Delays leave India and China among major emitters yet to submit updated Nationally Determined Contributions under the Paris Agreement, as global temperature targets remain at risk

As per media reports, India will miss the February deadline to submit its updated climate action plan under the UN Paris agreement, joining China as one of the major global emitters yet to present its next round of nationally determined contributions (NDCs). The delay comes as countries are under pressure to ramp up efforts to meet the 1.5°C global temperature rise target by 2035.

The Paris agreement requires nations to submit tougher climate action plans to ensure that global temperature rise does not exceed 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. The February deadline marks an essential milestone for countries to set more ambitious NDCs for the coming decades.

While India is still finalising its plans and conducting key studies, there is no specific deadline set for when the country will complete the exercise. An official from New Delhi revealed that the government is working diligently to meet the target but has yet to finalise the revised climate action plan.

Meanwhile, China, the world’s largest carbon emitter, has also failed to meet the deadline, heightening concerns over the effectiveness of global climate action.

In contrast, the United States, under President Joe Biden, submitted its updated NDCs in December, in line with the Paris agreement’s goals. This move came after former President Donald Trump had withdrawn the US from the agreement, halting the country’s climate action commitments.

With two of the world’s largest polluters failing to submit their updated NDCs, the global community faces significant challenges in meeting international climate targets.