PARIS, FRANCE: The United Nations has sounded a grave warning — the world is nowhere close to meeting its climate targets. In its latest assessment, the UN revealed that current national pledges would only achieve a 10 percent reduction in global emissions by 2035, far short of the 60 percent cut needed to limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
The alarming report comes ahead of the COP30 climate summit in Brazil, where nations are expected to present updated climate action plans. However, UN officials have confirmed that less than half of the nearly 200 signatories to the Paris Agreement have submitted new commitments, leaving the global community “alarmingly behind schedule.”
UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed frustration over the sluggish pace of progress, warning that the 1.5°C limit is slipping out of reach. “The world is running out of time, and we are not keeping up,” he said, calling for “radical acceleration” in both emissions cuts and adaptation measures.
The report highlights that several major emitters — including China and the European Union — have yet to formalise their updated pledges, despite announcing ambitious goals. Without binding commitments, the UN says, any potential decline in emissions will remain insufficient to prevent catastrophic warming.
For vulnerable countries like Pakistan, the consequences of global inaction are already visible. The nation faces mounting climate-related disasters — from historic floods to rising heatwaves and glacial melt — that threaten agriculture, livelihoods, and infrastructure. Experts warn that continued global apathy could deepen Pakistan’s adaptation and recovery challenges in the coming decade.
As the world edges closer to irreversible climate tipping points, the UN insists that nations must transition from pledges to performance, turning climate promises into immediate, enforceable action. The clock, it warns, is no longer ticking — it’s tolling.
This story has been reported by PakTribune. All rights reserved.