Russian Climate Plan Boosts Industrial World Cover To Almost 80%

Media Info

Thilini Bandara

December 1, 2015

With Russia’s formal submission of its climate action plan to the United Nations, 32 developed countries, accounting for nearly 80% of total emissions from industrialized nations, have now presented their intended contributions to the Paris Agreement.

This emissions figure is based on data from the National Reports provided by industrialized countries to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The submission from Russia is regarded as both timely and significant, further reinforcing global efforts to address climate change. Industrialized nations are expected to lead in driving substantial reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, and Russia’s participation adds critical momentum. Remaining developed countries are strongly encouraged to follow suit without delay.

According to UNFCCC records, Russia’s contribution means that two-thirds of industrialized nations, representing nearly 80% of the greenhouse gas emissions from the industrialized world, have now declared their intended levels of ambition for the upcoming climate agreement, set to be finalized in Paris in December 2015 and to come into effect from 2020.

To date, 35 parties to the UNFCCC have formally submitted their Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs). These include all member states of the European Union, the European Commission, as well as Mexico, Norway, Russia, Switzerland, and the United States. Notably, Mexico became the first developing country to submit its INDC, and Gabon has now made history as the first African nation to do so.

In Paris, countries are expected to adopt a universal climate agreement in which all nations will participate, contributing to global efforts based on their individual national circumstances. The overarching goal is to limit global temperature rise to below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and to support adaptation to both current and future climate impacts.

Governments had previously agreed to submit their INDCs ahead of the Paris conference, ensuring that these plans would reflect ambition levels at least equivalent to, if not exceeding, previous commitments. The UNFCCC is preparing a synthesis report, due by 1 November 2015, which will assess the collective impact of all submitted INDCs.

Climate science clearly indicates that the Paris Agreement must establish a pathway to achieving three interconnected targets:

1. A global peak in greenhouse gas emissions within the next decade
2. A significant decarbonization of the global economy
3. Achieving climate neutrality in the second half of the century

While the current INDCs will not, by themselves, be sufficient to achieve full climate neutrality, UNFCCC Executive Secretary Christiana Figueres has emphasized that the Paris Agreement must set the world on a long-term trajectory toward this goal. She has highlighted the importance of ensuring that the agreement allows for the progressive strengthening of climate commitments over time, in alignment with the latest scientific findings.

Paris is expected to mark the beginning of this global transformation, establishing a dynamic framework that will guide the progressive alignment of the global economy with the climate objectives necessary to safeguard the planet.