Syllabus: 

GS-3: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment 

Context: The UNFCCC’s 2025 Synthesis Report finds global emissions beginning to decline for the first time since the Paris Agreement. 

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• Under the Paris agreement, countries must submit Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) every five years, each progressively more ambitious than the last, detailing their plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate impacts.

Key Highlights 

• Emission Reductions Prospects: If fully implemented, current NDCs are projected to lower emissions by around 17% below 2019 levels by 2035, with a peak in emissions expected before 2030 followed by a consistent decline thereafter.
• Broader Policy Coverage: About 89% of countries now have economy-wide emission reduction targets, and 73% include adaptation measures, reflecting increased comprehensiveness and ambition in climate commitments.

• Deeper Climate Action Integration: 

• Nearly 90% of NDCs align climate policies with national laws and economic frameworks while 70% emphasize Just transition principles. 
• 78% of NDCs incorporate marine resilience, blue carbon solutions, and ocean-based climate actions.

• Greater Participation: There is a marked increase in the inclusion of ocean and forest protection measures with recognition of the role of forests, oceans, Indigenous Peoples as well as youth participation, climate leaders and gender equity. Multi-level Governance: India’s semi-federal governance model is lauded as a leading example, with state-level initiatives such as Tamil Nadu’s Green Climate Company and Gujarat’s solar leadership being integral to national decarbonization efforts.

• Implementation Challenges: Despite improving trajectories, the pace of emissions reduction remains too slow to meet the 1.5°C target. Faster energy transition, enhanced climate finance, technology transfer, effective policy enforcement, and just implementation is imperative.

• COP30 Expectations: The upcoming Conference of Parties (COP30) in Belém, Brazil is anticipated to be the “Implementation COP,” focusing on bridging the gap between pledges and effective action, with emphasis on finance, policy delivery, and technology deployment.

Sources: 
Down to Earth
The Hindu
Unfccc.int