Climate Forum CVF said less than half of the countries that made a commitment to climate action in 2020 met this target by the end of last year. The COVID-19 pandemic slowed down national efforts and spurred the urgency of the plan to combat climate change.
Last year, 73 countries submitted new climate plans to the United Nations to meet deadlines under the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. Among the updated plans, 69 countries have made more ambitious climate commitments, or stepped up efforts to cut emissions in response to extreme weather conditions and sea level rise. Active countries include the UK, European Union (EU) member states, and several Southeast Asian countries.
However, a shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic forced the UK to postpone the Annual United Nations Summit on Climate Change (COP26). These discussions are scheduled to take place next November. This delay, coupled with the US withdrawal from the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, has caused several major emitters around the world, including China, to pause completing the plan.
Mr. Saleemul Huq – Chairman of the CVF consultant group: “Countries need to show clearer climate ambitions in 2021, thereby providing public benefits in the context of economies starting to recover from the COVID-19 crisis.”
According to the United Nations, world temperature has increased by 1 degree C and is on track to increase by 3 degrees C in this century. This requires countries to have more ambitious goals in the future.