The United Nations is urging countries worldwide to submit ambitious new climate pledges within the next year, emphasizing that these commitments are crucial for ensuring the safety and prosperity of people around the globe.
Simon Stiell, the UN’s climate chief, announced on Thursday that the upcoming round of emissions-cutting plans, along with upgrades to existing pledges for this decade, are essential to prevent global temperatures from exceeding the critical 1.5°C warming limit set by the Paris Agreement.
“These pledges will determine how protected your peoples, economies, and national budgets will be from rapidly worsening climate impacts,” Stiell stated in an open letter addressed to nearly 200 nations involved in UN climate negotiations.
The 2015 Paris Agreement saw nations agree to cap global warming at well below 2°C above preindustrial levels, with an aspirational goal of limiting the increase to 1.5°C. To achieve this, countries are required to submit increasingly ambitious emission reduction plans, known as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), every five years.
The third round of NDCs, due in early 2025 ahead of the pivotal COP30 climate conference in Brazil, is seen as the most significant to date. “In all respects, your NDCs 3.0 will be the most important climate documents produced so far this century in securing the safety and prosperity of your peoples,” Stiell emphasized.
With global temperatures already risen by nearly 1.2°C, the world is experiencing an escalating series of climate-related disasters, from severe floods in South Asia to intense heatwaves across the continent. The UN’s call underscores the urgent need for all nations, particularly those in Asia—a region highly vulnerable to climate impacts and critical to global emission reductions—to strengthen their commitments and take decisive action.
As Asian economies continue to grow, their role in combating climate change becomes ever more significant. Business leaders, policymakers, and communities across Asia are now facing the challenge of balancing development goals with the pressing need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The upcoming climate pledges will not only shape the environmental future but also influence economic stability, public health, and social well-being across the region. The UN’s appeal serves as a reminder that the collective actions taken today will define the legacy we leave for future generations.
Reference(s):
UN: New climate pledges will determine safety of world's people
cgtn.com
