UN document shows progress in the NDCs of 64 countries, but warns that cuts are still far from what is necessary to contain global warming
The updates to the greenhouse gas emission targets presented by 64 countries participating in the Paris Agreement, together, are capable of reducing the impacts on climate change by 17%, compared to emissions in 2019. In the projection for 2030, the reduction is 6%, in relation to what had been proposed in the previous targets.
The information was released on Tuesday (October 28, 2025) in the (NDC), published by the secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Here it is (PDF – 2MB).
The document is one of the Paris Agreement’s assessment tools on the progress of climate actions in the 198 nations that are part of the international treaty, but it was prepared based on the goals updated by less than 1/3 (64) of the countries from January 2024 to September 2025.
According to the report, if the new NDCs are fully complied with by 2035, they will be able to reduce emissions by 13 billion tons of CO2e (carbon dioxide equivalent).
The document also highlights that the ambitions presented show clear steps towards long-term reduction trajectories and the objective of achieving neutrality in emissions, “although an acceleration of actions is still necessary”.
The report also points out that the NDCs are more complete, going beyond ambitions for mitigation by including elements on adaptation, financing, technology transfer, capacity building and addressing losses and damages and, also, reflecting more comprehensively on the Paris Agreement.
“The new NDCs show progression in terms of quality, credibility and economic coverage, with 89% of Parties communicating economy-wide targets,” says the report.
In the opinion of the president of the Talanoa Institute, Natalie Unterstell, the goals have become more sophisticated, but the main problem will remain.
“We are managing a crisis without the urgency of a crisis. There is something deeply wrong about celebrating a 17% drop in emissions when science says we need 60%”, it says,
For WWF-Brazil’s climate change leader, Alexandre Prado, the scenario is worrying and indicates that climate actions continue to be postponed and pushed onto future generations. On the other hand, the integration of city adaptation measures into emission reduction plans can be considered a promising decision.
“Especially in nature-based actions, such as the conservation of mangroves and forests. These solutions reduce costs, increase the resilience of communities and bring benefits that go far beyond carbon, such as maintaining biodiversity, water and climate balance”he declares.
Finance
Among the countries that presented new NDCs, 75% included the need for innovative solutions and strengthening international cooperation to unlock climate financing capable of enabling the implementation of the goals in developing countries.
For Conservation International’s senior director of public policies and incentives, Gustavo Souza, it is essential to ensure that mechanisms such as high-integrity carbon markets, REDD+ and the TFFF (Tropical Forest Forever Facility) offer predictable financing for those who protect nature.
“Despite greater ambition, the new NDCs also highlight that funding gaps for nature-based climate action persist. Forests represent a third of the global solution to climate change, but receive just 3% of climate finance. This imbalance needs to be corrected”reinforces.
Brazil
Since Brazil was chosen to host the 30th United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP30), the Brazilian presidency, which will lead the next round of negotiations, has been committed to encouraging the delivery of updates on commitments by countries.
Brazil was the second country to deliver the NDC even before the first delivery deadline, in February, was extended to September.
The 64 countries included in the report were those that delivered within the new deadline and do not include commitments from large emitters such as China and India.
“The world is still awaiting two-thirds of the expected new NDCs and, less than two weeks before COP30 in Belém, more countries need to submit their NDCs to signal that collective ambition is rising and that the goals of the Paris Agreement remain within our reach”highlights Gustavo Souza.
