Nearly all nations missed a United Nations deadline to submit new targets for slashing carbon emissions, even after the United States of America, under its president Donald Trump, is retreating from its commitments on climate change.
Just 10 of nearly 200 countries required under the Paris Agreement to deliver fresh climate plans by February 10 did so on time, according to a UN database tracking the submissions.
Global emissions have been rising and need to almost halve by the end of the decade to limit global warming to levels agreed under the Paris deal.
Under the climate accord, each country is supposed to provide a steeper headline figure for cutting heat-trapping emissions by 2035, along with a detailed blueprint on how to achieve it.
Despite being referred to as “the most important policy documents of this century” by UN climate chief Simon Stiell, only a handful of major polluters submitted upgraded targets on time, with China, Inda, and the European Union the biggest names on the lengthy absentee list. Most G20 economies were also missing in action, with the United States, Britain, and Brazil – which is hosting this year’s UN climate summit – being the only exceptions.
The US submitted a pledge that was made before Trump ordered his country out of the Paris deal.
The sluggish response deepens fears of a possible backslide on climate action as world leaders will have to deal with Trump’s return, along with competing priorities that range from budget to security crises, to electoral pressure.
Without international cooperation, facing a problem like global warming will prove challenging, which spells disaster for the future generations that will have to deal with the peculiarities and wrath of a warming planet.
As the attitudes of world leaders shift, and targets and commitments lose their meaning, we have to continue setting standards and expectations on leaders, as well as leaning those we put in power, so they keep their eyes on the ball. Because if they don’t, the world that our grandchildren will inherit from us could be a lot worse because we failed to do our part when we could’ve made a bigger difference.*
