The Haves and the Have Nots
Where’s the (decimal) point?
Posted on 20 Sep 25
by Mark Hodgson
The Guardian today published an “exclusive” article with the heading “‘Something is working’: UN climate chief optimistic about green transition: Simon Stiell believes economic benefits will compel countries to speed up climate action”. Despite reciting a litany of failure, in terms of the lack of submissions required by the Paris Climate Agreement, ahead of the upcoming COP-fest in Brazil, the article attempts to put a positive spin on things. It’s risible, really, since it’s self-evident that the whole project is falling apart.
Nevertheless, I thought it might be worth digging a little deeper, to see exactly what limited progress has been made, and where the substantial problems remain. What, then, are the obligations of the signatories to the Paris Agreement? A useful summary is helpfully provided here by the United Nations:
Nationally determined contributions (NDCs) are at the heart of the Paris Agreement and the achievement of its long-term goals. NDCs embody efforts by each country to reduce national emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change….The Paris Agreement requests each country to outline and communicate their post-2020 climate actions, known as their NDCs.
Together, these climate actions determine whether the world achieves the long-term goals of the Paris Agreement and to reach global peaking of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions as soon as possible and to undertake rapid reductions thereafter in accordance with best available science, so as to achieve a balance between anthropogenic emissions by sources and removals by sinks of GHGs in the second half of this century. It is understood that the peaking of emissions will take longer for developing country Parties, and that emission reductions are undertaken on the basis of equity, and in the context of sustainable development and efforts to eradicate poverty, which are critical development priorities for many developing countries….NDCs are submitted every five years to the UNFCCC secretariat. In order to enhance the ambition over time the Paris Agreement provide that successive NDCs will represent a progression compared to the previous NDC and reflect its highest possible ambition.
Parties are requested to submit the next round of NDCs (new NDCs or updated NDCs) by 2020 and every five years thereafter (e.g. by 2020, 2025, 2030), regardless of their respective implementation time frames.
Moreover, Parties may at any time adjust their existing nationally determined contribution with a view to enhancing its level of ambition (Article 4, paragraph 11).
https://cliscep.com/2025/09/20/the-haves-and-the-have-nots/
