2025 COP30: Heat Map 🌡️
The 30th UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) kicked off this month in Belem, Brazil, bringing together nations to tackle the urgent reality of a warming planet.
According to a recent World Meteorological Organization report, the average near-surface temperature from January to August 2025 was 1.42°C ±0.12°C above pre-industrial levels. Greenhouse gas concentrations and ocean heat content, which hit record highs in 2024, continued to climb this year.
“This unprecedented streak of high temperatures, combined with last year’s record greenhouse gas rise, makes it clear that it will be virtually impossible to limit warming to 1.5°C without temporarily overshooting. But it’s still possible and essential to bring temperatures back down by century’s end,” said WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo.
At the Plenary of Leaders, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged: “It’s no longer time for negotiation. It’s time for implementation, implementation and implementation.” 🔍
Bridging the NDC Gap
Under the Paris Agreement, countries submit Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) – their roadmaps to cut emissions and adapt to climate impacts. So far, 118 nations have updated their plans.
Wang Yi, vice chair of China’s National Expert Committee on Climate Change, highlights two main hurdles:
- Adequacy & Ambition: Many pledges still fall short of global targets.
- Support for Developing Countries: Financial aid and resources are crucial for implementation.
Adaptation strategies also topped this year’s discussions. 🌱
U.S. Absence Shakes Up Talks
For the first time, the United States did not send an official delegation to COP30. China’s special envoy Liu Zhenmin warned this omission hit multilateral cooperation hard, making it tougher for developed nations to coordinate and drive high-quality outcomes. 🤝❌
China’s 2035 NDCs: Ambitious & Pragmatic
In September 2025, China unveiled its 2035 NDCs with bold targets:
- Cut economy-wide net greenhouse gas emissions by 7–10% from peak levels
- Raise non-fossil fuel share of energy to over 30%
- Boost wind & solar capacity to 3,600 GW (6× 2020 levels)
- Expand forest stock to over 24 billion m³
- Make new energy vehicles mainstream in new car sales 🚗⚡
- Extend the National Carbon Emissions Trading Market to major high-emission sectors
- Build a climate-adaptive society
Pan Jiahua, vice chair of China’s National Expert Committee on Climate Change, hailed two breakthroughs: the inclusion of all greenhouse gases, not just CO₂, and the introduction of an absolute emissions reduction goal. Wang Yi summed it up: “These NDCs are both ambitious and pragmatic.” 👏
Looking Ahead
As COP30 progresses, the gap between talk and action looms large. With record heat on our doorstep and global targets in the balance, the world is watching: will implementation rise to match the urgency? 🌍🚀
Reference(s):
COP30: Divisions, consensus, goals amid global climate urgency
cgtn.com
