Image Source: The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) 

As global climate impacts intensify, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is calling for urgent and transparent climate action to avert catastrophic temperature rise. In a speech delivered at the Ministerial Roundtable on Global Climate Transparency in Baku, UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen warned that current climate pledges are insufficient to meet the targets set by the Paris Agreement, with global temperatures on track to rise by 2.6 to 2.8°C by the end of the century if countries fail to act boldly.

“We know what these new Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) must do,” said Andersen. “They must promise and deliver huge cuts to greenhouse gas emissions that go beyond current targets. If not, the overshoot of 1.5°C will be inevitable, with devastating consequences for people, economies, and ecosystems."

Andersen stressed that achieving the 1.5°C target requires global emissions to be reduced by 42% by 2030 and 57% by 2035. While these goals are ambitious, she pointed to the UNEP’s Emissions Gap Report 2024, which shows that cutting 31 gigatons of CO2 equivalent—about 52% of global emissions—by 2030 is possible through widespread adoption of renewable energy, better forest management, and efforts to reduce methane emissions.

The Path Forward: Data, Accountability, and Investment

For these ambitious climate targets to become reality, Andersen emphasized that full transparency in how countries report their emissions reductions is essential. The UNEP chief called for enhanced accountability through the Paris Agreement’s Enhanced Transparency Framework, which ensures countries report high-quality climate data that can be verified and trusted.

“We need full transparency, so that we can be sure nations will meet their promises,” she said. “This is not just about data; it’s about building trust and enabling investment in green solutions.”

The UNEP has been working to help 63 developing nations prepare their Biennial Transparency Reports (BTRs), a vital tool for tracking progress and guiding future policies. With the help of the Global Environment Facility (GEF)-financed Global Support Programme, UNEP has supported over 140 countries in strengthening their climate transparency capabilities, responding to over 100 country requests and hosting numerous webinars and regional training sessions.

Andersen also pointed to the need for cutting-edge digital tools to improve data collection and monitoring. By harnessing technologies such as artificial intelligence and satellite monitoring, UNEP believes nations can gain clearer insights into emissions reductions and more effectively target resources where they are needed most.