The United Nations headquarters building is seen from inside the General Assembly hall, on Sept 21, 2021. (PHOTO / FILE / AP)

BERLIN / UNITED NATIONS - A new report from UN Climate Change (the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Secretariat) says that national climate action plans remain insufficient to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 C and meet the goals of the Paris Agreement.

Even with increased efforts by some countries, the report says much more action is needed now to bend the world's emissions trajectory further downward and avoid the worst impacts of climate change.

"Today's report shows that governments combined are taking baby steps to avert the climate crisis. And it shows why governments must make bold strides forward at COP28 (the UN Climate Change Conference) in Dubai, to get on track," UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell said.

Stiell said that the conclusion of the first global stocktake at COP28 is where nations can regain momentum to scale up their efforts across all areas and get on track with meeting the goals of the Paris Agreement.

The first global stocktake at COP28 is intended to inform the next round of climate action plans under the Paris Agreement to be put forward by 2025, paving the way for accelerated action

The stocktake is intended to inform the next round of climate action plans under the Paris Agreement (known as nationally determined contributions, or NDCs) to be put forward by 2025, paving the way for accelerated action.

"The Global Stocktake report released by UN Climate Change this year clearly shows where progress is too slow. But it also lays out the vast array of tools and solutions put forward by countries," Stiell said.

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According to the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, greenhouse gas emissions must be cut by 43 percent by 2030 compared to 2019 levels. This is critical to limit temperature rise to 1.5 C by the end of this century and avoid the worst impacts of climate change, including more frequent and severe droughts, heatwaves and rainfall.

"It's time to show the massive benefits now of bolder climate action: more jobs, higher wages, economic growth, opportunity and stability, less pollution and better health," Stiell said.

UN Climate Change analyzed the NDCs of 195 parties to the Paris Agreement, including 20 new or updated NDCs submitted before Sept 25, 2023.

In line with the findings of last year's analysis, the report shows that while emissions are no longer projected to increase after 2030 compared to 2019 levels, they are still not demonstrating the rapid downward trend science says is necessary this decade.

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"Using the Global Stocktake to plan ahead, we can make COP28 a game-changer and provide a springboard for a two-year climate action surge," Stiell said.

"COP28 must be a historic turning point in this critical decade for parties to seize the moment of the Global Stocktake to commit to raise their ambition and to unite, act and deliver outcomes that keep 1.5 C within reach while leaving no one behind," Sultan Al Jaber, COP28 president designate, commented.

"It is essential while we pursue our undertaking to continue seeking climate justice and assist the Global South, which contributes the least in emissions yet bears the brunt of the most vicious effects of climate change, to not only survive but also transition into more sustainable economy through just transition pathways," said COP27 President and Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry. 

On Tuesday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres emphasized the urgent efforts to tackle the growing climate ambition gap.

Referring to the latest United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change report, the top UN official said that it reveals a stagnation in global climate ambition over the past year, with national climate plans being "strikingly misaligned" with scientific findings.

Guterres noted that the upcoming 28th session of the Conference of the Parties in Dubai "must be the place to urgently close the climate ambition gap," as emissions continue to rise and climate chaos intensifies.

The UN chief called for hastening net zero timelines "so that developed countries get there as close as possible to 2040 and emerging economies as close as possible to 2050." 

"As the reality of climate chaos pounds communities around the world, with ever fiercer floods, fires and droughts, the chasm between need and action is more menacing than ever," he said.

The UN's climate change body says that global greenhouse gas emissions need to fall by 45 percent by the end of this decade compared to 2010 levels, to meet the goal of limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 C.

READ MORE: Experts call for advancing climate science ahead of COP28

The UN chief called for hastening net zero timelines "so that developed countries get there as close as possible to 2040 and emerging economies as close as possible to 2050." Additionally, he advocated a boost in renewable energy investments, in parallel with the phasing out of fossil fuels.

He emphasized the importance of developed countries regaining trust "by delivering on their finance commitments."

Stating that incremental steps are insufficient, he said, "inch-by-inch progress will not do. It is time for a climate ambition supernova in every country, city, and sector."

For effective action, governments must collaborate to secure essential finance and support, alongside forming partnerships, with developed countries taking the lead in restoring trust through the fulfillment of their financial obligations, he said.