Of top 10 global carbon emitters, not a single one is hitting its climate goals as outlined under the Paris Agreement, per data from the Climate Action Tracker.
Why it matters: Even if every country that’s adopted the Paris Agreement were to meet their pledges, it would not avert the worst effects of climate change.
Driving the news: June 1 marks the 2-year anniversary of President Trump’s announcement that the U.S. would withdraw from the deal. Per the Climate Action Tracker, the U.S., the second-largest world emitter of greenhouse gasses (but top historical emitter), falls under “critically insufficient,” the worst category, in meeting its Paris pledge. […]
Where countries rank: The top 10 emitters are bolded.
- Role model: None.
- 1.5ºC Paris Agreement compatible: Morocco, The Gambia
- 2ºC compatible: Bhutan, Costa Rica, Ethiopia, India, Philippines
- Insufficient: Australia, Brazil, EU, Kazakhstan, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, Switzerland
- Highly insufficient: Argentina, Canada, Chile, China, Indonesia, Japan, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, UAE
- Critically insufficient: Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, United States, Ukraine
Yes, but: There is no enforcement mechanism under the Paris Agreement to punish a country for missing a target.