The US has updated its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement, announcing a target to reduce emissions by 61-66% from 2005 levels by 2035.
Key Points
- Emissions reduction target: The US announced a target to reduce emissions by 61-66% from 2005 levels by 2035.
- Existing target: This target is based on the existing target of 50-52% emissions reduction from 2005 levels by 2030.
- Second round of NDCs: Under the Paris Agreement, the second round of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) for 2035 is now being finalised.
- Deadline: All countries must submit their NDCs for 2035 by February next year.
- 2020 Target Met: The US met its goal of reducing emissions by 17% from 2005 levels by 2020.
Other Related Information
- This goal was officially submitted to the UN Climate Change in the country’s updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC).
- This new goal builds on the US’s existing 2030 target, which calls for a 50-52% reduction from 2005 levels.
- The US has already exceeded its 2020 target, which was set at a 17% reduction from 2005 levels.
United States Climate Goals
- The 2035 goal aligns with limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, as outlined in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) Sixth Assessment Report.
- The US has set a goal of reaching net-zero emissions by 2050 in line with global climate goals.
- According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the global emission reduction needed by 2030 to meet the 1.5°C target is 43% lower than 2019 levels.
The issue of climate finance mobilisation
- The NDC lacks any specific financial commitment from the US for climate finance.
- The Paris Climate Agreement requires developed countries like the US to provide financial assistance to developing countries for climate adaptation.
- The US will contribute $9.5 billion to global climate finance in 2023, which is only about 10% of the total funds mobilised despite historically being responsible for more than 25% of global emissions.
- At COP29, developed countries agreed to triple their financial obligations from $100 billion to $300 billion per year by 2035, but the US NDC did not outline plans for additional contributions.
India’s updated NDCs
- Achieve a 45% reduction in the emissions intensity of its GDP by 2030, compared to 2005 levels.
- Reach 50% of cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel-based energy sources by 2030, supported by technology transfer and low-cost international finance, including financing from the Green Climate Fund (GCF).
- Create an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalent through increasing forest and tree cover by 2030.