Nigeria has joined over 100 countries in unveiling fresh national climate action plans at a high-level summit held on the sidelines of the 80th UN General Assembly in New York.
The Climate Summit for Heads of State and Government was convened by UN Secretary-General António Guterres and Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who will host COP30 this November in Belém, Amazonia.
Representing Nigeria, Vice President Kashim Shettima announced the country’s updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement. Major economies, including China and Nigeria, committed to economy-wide emissions cuts across all greenhouse gases and sectors, signaling stronger momentum toward deep decarbonization.
Other nations pledged bold actions ranging from scaling up renewable energy to phasing out fossil fuels, protecting forests, and reducing methane emissions. Together, these commitments mark a pivotal moment in global climate ambition ahead of COP30.
Leading climate scientists Johan Rockström and Katharine Hayhoe warned that global warming has already exceeded the 1.5°C threshold for the first time last year, with warming now “accelerating, outpacing emissions.” However, they stressed that achieving the Paris target remains possible with rapid transitions to clean energy and sustainable food systems.
Guterres said while the Paris Agreement has lowered projected temperature rises, more ambitious NDCs are urgently needed:
“Now, we need new plans for 2035 that go much further, much faster—covering all emissions and sectors, and ensuring a just energy transition globally.”
Brazil committed to cutting emissions by up to 67% across all sectors and ending deforestation by 2030. China pledged to cut net emissions by up to 10% from peak levels by 2035, expand renewable energy, and make clean vehicles mainstream. The European Union highlighted a 40% cut in emissions since 1990 and promised continued climate finance support.
Small nations also pressed for urgent support. Belize’s Prime Minister Johnny Briceño stressed that the 1.5°C target is “a threshold between hope and hardship,” unveiling plans to expand renewable power, restore degraded forests, and plant one million trees. He urged scaled-up climate finance and fairer global partnerships.
With COP30 weeks away, President Lula challenged leaders:
“Will the world arrive in Belém with its homework done?”
