Alongside the formal climate commitments governments make under the Paris Agreement, recent Conferences of Parties (COPs) have seen a rise in voluntary international cooperative initiatives and sectoral pledges, signed onto by governments.

The effectiveness of these initiatives and pledges in advancing global climate action hinges on two factors: their ambition, and Parties’ accountability for their implementation.

In this report, we have taken five of those initiatives, and looked at how - and whether - they are being implemented in eight Asian countries: Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand and Viet Nam, selected due to their economies' heavy reliance on fossil fuels and their participation in an array of voluntary initiatives.

The initiatives are: the Coal to Clean Power Statement, the Just Energy Transition Partnership, the Energy Transition Council, the Global Pledge on Renewables and Energy Efficiency, and the Global Methane Pledge.

These discussions are timely: as the window to limit warming to 1.5°C narrows, the 2025 deadline for the next round of NDCs, which must include targets for 2035, is an opportunity to raise ambition. With 2030 as an intermediate checkpoint, 2035 as a medium-term target and 2050 as the horizon for net zero for many countries, this triple timeline will let governments ensure the continuity of their policy framework.

This update also gives policymakers a chance to incorporate recent technological and social advancements in energy and climate transitions, particularly for countries which have not updated their NDCs since 2021, as well as accounting for the GST outcomes, which assess collective progress towards long term goals, as a guide to strengthen their NDCs.

The eight focus countries reviewed in this report are all in a position to contribute to closing the gap between their NDC commitments and Paris Agreement targets. Successful implementation of their energy sector pledges can accelerate the transition to clean energy sources and avoid locking-in more fossil fuels in their energy systems.

While Japan, South Korea, and Singapore may have the capacity to strengthen their NDCs independently, the other countries will (partly) require international financial support to enhance their commitments.

Country factsheets:
Below, download a detailed analysis of each of the eight focus countries that looks at how they are progressing on renewables, coal, energy intensity, methane - and the JETPs.

Download full report, methodology and data below

Decarbonisation targets and 1.5℃ pathways

Publications

Fair carbon removal obligations under climate response uncertainty

We assess the level of ‘preventive’ CDR needed to draw warming down to 1.5°C in case of a stronger-than-average Earth System response.

1.5°C-aligned 2030 and 2035 GHG emissions targets

We have produced factsheets for Australia, Brazil, China, the EU, India, Indonesia and USA showing 2030 and 2035 greenhouse gas emission reduction milestones for each jurisdiction to align with the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C goal – both including and excluding land use, land-use change and forestry.

Climate Action Tracker: 2024 warming projection update

Despite an escalating climate crisis marked by unprecedented wildfires, storms, floods, and droughts, the Climate Action Tracker annual global temperature update shows global warming projections for 2100 are flatlining, with no improvement since 2021. The aggregate effect of current policies set the world on a path toward 2.7°C of warming.

Decarbonising light-duty vehicle road transport

The Climate Action Tracker provides updated 1.5ºC compatible benchmarks for the transport sector for the world as a whole and for seven individual countries; the US, EU, China, India, Brazil, South Africa and Indonesia.

Emissions Gap Report 2024: No more hot air … please!

The 2024 edition of UNEP’s Emissions Gap Report shows how much higher nations must aim. To get on a least-cost pathway for 1.5°C, emissions must fall 42 per cent by 2030, compared to 2019 levels. G20 nations, particularly the largest-emitting members, would need to do the heavy lifting.

The role of northern forests in limiting warming to 1.5°C

Northern forests are critical in the race to net zero CO₂ by mid-century. Protecting and restoring these forests, alongside steep and rapid reductions in fossil fuel emissions, is essential both to mitigating emissions and to supporting forest ecosystem services and biodiversity.

Methodology underpinning the State of Climate Action series: 2024 update

This technical note describes the State of Climate Action series’ methodology for identifying sectors that must transform, translating these transformations into global mitigation targets primarily for 2030, 2035 and 2050 and selecting indicators with datasets to monitor annual change. It also outlines the report’s approach for assessing progress made toward near-term targets and comparing trends over time.

LNG shipbuilding industry heading to huge oversupply

The LNG shipbuilding industry appears to be doubling down on building new carriers, ignoring the global shift to a low carbon economy and putting itself into an even worse oversupply situation than a year ago, we find in our updated report.

Setting 1.5°C compatible wind and solar targets

Based on global energy system modelling sense-checked against key national studies, this report presents new analysis on what a 1.5°C-aligned rollout of wind and solar could look like for key countries. It aims to inform target setting for 2030, 2035 and beyond in third generation NDCs.

Technical guide for the development of long-term low emission development strategies in Africa

This technical guide proposes concrete steps and actions to help African countries develop strong, high-performing Long-Term Low Emission and Climate Resilient Development Strategies that chart a low-emission development path, build resilience, encourage innovation, and create new opportunities for green growth.

Evaluating the near and long-term role of carbon dioxide removal in meeting global climate objectives

For 1.5°C pathways with limited overshoot, most of the mitigation between now and 2030 should come from emissions reductions (70%), with reductions from cutting non-CO2 emissions (20%) and land-based carbon dioxide removals such as afforestation and preventing deforestation (10%) making up the remainder.

Guide to a good 2035 climate target

In this briefing, the Climate Action Tracker highlights the four key elements needed from the next round of NDCs for 2035: they need to be ambitious, fair, credible, transparent, and include aspects of climate finance and a just and fair transition.

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Decarbonisation targets and 1.5℃ pathways

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The impact of global climate pledges on national action: a snapshot across Asia

Country profile: Indonesia

Country profile: Japan

Country profile: Malaysia

Country profile: Philippines

Country profile: Singapore

Country profile: South Korea

Country profile: Thailand

Country profile: Viet Nam