• World leaders gathered (24^th-30^th Sept) at this year’s UN General Assembly in New York with less than 60 days until the next major UN climate summit, COP29 in November.  
• Leaders’ speeches saw mixed climate focus, with many emphasising climate action as a priority and others packaging it within the context of other global issues. 
• With crucial climate deadlines approaching, governments must use the next 12 months to show progress on climate action to deliver the energy transition and ambitious commitments demonstrating stronger leadership. 

Last week, global leaders convened at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and New York Climate Week (NYCW) to address pressing transnational challenges and the urgent need for climate action. With geopolitical tensions high, discussions centered on the importance of reforming multilateral systems and enhancing international cooperation to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Climate was a top priority in the interventions from the UK, Brazil, and Azerbaijan, who emphasized commitments to update Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and transition away from fossil fuels. 

The next 12 months are critical for climate action, and the world must demonstrate both progress in delivering the energy transition and the longer term ambition needed to keep 1.5^oC degrees within reach via the submission of ambitious NDCs. The level of unified political ambition and concrete commitments from many nations is currently insufficient and raises concerns about the effectiveness of the multilateral system. With only a few countries committing to updated NDCs ahead of the February deadline, there is a pressing need for stronger leadership and accountability. 

As we approach COP29 in Baku, moments such as the pre-COP and the World Bank and IMF Annual Meetings in October will serve as crucial opportunities for political leaders to bolster climate action and unlock the finance needed to support the transition. They should not let these opportunities pass by. 

Quotes

Cosima Cassel, Senior Policy Advisor at E3G said:

“UNGA has shown that despite rising geopolitical tensions, there is a strong willingness to make multilateralism work. However, international climate action in the coming months will truly test this resolve. More leaders must step up and prioritize this urgent issue, maintaining momentum to overcome challenges in finance negotiations at COP29 and ensure funding flows where it’s needed. Only then can we achieve the ambition required to keep 1.5^oC degrees within reach.” 

Leo Roberts, Programme Lead at E3G said:

“Leaders showed at UNGA that climate change remains high on the global political agenda, but there was a disappointing lack of clarity from many on how the groundbreaking package of energy goals agreed at COP28 would be financed and implemented. Countries and leaders must step up to build momentum, and ensure NDC submissions over the coming months reflect the most ambitious of energy transition outcomes – a collective tripling of renewable energy and doubling of energy efficiency, the just and equitable phaseout of fossil fuels, and a rapid end to coal power.” 

Rob Moore, Associate Director at E3G said:

“Discussions in New York have shown that the global need to act on climate change retains consensus despite a difficult backdrop. This is reassuring, but in of itself will not stop climate impacts nor bring security and prosperity. Leaders now need to turn warm words into action, using the time between now and COP29 and the G20 Summit to sharpen their vision for how the immense financing gap can be bridged through a mixture of increased international support and accelerated structural reform.”