Lula and Guterres urge NDC submission: “Without them, the planet walks in the dark”
The Climate Ambition Summit was a featured event of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly. Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva stated that fulfilling the commitment to climate action strengthens multilateralism. Brazil’s lead negotiator for COP30, Ambassador André Corrêa do Lago, also expressed "confidence" in the upcoming conference following the high-level event involving 120 countries
By Mayara Souto / COP30
The submission of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) by all parties to the Paris Agreement is a crucial factor in ensuring that COP30 is the “COP of implementation.” To drive this effectiveness, the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General, António Guterres, and Brazilian President Lula da Silva co-chaired the Climate Ambition Summit on Wednesday, September 20, during the 78th UN General Assembly.
Since the Paris Agreement was signed in 2015, there have been two rounds of NDC submissions, and a third round is currently underway. These contributions outline each country’s planned actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and limit global warming to 1.5°C.
“The Paris Agreement made a difference. Over the past ten years, the projected global temperature increase has fallen from 4°C to less than 3°C—if current NDCs are fully implemented. Now, we need new plans for 2035 that go much further and much faster,” Mr. Guterres said, adding that the targets should cover all greenhouse gas emissions in all sectors.
The UN Secretary-General also emphasized that these new NDCs must reflect the acceleration of a “globally just energy transition.” “Your new plans can take us a significant step forward,” he concluded.
Brazilian appeal
President Lula da Silva noted that, while countries are free to determine their own emissions reduction strategies, submitting these plans to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) "is not optional."
“In a world where serious violations have become commonplace, failing to present an NDC may seem like a lesser evil. However, without a collective set of NDCs, the planet is walking in the dark. Only with the full picture will we know where we are headed and at what pace,” he emphasized.
President Lula also stated that complying with the climate agreement reinforces multilateralism. “No one is safe from the effects of climate change. Border walls won’t stop droughts or storms. Nature does not bow to bombs or warships. No country stands above another,” he stressed.
“I appeal to the countries that have not yet submitted their nationally determined contributions (NDCs): The success of COP30 in Belém depends on you. Together, let us make the Amazon the setting for a pivotal moment in the history of multilateralism,” Lula concluded.
Ambassador Corrêa do Lago, the president of COP30, also emphasized the importance of this moment in strengthening multilateralism. “This event is clearly a great success, and everyone is commenting on how much it represents a reaction and a demonstration of confidence in multilateralism and in COP30,” he said.
The deadline for submitting NDCs is the end of September. A total of 198 parties must deliver their contributions; 120 of those parties participated in the summit.
Brazil was the second country to present its new NDC, in November of last year. It intends to reduce all greenhouse gases by between 59% and 67%, and end deforestation by 2030.
China and the European Union
During the Summit, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced his country’s new NDC in a video. Currently, China is the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases. According to President Xi, China plans to reduce net emissions by 7-10% compared to previous peak levels and increase the share of non-fossil fuels to over 30% of total energy consumption.
Meanwhile, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated that the bloc intends to submit its new NDC before COP30. The countries in the region are also major greenhouse gas emitters. She said the goal is to reduce emissions by between 66% and 72%.