With just six months left before the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30), most countries have yet to submit their updated climate targets, sparking concerns about global preparedness and political commitment to tackling the climate crisis.
According to the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), only 21 countries—representing just 11% of parties to the Paris Agreement—have submitted their updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) for the 2035 period. These updated climate plans were originally due by February 10, 2025, but as of that deadline, only 13 of the 195 parties had complied, as reported by Carbon Brief.
UN Climate Chief Simon Stiell, in a February address, acknowledged the delay but noted that most nations have signaled their intent to submit plans within the year. He emphasized that while timeliness is important, ensuring high-quality and ambitious plans takes precedence. Consequently, the submission deadline has been effectively extended to September 2025 to allow inclusion in the UN’s next synthesis report on global climate progress ahead of COP30.
The delay is especially significant as the countries that missed the February deadline are responsible for approximately 83% of global greenhouse gas emissions and nearly 80% of the global economy, based on Carbon Brief’s analysis.
India’s Climate Commitment Under Scrutiny
India, one of the world’s largest emitters and a key player in global climate diplomacy, is facing heightened scrutiny over its delayed submission of updated NDCs. The country is already grappling with the severe impacts of climate change, from scorching heatwaves and water scarcity to increasingly frequent floods and cyclones.
In 2024 alone, extreme weather events led to 3,238 fatalities in India during the first nine months—an 18% increase from 2022, according to a March 2025 report by Greenpeace. The sharp rise in weather-related deaths reflects the urgent need for more robust climate adaptation strategies.
While India has made some progress in increasing adaptation spending—from 3.7% of its GDP in FY2016 to 5.6% in FY2022—analysts argue that current funding remains far below what is needed. Critically, the Union Budget for 2025 failed to introduce any major provisions for climate adaptation, leaving vulnerable communities at continued risk.
India has pledged to reduce its emissions intensity by 45% relative to 2005 levels and to generate 50% of its energy from non-fossil sources by 2030. Although these goals appear ambitious, the country’s lag in updating its NDCs raises doubts about its climate leadership and the implementation of these commitments. As the world counts down to COP30, the spotlight remains firmly on major economies like India to not only submit their revised climate targets but also to demonstrate genuine commitment to climate action through policy, finance, and transparency.
