UN climate chief urges governments to present national plans to reduce global warming emissions

By Esra Tekin

ISTANBUL (AA)—The UN climate chief urged governments on Wednesday to present their new national plans to reduce global warming emissions and boost climate resilience as soon as possible, expressing dismay that several major economies have yet to announce targets less than a month before the deadline.

Simon Stiell made his call in a letter addressed to all countries, stating that "strong" climate plans are "the best defence" against the global climate crisis.

Countries are required to submit their nationally determined contributions (NDCs) by the end of September so that the UN climate change organization can assess the collective progress towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and 2035. This evaluation will be compiled into a report for COP30 in November.

Stiell said the upcoming synthesis report will provide an important update on progress and noted that it would likely shape the conversations in Belém about future actions needed to keep global warming below 1.5 degrees Celsius. COP30 President André Correa do Lago is preparing for potentially conflicting opinions on how to act in response to the findings.

So far, fewer than 30 countries have submitted their NDCs, with several major emitters—such as China, India, and the European Union—yet to do so.

He urged world leaders to accept an invitation to present their climate goals at a high-level event hosted by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on September 24 in New York.

According to Climate Home News, the UN climate body anticipates a significant increase in NDC submissions in the weeks ahead.

“These national climate plans are much more than words on paper,” wrote Stiell, executive secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

“They are among this century's most powerful engines of economic growth and rising living standards," he added.

In his letter, Stiell also noted that countries submitting “strong new NDCs are on their way to securing the biggest share of the clean energy boom [and] the millions of jobs and stronger economic growth it is creating.”