How Is KR 7.1 Tracking?
Globally, commitments are off track to reach the top-line goal for a livable planet: net zero by 2050, or by 2060 in countries defined as emerging economies, including China and Russia.**
Hit-and-miss progress. As recently as 2018, none of the top-emitting nations had a net zero commitment in place. As of 2023, following multiple international meetings and the European Union’s leadership, all of the top five had net zero pledges. As of the moment, China, the EU, and Russia have made pledges that achieve our Commitments KR, though Russia’s commitment seems dubious at best due to a lack of transparency.
The U.S. continues on its policy roller coaster ride. In January 2025, the Trump administration withdrew from the Paris Agreement for a second time. Trump has not made a net zero pledge. The U.S. Inflation Reduction Act – should it stay intact – has emissions reduction goals for 2030 but would need additional measures to reach a 50 percent reduction by 2050.
China has pledged to begin to cut back on coal production in 2026 and to reach net zero by 2060. Given the country’s impact as the world’s largest emitter, this progress needs to be fast-tracked. In a similar vein, India’s commitment to net zero by 2070 falls short of the needed urgency.
*On Jan 20, 2025, U.S. President Trump signed an executive order exiting the Paris Agreement.
**The International Monetary Fund differentiates between advanced and emerging economies here: https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WEO/weo-database/2025/April/groups-and-aggregates