By Abbas Nazil
World leaders at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) have made new pledges to cut greenhouse gas emissions, with 120 countries and the European Union committing to new climate targets despite US President Donald Trump dismissing the climate crisis as a “con job.”
China, the world’s largest emitter, announced it would reduce emissions by 7-10 percent from peak levels by 2035 while also massively expanding renewable energy capacity.
The commitments were made at a special summit convened by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who urged countries to move “much further, much faster” to prevent the collapse of the 1.5C global warming target.
Guterres stressed that the upcoming COP30 climate talks in Brazil must deliver a credible global response, warning that humanity is heading toward up to 3C of warming, far beyond the agreed Paris climate goals.
He emphasized that science, economics, and legal rulings demand urgent action, calling climate inaction a choice rather than inevitability.
Trump, however, used his UN speech to reject climate science, claiming renewable energy is a scam and urging more oil drilling.
His remarks drew condemnation from environmental advocates who said the climate crisis is already evident in worsening heatwaves, droughts, and floods.
Manish Bapna of the Natural Resources Defense Council said any responsible leader should recognize the urgency rather than deny it.
Despite Trump’s stance, advocates highlighted that global investment in renewables has already doubled fossil fuel spending, with $2 trillion invested in clean energy last year.
Rachel Kyte, the UK’s climate envoy, urged nations not to be distracted by denial, pointing out that 194 countries remain committed to the Paris Agreement even without US cooperation.
Al Gore, former US vice president, said the world is on track to embrace clean energy and expressed optimism that progress will outpace fossil fuel revival, though he warned the timeline is critical to avoid irreversible tipping points.
For vulnerable nations like the Marshall Islands, the pledges remain insufficient, with leaders stressing that the new commitments still fall short of what is needed for survival.
Attention now turns to COP30 in Belém, Brazil, where nations will attempt to close the gap, though logistical challenges and political doubts cloud expectations.
Panama’s environment minister Juan Carlos Navarro described preparations as chaotic and expressed skepticism about the summit’s outcome, underscoring the urgency but also the fragility of global climate diplomacy.
