The United Nations last December set a deadline of Oct. 1 for countries to submit pledges on what they’re prepared to do to rein in fossil-fuel emissions as part of their contribution to a new deal to fight climate change.
As of Friday, 119 submissions were on the website of the UN body overseeing the talks that involve more than 190 nations intending to seal the deal in Paris in December. Those pledges cover 146 countries, because they include a single commitment from the 28-nation European Union. The 10 biggest polluters all submitted documents. Iran is the biggest yet to do so. That country is the 11th biggest emitter, accounting for about 1.5 percent of global greenhouse gases, according to World Resources Institute. Other holdouts include Saudi Arabia, Malaysia and Qatar, which hosted the UN climate talks in 2012.
Here’s what the G20 nations have promised:
Argentina
An unconditional pledge for a 15 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in 2030 relative to a business-as-usual (BAU) scenario. With international assistance, the cut could rise to 30 percent. Business-as-usual refers to where emissions would be in any given year assuming the country took no action to limit them.
Australia
An absolute reduction in emissions of 26 percent to 28 percent in 2030 from 2005.
Brazil
An absolute reduction in emissions of 37 percent in 2025 from 2005. The country has indicated “for reference purposes only” that the reduction would be 43 percent by 2030. The country also aims to eliminate illegal deforestation by 2030.
Canada
A 30 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions between 2005 and 2030.
China
A pledge for its emissions to reach a peak “around” 2030, making “best efforts” to do so early. The world’s biggest emitter also promises to cut carbon dioxide emitted per dollar of economic output by 60 percent to 65 percent from 2005 and to increase the share of energy from renewables and nuclear power to 20 percent by 2030.
European Union
The 28-nation bloc pledged a 40 percent cut in greenhouse gases by 2030 from 1990.
France
See European Union.
Germany
See European Union.
India
A goal to cut the emissions per unit of economic output by 33 percent to 35 percent by 2030 from 2005. The world’s third- biggest emitter also aims to get 40 percent of its electricity capacity from non-fossil fuels by 2030.
Indonesia
A pledge to cut emissions by 29 percent from a business-as- usual scenario in 2030. Given international assistance, it would raise the pledge to a 41 percent reduction.
Italy
See European Union.
Japan
A 26 percent reduction in greenhouse gases in 2030 from 2013 levels. Renewables in 2030 will provide 22 percent to 24 percent of power in 2030, and nuclear will generate another 20 percent to 22 percent.
Mexico
An unconditional 25 percent cut in greenhouse gas and short-lived pollutant emissions in 2030 versus a business-as- usual scenario. The pledge includes a peak for absolute emissions in 2026, and subject to international assistance, could be raised to a 40 percent reduction.
Russia
A 25 percent to 30 percent reduction in greenhouse gases in 2030 from 1990 levels.
Saudi Arabia
Alone among G20 members, Saudi Arabia had yet to submit its pledge as of Oct. 1.
South Africa
The country pledged to “peak, plateau and decline” its emissions, with the peak occurring between 2020 and 2025, followed by a decade-long plateau, and then absolute declines. It gave an indicative range for pollution levels of 398 megatons to 614 megatons of CO2 between 2025 and 2030.
South Korea
A 37 percent reduction from business-as-usual projections in 2030. The BAU projection is for 850.6 megatons of carbon dioxide in 2030.
Turkey
A reduction of as much as 21 percent from business-as-usual levels in 2030.
United Kingdom
See European Union.
United States
The biggest historical emitter said it will cut emissions by 26 percent to 28 percent in 2025 from 2005 levels.
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