Against a background of significant geopolitical uncertainty and accelerating impacts, prioritising climate action continues to be the smart, strategic play for national and global prosperity, security and stability.
- Leaders must prioritize climate action at UNGA80 as both an immediate and long-term threat to global security and prosperity. Vulnerability is no longer a distant risk; it is here.
- They must build on progress with new ambitious NDCs, and commit to driving pragmatic solutions and impacts together, underpinned by science, to accelerate and seize the opportunities from a clean and resilient energy transition.
- They must send signals on commitment to delivering and closing the financing gap to support the costs of the climate transition and adaptation, particularly for developing economies and those on the frontline of climate vulnerability.
Story
This year’s United Nations General Assembly (UNGA80) opens amid significant geopolitical uncertainty. It also takes place at a moment where climate action and impacts hang in the balance. Precisely in this context climate action must remain top of the agenda: as both an immediate and long-term strategic security and prosperity challenge and an economic opportunity not to be squandered. Leaders need to show irrefutable commitment to global cooperation and domestic prioritisation of climate action through ambitious climate targets, targeted finance, and adaptation support.
UNGA80, ten years on since the Paris Agreement, is also the moment countries must come forward with renewed climate plans at the UNSG’s Special High-level Event on Climate Action / Climate Summit 2025 which will serve as a platform for leaders to present their new Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
- This is the final chance for countries to share climate plans in time for inclusion in the 2025 NDC synthesis report.
- Major players including the EU and China must show they can step up and lead on the climate emergency delivering bold and ambitious NDCs and making commitments around partnerships and action on energy, finance and adaptation.
UNGA80 takes on a critical importance as leaders gather for the High-Level Week in parallel with Climate Week New York, bringing together corporate and institutional leaders including for the Global Renewables Summit (22/23). Elevating climate up the agenda in New York presents an opportunity to drive political momentum ahead of COP30 in November. The need for such action has never been clearer, especially in the face of persistent counter-pressures and strains to the broader multilateral system.
Climate is the smart, strategic play for countries – underpinning energy security, industrial competitiveness, and sustainable growth while safeguarding multilateral cooperation on climate resilience. Countries must not squander the opportunity but rather show up and build on the progress made since the Paris Agreement to together safeguard 1.5°C – science tells us every fraction of a degree will make a difference.
UNGA80 matters. It’s where Leaders must set the conditions for the decade to come.nternally as well as externally could further undermine trust, especially among emerging economies calling for reform.
Quotes
Kaysie Brown, Associate Director, Climate Diplomacy & Geopolitics, E3G, said:
“At UNGA, leaders must show up and clearly articulate their continued resolve around climate action and cooperation. UNGA80 is a critical moment for political leadership to show why and how climate action is a must have – not a nice to have – priority for governments around the world. On the road to COP30, we must see leaders not squandering the $2 trillion opportunity that the clean energy transition affords but instead demonstrate that climate leadership can be the engine of growth, the anchor of strategic alliances, a path to shared prosperity, and that multilateralism works when backed by ambition and delivery.”
Clarence Edwards, Executive Director, E3G Washington DC, said:
“Rising climate damages are a direct threat to economic and national security. By scaling cheaper clean energy now, leaders can lower household and business costs, strengthen energy security, and build resilience for vulnerable communities. That’s the opportunity on the table in New York.”
Cosima Cassel, Programme Lead, Climate Diplomacy & Geopolitics, E3G, said:
“2025 is a defining year for climate action and multilateralism. It is the 10th anniversary of the Paris Agreement, and the year emissions must peak to keep the Paris temperature goal within reach. With under two months until COP30, UNGA80 is the moment to elevate political momentum and focus minds on what should be delivered in Belem to drive the next decade of action. Leaders must seize the opportunity to accelerate the speed and scale of action to protect their citizens from even more devastating climate impacts in the years ahead.”
Steffen Menzel, Programme Lead, Climate Diplomacy & Geopolitics, E3G, said:
“Ahead of the UN Secretary General’s Climate Summit, all major emitters must honour their obligations under the Paris Agreement and come forward with their highest possible ambition – first and foremost the EU and China. The repeated delays and lack of clarity around the EU’s and China’s 2035 NDC are a profound disappointment. Meanwhile, smaller developing and climate-vulnerable countries continue to demonstrate that ambitious climate action and domestic prosperity are not only compatible but mutually reinforcing.”
Leo Roberts, Programme Lead, Global Clean Power Diplomacy, E3G, said:
“COP28 saw groundbreaking agreement on the need for a global tripling renewable energy capacity, doubling of energy efficiency, transition away from fossil fuels, and phasedown of coal power. Two years later, the latest round of NDCs suggest that countries have yet to internalise these outcomes into domestic energy pathways. Events this week in New York must send a clear message to all countries – that collective implementation of the COP28 energy package requires drastic increases in domestic action to transition away from fossil fuels and clean the power system, and this in turn requires Global North governments and financial actors to step up in the provision of public and leveraging of private energy finance.”
– ENDS –
Available for comment
Kaysie Brown (EN), E3G Associate Director, (multilateral climate diplomacy, geopolitics, US foreign policy) | kaysie.brown@e3g.org
Clarence Edwards (EN), E3G Executive Director, Washington DC, (US energy transition, energy security, geopolitics) | clarence.edwards@e3g.org
Travis Brubaker (EN, DE), E3G Senior Policy Advisor, (US Climate Foreign Policy)
m: +1(202)-870-4350 | travis.brubaker@e3g.org
Alden Meyer (EN), Senior Associate, (multilateral climate diplomacy, geopolitics, US federal & subnational policy) m: +1(202)-378-8619 | alden.meyer@e3g.org
Cosima Cassel (EN, SP, DE) Programme Lead Multilateral Venues, (Climate Diplomacy and Geopolitics, COP30) m: +49 (0) 160 339 0883 | Cosima.cassel@e3g.org
Steffen Menzel (EN, DE) Programme Lead Climate & Foreign Policy (EU Foreign Policy, NDCs) M: +49 151 5120 1182 | steffen.menzel@e3g.org
Leo Roberts (EN), E3G Programme Lead, (global energy transition, fossil fuel phase-out, energy transition finance) m: +44 (0) 7908 664 334 | leo.roberts@e3g.org
Matt Webb (EN), Associate Director, Global Clean Power Diplomacy, E3G, (global energy transition, fossil fuel phase-out, energy transition finance) m: +44 7548 240390 | matthew.webb@e3g.org
Notes to Editors
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