UN climate summit sees 120 nations pledge historic cuts as planet nears dangerous heating

🕒 Last updated on September 27, 2025

World leaders came together at the United Nations in New York to announce new targets aimed at cutting dangerous pollution that is heating up the planet.

Fresh climate pledges at the United Nations

A total of 120 countries, along with the European Union, revealed updated goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The announcements followed a controversial speech by the US president, who dismissed climate change as a “con job” and attacked efforts to move toward cleaner energy.

The most notable pledge came from China, the world’s largest polluter, which said it would cut its emissions by 7% to 10% from its peak level by 2035. The country also promised to install more than six times the amount of wind and solar power by 2035 compared to its levels in 2020. This move puts China at the center of the world’s clean energy transition, even as many countries struggle to meet earlier promises made under the Paris Agreement.

The UN secretary-general, who called the special summit, urged nations to go “much further, much faster.” He highlighted that global warming is already breaking dangerous limits and that only bold action can stop rising seas, extreme heat, and devastating storms from worsening. “Your new plans can take us a significant step forward,” he said, encouraging governments to use this moment as a turning point.

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Currently, the planet is on track to heat up by nearly 3 degrees Celsius compared to pre-industrial times, far above the 1.5-degree limit set in the Paris climate deal. Such levels of warming could cause catastrophic damage to countries around the world, from severe droughts to deadly floods. Scientists warn that many nations are still far from delivering the deep cuts in pollution needed to prevent these outcomes.

Trump’s rejection of climate science

The US president took the stage at the UN a day before the new pledges were unveiled and declared that climate change was a “hoax.” He told world leaders that green energy policies were destroying their countries and encouraged them to drill for more oil and gas. He mocked wind turbines as “pathetic” and argued that sticking with fossil fuels like coal and oil was the only way forward.

Trump also claimed that international climate predictions were false and made by “stupid people.” His comments stood in sharp contrast to the warnings from scientists and leaders who stress that every fraction of a degree of warming will bring more destruction. Over the past years, his administration has rolled back clean energy projects, removed key environmental rules, and withdrawn the US from the Paris Agreement.

The reaction from climate advocates was swift. Many criticized his remarks as misleading and dangerous, especially at a time when countries are facing worsening floods, fires, and heat waves. Environmental groups pointed out that billions of dollars are already flowing into renewable energy, showing that economies see clean power as the future.

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Despite the president’s position, other governments stressed that progress cannot stop. Many said the world must not let a single country derail global efforts, especially when 194 other nations remain committed to the Paris deal.

Renewables rise as nations push ahead

Away from the heated remarks, a clear message came out of the UN summit: the shift to clean energy is already happening. Last year alone, about $2 trillion was invested globally into renewable power such as wind and solar. This was more than double the money that went into fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas.

Leaders stressed that renewable energy is not just about reducing emissions but also about creating new jobs and opportunities. Building clean power plants and installing solar panels is already employing millions worldwide, while fossil fuel industries continue to decline.

Some small island nations, which face an existential threat from rising seas, warned that the current pledges are still not enough. They fear that their homes could disappear beneath the ocean if the world fails to act. They urged for stronger and more honest assessments of emissions cuts, reminding other countries that the stakes are life and death for many communities.

The upcoming climate talks in Brazil, known as COP30, are expected to put these pledges to the test. Countries will meet again to work on a plan to stay on track with the Paris Agreement.

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However, logistical challenges remain, with reports of limited hotel space in the Amazon city where the meeting will take place. Some officials have openly worried about the difficulties in hosting such a large and crucial event.

Even with these challenges, the announcements in New York showed that many nations are still willing to step up. China’s promise to cut emissions and expand renewable energy set the tone, while other governments reiterated their plans to keep investing in clean power. The UN chief made it clear: “The science demands action, the law commands it, the economics compel it, and people are calling for it.”