SDG 13: Climate Action | SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
Institutions: Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change | Ministry of Earth
On 25 September 2025, the UN Climate Summit, held during the 80th UN General Assembly, saw nearly 100 countries, including ~40 heads of state announce updated climate commitments ahead of COP30 in Belém, Brazil. Notably, China pledged an economy-wide emissions reduction plan covering all greenhouse gases, while other nations committed to renewable energy expansion, methane cuts, forest conservation, and fossil fuel phase-out.
The Summit also spotlighted the Early Warnings for All (EW4All) initiative, aimed at ensuring global coverage of climate early warning systems by 2027. At the same time, momentum grew for countries to submit more ambitious Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement before COP30.
Scientific updates framed the urgency: 2024 was the hottest year on record, at 1.55 °C above pre-industrial levels. WMO projects an 80% chance that 2025–2029 will surpass this, and an 86% chance that at least one year will breach the 1.5 °C threshold.
This Summit reflects a global pivot: climate policy is expanding beyond emission pledges into resilience and risk management. For India, the dual focus on NDC updates and early warning systems highlights the need to balance renewable energy expansion, methane control, and industrial transition with investments in adaptation technologies and disaster preparedness.
What is EW4All?
Early Warnings for All (EW4All) is a UN-led initiative to ensure every person worldwide is protected by early warning systems by 2027. It builds weather, data, and communication infrastructure so communities can act on timely alerts for floods, storms, or heatwaves.
What are NDCs?
Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) are countries’ official climate action plans under the Paris Agreement. They spell out emission cuts and adaptation steps, with updates required every few years to raise ambition and track progress toward the 1.5 °C goal.
What is India’s Updated NDC?
India submitted its updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) in 2022. It commits to:
Cutting emissions intensity of GDP by 45% by 2030 (from 2005 levels).
Achieving 50% of installed electricity capacity from non-fossil sources by 2030.
Creating an additional carbon sink of 2.5–3 billion tonnes CO₂ through forests and tree cover.
The update also stresses adaptation measures in agriculture, water, health, and Himalayan ecosystems, while reiterating India’s pledge to reach net-zero by 2070. Many of these goals remain conditional on global finance and technology transfer.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders:
What risks does India face if its next climate plan (NDC) lags behind the rising global momentum?
Follow the full news here: https://wmo.int/media/news/un-climate-summit-increases-momentum-cop30