UNEP Report Warns of Insufficient Climate Action Ahead of COP31

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) released a report on 21 October 2026, indicating that global climate promises are inadequate to meet the Paris Agreement goals. The report forecasts a temperature increase of approximately 2.6°C above pre-industrial levels by 2100 if countries fulfill their current Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

It states that the world is on track to surpass the critical 1.5°C threshold, raising concerns about how high temperatures will rise and the duration of this increase. The report emphasizes the importance of the upcoming COP31 climate summit in November 2026, which aims to encourage governments to strengthen their climate commitments.

It suggests that while some climate policies have successfully reduced emissions, significant action is still required to close the gap between current pledges and necessary reductions. To adhere to the "lowest possible" 1.5°C overshoot pathway, global greenhouse-gas emissions must decrease sharply compared to 2025 levels, necessitating an average annual reduction from 2025 to 2035.