The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has released its annual Emissions Gap Report for 2025, titled “Off Target”

About the Emissions Gap Report

• The Emissions Gap Report is an annual publication by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
• First Published: 2010.
• It assesses global progress in reducing greenhouse gas emissions to limit global warming to well below 2°C and pursue efforts toward 1.5°C, as outlined in the Paris Agreement.
• The report is released annually before the UN Climate Change Conference (COP) to guide global climate action and policy discussions.

Key Findings of Emissions Gap Report 2025

• Marginal Progress: Even with full implementation of updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), projected warming is between 2.3–2.5°C, only a slight improvement from last year’s 2.6–2.8°C estimate.
  Implementation Gap: Even full execution of current NDCs would cut emissions only 15% below 2019 levels by 2035, whereas a 55% reduction is required to limit warming to 1.5°C.
• Illusory Gains: UNEP cautions that much of this improvement results from accounting changes rather than real emission cuts.
• Impact of U.S. Withdrawal: The planned U.S. exit from the Paris Agreement in January 2026 is projected to offset about 0.1°C of the overall improvement.
• Limited Participation: Only 60 Parties (representing 63% of global GHG emissions) had submitted or announced new 2035 NDCs.

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• Record High Emissions: Global GHG emissions increased by 2.3% in 2024, reaching 57.7 gigatonnes of CO₂ equivalent, over four times the average growth rate of the 2010s.
  • India’s emissions grew by 3.6% in 2024 compared to 2023.
  • India’s Share in Global Emissions: ~7%. 
• Per Capita Emissions: India’s per capita GHG emissions in 2024 were 3 tCO₂e, significantly lower than China (11 tCO₂e) and the US (17.4 tCO₂e). 
• Overshoot Inevitable: Global temperatures are now very likely to exceed 1.5°C within the next decade.
• Role of Major Emitters: The G20 bloc, responsible for 77% of global emissions (excluding the African Union), remains off track to meet 2030 climate goals, despite seven members submitting new NDCs.

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