The world’s top four greenhouse gas emitters, China, the United States, India and the European Union, set respective targets to reduce emissions. However, the progress toward achieving their climate goals has varied.
China progressing ahead of clean energy targets
China, the leading global emitter, accounts for roughly a third of the planet’s greenhouse gas output but also leads globally in renewable energy production. Beijing pledged to peak emissions by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060.
In 2024, China set a record for the most wind and solar installations by a country in a single year, with projections suggesting this clean energy buildout could help the nation’s emissions begin to decline in 2025, five years ahead of schedule.
Changing policy in United States shifts projections
The U.S. ranks second in global emissions and renewable energy production. Under former President Joe Biden, the U.S. aimed to hit a 61% to 66% emissions reduction by 2035 and net-zero by 2050. However, recent shifts in climate policy, including withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement and rollbacks of Biden-era green initiatives under President Donald Trump, may alter the timeline for meeting these targets.
Before Trump even took office though, global emission goals monitor Climate Action Tracker had rated U.S. actions to cut the nation’s greenhouse gas output as “insufficient.” Meanwhile, projections by the Department of Energy released just prior to Trump’s inauguration indicated an emissions reduction between 36% and 57% by 2035, putting the country on track to fall short of its goals even while Biden was still in the White House.
India on track to meet goals, but could run into problems
India, the third-largest emitter, has committed to generating 50% of its power from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030 and achieving net-zero by 2070. Analysts suggest India may actually surpass its earlier clean energy goal, reaching 60% renewable electricity come 2030.
However, forecasts from energy data and analytics company Woods Mackenzie predict India’s emissions could nearly double by 2040 and decline marginally by 2070, with Climate Action Tracker rating the nation’s climate goals as “highly insufficient.”
European Union falling slightly below target
The European Union, the fourth-largest emitter, has pledged to reduce emissions by 55% by 2030 and reach net-zero by 2050. Nearly three-quarters of the EU’s electricity is now greenhouse gas-free, helping to reduce emissions by 37% so far.
However, S&P Global Commodity Insights projects emissions will decline by 42% by 2030, prompting calls from the European Commission for “further action” to meet its 55% reduction goal.