UNITED NATIONS, NEW YORK – September 4, 2025 – The United Nations has issued a stark and urgent appeal to all member states, pressing them to swiftly submit new and more ambitious climate action plans. The call emphasizes the rapidly closing window to protect the global environment from catastrophic and irreversible damage.
Speaking from the UN Headquarters, officials highlighted the critical need for countries to update and strengthen their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)—the self-defined national climate pledges under the Paris Agreement. The appeal comes ahead of the next major climate conference (COP) and is driven by mounting scientific evidence that current global efforts are insufficient to limit global warming to the crucial 1.5°C target.
The UN's climate chief stressed that existing commitments, even if fully met, would still lead to a dangerous level of global heating. The emphasis of this new call is not just on submission, but on the "credibility and ambition" of the plans. Nations are being urged to outline concrete, sector-specific policies and timelines for deep emissions cuts, particularly in the energy, industry, and transportation sectors.
In a statement, the office of the UN Secretary-General António Guterres reinforced the message, describing the climate crisis as a "code red for humanity." The statement noted the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events worldwide from devastating heatwaves and wildfires to catastrophic floods and droughts as clear evidence that the impacts of climate change are already here and accelerating.
The UN's appeal is particularly directed at the G20 nations, which are collectively responsible for nearly 80% of global greenhouse gas emissions. The message is clear: without significant and immediate leadership from the world's largest economies, the goals of the Paris Agreement will slip out of reach. Developing nations are also being urged to submit plans, with the UN reaffirming its commitment to supporting them through climate finance and technology transfer to ensure a just and equitable transition.
The deadline for the submission of these enhanced NDCs is fast approaching, and the plans will form the basis for global climate negotiations at the upcoming summit. The United Nations has made it clear that anything less than a radical acceleration of climate action will be considered a failure to protect the planet for future generations.
