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Agenda 2030

13

Climate Action

Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts

Key Targets
  • 1 Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.
  • 2 Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning.
  • 3 Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation.
  • 4 Implement the commitment undertaken by developed-country parties to the UNFCCC.
  • 5 Promote mechanisms for raising capacity for effective climate change-related planning and management.
Key Facts
The last decade (2011–2020) was the warmest on record.
Sea levels are rising at a rate of 3.6 mm per year.
Climate change could push 216 million people into internal migration by 2050.
Limiting warming to 1.5°C requires cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 45% by 2030.
Global Progress

The global response to climate change has accelerated dramatically since 2015 — the Paris Agreement brought unprecedented political commitment, and clean energy investment has surged past fossil fuels. But collective action is still falling far short of what science demands, and the window for limiting warming to 1.5°C is rapidly closing.

What We've Accomplished

  • The Paris Agreement, ratified by 197 parties, created the first universal legally binding climate framework.
  • Annual investment in renewable energy exceeded $1 trillion for the first time in 2023.
  • Coal's share of global power generation declined from 40% in 2014 to 36% in 2023.
  • 100+ countries adopted National Adaptation Plans to build climate resilience.
  • The EU launched the world's first Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism in 2023, taxing carbon-intensive imports.

2030 Outlook

Off Track

Current nationally determined contributions put the world on a path to 2.5–3°C of warming by 2100 — far above the 1.5°C target. Global CO₂ emissions hit a record high in 2023. To stay on a 1.5°C pathway, emissions must be cut by 45% by 2030 from 2010 levels — requiring a transformation of energy, transport, agriculture, and industry at unprecedented speed. Loss and damage from climate extremes is already irreversible in many parts of the world.

Leading Nations

Denmark Committed to 70% emissions cut by 2030; already generates 50%+ of electricity from wind.
United Kingdom First major economy to legislate net-zero by 2050; cut emissions 50% from 1990 levels as of 2023.
European Union European Green Deal targets 55% emissions cut by 2030; world's largest carbon market (EU ETS).
Costa Rica Near-100% renewable electricity and committed to net-zero by 2050 despite being a developing nation.
Bhutan Constitutionally mandated 60%+ forest cover; carbon-negative nation — absorbs more CO₂ than it emits.