The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has reported that the latest Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) submitted by 113 countries, including Nigeria, could reduce global greenhouse gas emissions by 12 per cent by 2035.
The findings were released in the NDC Synthesis Report on the sidelines of COP30 in Belém, Brazil. Together, these countries account for nearly 70 per cent of global emissions, marking a major step in curbing global warming.
While the progress is welcomed, the UN warned that the pledges fall short of achieving the 1.5°C target, highlighting the urgent need to translate commitments into action.
Speaking at the opening, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva stressed that climate change is “a tragedy of the present” and called for decisive action against climate denial. He highlighted extreme weather events such as Hurricane Melissa in the Caribbean and a tornado in Paraná as evidence that delay is no longer an option.
President Silva urged world leaders to implement ambitious pledges, prioritize adaptation, reduce fossil fuel dependence, reverse deforestation, and mobilize funding. He announced a new fund to support energy transitions in developing countries, financed by oil revenues.
COP30 President André Corrêa do Lago emphasized that the summit should focus on implementation, adaptation, and science-based policy, while recognizing the role of Indigenous Peoples as guardians of the Amazon.
COP30 opened Monday, October 28, and will run through November 2, 2025.
