COP30 leader urges countries to publish new climate goals by September

COP30 President André Correa do Lago is urging the countries that haven’t yet published their nationally determined contributions (NDCs) to do so before the next high-level UN meeting on September 24, in order to provide a clear basis for negotiations in Belém.

Around 80% of Paris Agreement signatories are yet to announce their 2035 climate targets, despite an initial deadline of February 2025 – and time is running out to include these in meaningful discussions in Brazil this November.

“COP30 must respond to how our nationally determined contributions (NDCs) in aggregate effectively promise humanity a safe, prosperous, and sustainable future. I have also noted outstanding divergences on the form and scope of our response to the NDCs and the synthesis report to be published by the UNFCCC Secretariat in October. Those divergences can and must be bridged, and I am determined to provide all conditions for frank, open, and creative dialogue towards this end,” Correa do Lago writes.

September 24 is the date of the next high-level event organised by the UN on the margins of its general assembly, and will provide “a major platform for countries that have yet to do so to unveil new 2035 targets as their ultimate show of support for COP30, to the multilateral climate regime, and to a more prosperous future,” he adds, noting the importance of having all NDCs included in the synthesis report before COP30 starts.

Tracking NDCs and their robustness

So far, only the UK’s 2035 NDC (cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 81% from 1990) is estimated to be aligned with a 1.5ºC future. Other countries, including the US, Brazil and Switzerland, have also announced new targets, but these are considered insufficient to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement.

And while the widespread delay in submitting new climate goals could be worrisome, certain climate experts believe it’s a sign that countries  are putting effort into developing ambitious and feasible targets. “It’s far better to have strong commitments later this year than rushed, weak ones now,” said David Waskow, international climate director at the World Resources Institute. 

Still, COP30 is seen as the final deadline to publish 2035 commitments.

As of August 2025, new unconditional NDCs would reduce global greenhouse gas emissions by 1.4 gigatonnes by 2035 – 29.4 gigatonne short of what’s needed to keep the world on a 1.5ºC trajectory.