A new EU-funded report reveals that while global emissions could peak before 2030, current efforts remain insufficient to meet the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C goal. The study, produced through collaboration between IIASA, the PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency, and the NewClimate Institute, provides a detailed, evidence-based assessment of progress among the world’s largest emitters.
The 2025 edition of the Progress of Major Emitters Towards Climate Targets report highlights both encouraging momentum and critical gaps in global climate action. Despite policy rollbacks in some regions, most notably the United States, overall emission projections remain on a downward trend. However, the pace of reductions is still too slow to align with the Paris Agreement’s targets.
Fifteen major economies are likely on track to meet their 2030 unconditional Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), yet many others must urgently expand or strengthen policy measures. More than half of the countries analyzed have submitted or announced 2035 NDCs, but only a small number – six under current trajectories – appear capable of reaching them.
© IIASA/PBL/NewClimate Institute
Progress of major emitters towards climate targets: 2025 Update
IIASA researchers in the Integrated Biosphere Futures Research Group of the Biodiversity and Natural Resources Program Zuelclady Araujo Gutiérrez, Mykola Gusti, and Dejana Golic, as well as IIASA Biodiversity and Natural Resources Program Director Petr Havlik contributed to the analysis, combining IIASA’s modeling expertise with the policy assessments of PBL and NewClimate Institute. The collaboration underscores the importance of integrating scientific rigor with policy evaluation to guide global decision-making.
“The data show clear signs of progress, but also a stark warning,” said Araujo-Gutiérrez. “If we want to keep 1.5°C within reach, governments must not only fulfill their existing commitments but act faster and go further, especially as new 2035 targets are finalized.”
The report’s findings reinforce the urgency for stronger, coordinated international action in 2025 – a pivotal year for ramping up ambition and implementation of climate policies worldwide.
News
05 May 2026
Amazon understory forests show short-term boost in CO₂ uptake – but this comes at a cost
Tropical forests are one of the planet's most important carbon sinks – often also called "the lungs of the Earth". But their future in a high-CO₂ world remains uncertain. IIASA researchers contributed to a new study, which suggests even small understory trees in the Amazon may initially buffer climate change more strongly. Their long-term capacity to store carbon could, however, be restricted by nutrient availability, highlighting the vulnerability of these ecosystems under future climate conditions.
17 April 2026
IIASA and OSCE explore collaboration on emerging technologies and security challenges
Earlier this week, IIASA welcomed a delegation from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) to Schloss Laxenburg for a high-level exchange on advancing collaboration at the intersection of science, policy, and emerging technologies.
23 March 2026
CHOICE webinar showcases interactive tools bringing food-system models closer to stakeholders
The Horizon Europe project CHOICE hosted an online webinar presenting two interactive simulation environments designed to make food-system and climate modelling more accessible to stakeholders, policymakers, and non-expert users. The session featured live demonstrations and hands-on exercises exploring how behavioral change, dietary shifts, food waste reduction, and land-use decisions can shape sustainability outcomes.