- At COP28 in the United Arab Emirates (2023), the final outcome agreement included global targets to triple the capacity of renewable energy like wind and solar power, and to double the rate of energy efficiency improvements, both by 2030. It is also the first time that countries agreed on the need to "transition away” from fossil fuels in energy systems.
- COP29 took place in Baku, Azerbaijan, in November 2024. The UK delegation was led by Ed Miliband, the energy security and net zero secretary with Prime Minister Keir Starmer who pledged to cut UK emissions by 81% by 2035 compared to 1990 levels (from 78%).
- COP30 will be held in Belem, Brazil, in November 2025, when countries will need to present the second round of nationally determined contributions (NDCs).
- The Inclusive Forum on Carbon Mitigation Approaches (IFCMA) was launched in February 2023 to discuss ways to boost global emissions reductions through improved collaboration. The IFCMA is working with key international organisations, including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), World Trade Organization, World Bank Group, International Monetary Fund, and International Energy Agency, to build synergies and avoid duplication of efforts. A new paper regarding the effects of climate policies on emissions was published by the IFCMA on 15 May 2025. The paper aims “to collect, harmonise and compare the effects of climate policies across a wide range of sectors and policy instruments.”
- In April 2025, 63 out of 103 voting UN member states in the International Maritime Organization (IMO) voted to approve a net-zero framework for the shipping industry (including the EU, Brazil, Canada, India and South Africa). The framework imposes mandatory emissions limits and greenhouse gas pricing on most of the world’s shipping fleets. The rules are expected to apply from 2027 to large ships, responsible for 85% of the total CO2 emissions from international shipping. These ships will need to offset emissions or purchase remedial units. Ships that use zero or near-zero greenhouse gas technologies will be eligible for financial rewards that will come from the emissions pricing tool.
- Timing: this is a continuing area of development affecting many countries, so there is no specific timeframe for changes.
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