POLITICO Energy A rocky road to the UN climate change conference
Oct 29, 2025
Sara Schonhardt, an international climate reporter for E&E News, dives into the challenges ahead of the UN climate conference in Brazil. With countries falling short of Paris Agreement targets, she highlights the impact of the U.S. withdrawal under Trump on global leadership. Rising energy demand and inflation further complicate negotiations, while a bipartisan group of governors urges Congress to reform permitting for energy projects. The stakes are high, making the road to COP30 more daunting than ever.
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Global Pledges Fall Far Short
- The UN report finds most countries' new 2035 plans are modest and incomplete, covering only about 30% of global emissions.
- To meet Paris goals, emissions need cuts of roughly 35% (2°C) or 60% (1.5°C), far beyond current pledges.
Major Emitters' Plans Are Missing Or Fragile
- The report covers 64 countries representing ~30% of global greenhouse gases and excludes major emitters like China and some EU proposals.
- The U.S. submission (from the Biden era) pledged 61% cuts by 2035 but Trump is undermining that plan domestically.
U.S. Policy Shifts Create A Leadership Vacuum
- The Trump administration is actively working to withdraw from Paris and to undermine international climate measures.
- Actions like opposing an IMO shipping levy and denouncing climate action will hang over COP30 and shift global dynamics.