UN summit to call for revised climate action, net-zero goals

Major emitters of planet warming greenhouse gases are expected to ratchet up climate action and announce new plans at the United Nations Climate Ambition Summit that begins on Monday.

- Jayashree Nandi

The New York Climate Week, organised in partnership with the UN during the general assembly, will be held on September 17-24, bringing together representatives from business, government and civil society. On September 20, heads of states of major emitters are expected to address the UN on their updated climate plans.

UN secretary general Antonio Guterres had sent letters to member states, calling for expression of interest in presenting on how the nations will update their efforts to deal with the climate crisis.

"We received over 100 expressions of interest to participate, which contain details and specifics on announcements. Participation in most cases would be at the level of heads of states and governments," Selwin Hart, special adviser to Guterres on climate, said during a briefing last week.

Guterres called on "first movers and doers" to present on updated pre-2030 nationally determined contributions, as agreed to in the Glasgow climate summit in 2021: updated netzero targets; energy transition plans with commitments to no new coal, oil and gas; fossil fuel phase-out plans; more ambitious renewable energy targets; and pledges to the green climate fund.

A chair's summary on the updated goals will be released at the end of the meeting.