Paris Agreement and progress by major countries towards it

As we have seen, the Paris Agreement introduced several key mechanisms to achieve its goals:

• Each country sets its own voluntary climate targets known as NDCs.
• Countries must submit updated NDCs every five years, with increasingly ambitious targets.
• These commitments are legally required to be submitted but not legally enforceable if a country fails to meet them.

The Paris Agreement is definitely a landmark global effort, but its success depends on continuous ambition, financial commitments, and political cooperation.

Bottom of FormAs of March 2025, countries worldwide exhibit varying progress toward their Paris Agreement commitments. Let us see, how it has moved. Here’s an overview of notable developments:

India

India has achieved its Paris Agreement targets ahead of schedule, becoming the first G20 nation to do so. Over the past decade, the country increased its solar energy capacity 32-fold, positioning itself as the world's third-largest solar power producer. Additionally, India is on track to add 500 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity by 2030 and aims for Indian Railways to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by the same year.

Germany

In 2024, Germany reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 3.4%, totaling 649 million tons of CO₂. This reduction surpasses the country's legal target of 693.4 million tons for the year. The decline is largely attributed to renewable energy sources, which constituted about 54% of Germany's total electricity consumption. These advancements align Germany with its goal of a 65% emissions reduction by 2030 compared to 1990 levels, aiming for carbon neutrality by 2045.

China

China remains the world's largest greenhouse gas emitter but has made significant strides in renewable energy. The nation achieved its goal of installing 1,200 gigawatts of wind and solar power generating capacity in July 2024, over six years ahead of schedule. Electric vehicles now account for more than 50% of new vehicle sales in China, contributing to a global reduction in oil demand. However, China continues to rely heavily on coal, presenting ongoing challenges to its climate commitments.

Chile

Chile is phasing out coal faster than any other developing nation, partly due to robust environmental standards. In the first half of 2024, coal's share of Chile's electricity output was 17.5%, down from 43.6% in 2016. Renewables accounted for 63% of the country's power mix during this period.

Uruguay

Uruguay's economy recently operated on 100% renewable electricity for ten consecutive months, with wind energy comprising 41% of the mix.

Brazil

In 2023, renewables supplied over 90% of Brazil's power requirements, with low-carbon nuclear energy contributing an additional 2%. At COP29, Brazil announced plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 59% to 67% by 2035, relative to 2005 levels.

Kenya

Kenya currently generates more than 90% of its electricity from clean sources, including geothermal power plants, and plans to reach 100% by 2030.

South Africa

Despite the U.S. withdrawal from global climate finance initiatives under President Trump, South Africa's transition from coal to renewable energy continues. The European Union has pledged €4.7 billion to fill a $1 billion funding gap left by the U.S. exit from the Just Energy Transition Partnership, which originally committed $45 billion to aid South Africa, Indonesia, and Vietnam in their switch to renewable energy.

United States

The U.S. has experienced policy shifts impacting its climate commitments. The Trump administration's withdrawal from global climate finance initiatives (again) and prioritization of fossil fuels have raised concerns about the country's influence in global climate policy-making. Analysts warn that this could diminish U.S. leadership in climate initiatives, potentially allowing other countries, like China, to fill the void.

In summary, while many countries have made significant progress toward their Paris Agreement goals, challenges remain, particularly in balancing economic growth with sustainable energy practices.