UN: current measures insufficient to meet Paris Agreement climate goals

Renewable energy and climate policies have already delivered measurable emissions reductions in a number of countries, but current efforts remain insufficient to meet the temperature goals of the Paris Agreement, according to a new report by the United Nations Environment Programme.

The Emissions Gap Report 2026 found that greenhouse gas emissions declined in 63 countries and regions between 2016 and 2025, while energy-sector emissions fell in 90 countries and regions.

Of 69 cases of significant emissions reductions recorded between 2000 and 2020, 63 occurred within two years of the introduction of new or strengthened climate policies.

However, global greenhouse gas emissions have not yet peaked. Under current policies, there is a 66 percent probability that global warming will remain below 2.8 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels by the end of the century, with temperatures potentially continuing to rise afterward.

If all nationally determined contributions are fully implemented and similar efforts continue, warming could be limited to around 2.6 degrees Celsius.

The report said this outlook has worsened compared with the previous year, citing the United States' withdrawal from the Paris Agreement, its decision not to submit a nationally determined contribution, and revised estimates of historical emissions.

At the same time, renewable energy deployment is already having a significant impact. Solar and wind power helped avoid around 4.1 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions in 2025, according to the report.

Global renewable electricity capacity growth between 2013 and 2025 was around three times higher than projected in 2015, while solar photovoltaic capacity expanded roughly sevenfold compared with those earlier expectations.

The report also highlighted industrial decarbonization in China, saying coordinated climate, energy, environmental and industrial policies over the past decade have helped slow the growth of emissions.

The UN Environment Programme called on countries to accelerate the implementation of effective policies and pursue deeper, sustained emissions reductions in line with their national circumstances.

According to CCTV+, despite rapid renewable energy growth and emissions reductions across dozens of countries, current global climate policies remain insufficient to achieve the temperature targets of the Paris Agreement.