climate policy

Every five years the Global Stocktake (GST) evaluates the progress in global climate action. It is the core element of the ambition mechanism of the Paris Agreement, according to which new Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) need to be more ambitious than previous ones. The results of the GST are to set the direction of the new NDCs. An UBA project analyses how the GST is reflected in NDCs.

Starting on November 10th — 10 years after the Paris Agreement—the international community will once again negotiate the future of global climate action. This time, the talks will take place on the banks of the Amazon in Belém, Brazil, a symbolic location. The focus will be on new national climate action contributions and the measurability of adaptation progress.

Every five years, the Parties to the Paris Agreement are called to submit new Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC). The new round of NDCs is due in 2025. With the NDCs submitted by mid-2024, the world is heading for a global warming of 2.6 to 3.1 degrees by the end of the century. At COP28, Parties agreed that the new NDCs should be aligned with the 1.5 degrees climate target.

The outcomes of the World Climate Change Conference in Baku (COP29) have caused disappointment both in Baku and worldwide. Nevertheless, they still contribute to the international climate action process – an achievement that cannot be taken for granted given the current geopolitical situation.

On 11 November 2024, this year's UN Climate Change Conference COP29 will start in Baku (Azerbaijan). The main topics are climate finance and progress in implementing ambitious climate action. UBA experts are also part of the German delegation and are supporting the German government and the EU in the negotiations.

The Global Stocktake assesses the collective progress towards the goals of the Paris Agreement every five years. The first Global Stocktake has revealed major gaps on the way to achieving international climate action goals but also pointed at a clear path ahead. On behalf of UBA, researchers analysed the contributions of the Parties to the Paris Agreement.

The European Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) will be aligned with the European climate protection target of reducing emissions by at least 55% by 2030 compared to 1990. In May and June 2023, the legal acts entered into force. Now the European Commission, in agreement with the member states, must draw up a variety of rules to implement the reform.