Brazil this November, will serve as a critical moment for nations to evaluate their collective progress. 

Countries are expected to submit their revised NDCs by September, allowing time for assessment before the summit.

Milene Pardo-Figueroa, Sustainability and Business Development Consultant at Mitiga Solutions, expressed disappointment but remains hopeful.

“It’s disappointing to see so few countries stepping up, especially with the urgency of the climate crisis,” she said. 

“Kudos to those that met the deadline, hopefully, this delay pushes more nations to take real action before COP30.”

Explore the latest edition of  Sustainability Magazine  and be part of the conversation at our global conference series,  Sustainability LIVE . 

Discover all our  upcoming events  and secure your tickets today.

Sustainability Magazine is a BizClik brand