(Lack of) action to date

Now that you’ve explored the risks posed by the climate crisis and the differing responsibilities for tackling it, let’s shift our focus to what the global response to the climate crisis has been so far.  

As awareness of the climate crisis has grown, so too have calls for global efforts to address it. But despite decades of international climate summits and rising public concern, the world remains dangerously off track in relation to what actually matters: cutting emissions.  

Emissions from fossil fuels continue to increase, reaching new record levels almost every year. The only times when global CO₂ emissions temporarily decreased were during global economic crises, like the 2007–2008 financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic. 

International climate negotiations: much talk and (too) little action

Take a look at the graphic below. You can see global CO₂ emissions alongside key international climate summits (‘COPs’ short for ‘Coalition of Parties’) where important international climate agreements have been adopted, for example, the Kyoto Protocol in 1997 and the Paris Agreement in 2015.

Adapted from Freedman (2023).

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The Paris Agreement remains the cornerstone of international climate policy to date. It commits countries to limit global warming to well below 2°C, and to pursue efforts towards a more ambitious target of limiting warming to 1.5°C. The Agreement is built on equity principles, recognising that countries have different responsibilities and capabilities to tackle the problem. It also emphasises the importance of supporting developing countries in their efforts to reduce emissions.  

However, it also establishes the principle of nationally determined contributions (NDCs), which allows each country to set its own non-binding climate targets – in other words, allowing countries to be as ambitious or unambitious as they want, without any accountability.

These climate summits were intended to set a course for reducing emissions and avoiding the worst effects of climate change. Yet, despite numerous pledges, emissions have continued to rise. 

This highlights a troubling disconnect between the agreements on paper and the actual changes happening on the ground. Many international agreements have been steps in the right direction, but they’ve often been too little too late. 

Globally, we are dangerously off-track – what about individual countries?

Adapted from Climate Action Tracker (2024).

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This map assesses how adequate (or inadequate) the current climate action of different countries is for meeting the 1.5°C target of the Paris Agreement (according to Climate Action Tracker). Currently, not a single country is adequately on track to comply with these targets. If you would like to explore how a particular country (for example your own country) is doing, you can check out an interactive version of this graphic using the link at the end of this step. 

Despite these climate pledges, governments continue to actively support fossil fuel industries through massive subsidies and tax benefits that artificially lower the cost of fossil fuels. In 2022 alone, this support reached $7 trillion globally (IMF, 2023). Governments also continue issuing new permits for oil and gas extraction, pipeline construction and export terminals, locking in fossil fuel dependence for decades to come. These actions directly contradict stated climate goals and commitments to emissions reduction. 

Clearly, governments have been failing to take adequate climate action both on the global stage and within individual nations. 

But what’s behind that failure to take action? 

Is public support for climate action lacking, or is it being ignored?

Governments often claim that the public isn’t ready for the kinds of changes needed to tackle the climate crisis. However, the evidence points to precisely the opposite. In most places, the public is ahead of the government in terms of support for climate action. The map below shows what percentage of people surveyed in various countries support more ambitious climate policies. 

Adapted from Vlasceanu et al. (2024). CC BY 4.0.

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You’ll notice that, in much of the world, there is widespread public support for more ambitious climate policies. In fact, out of almost 60,000 respondents across 63 countries, over 70% of people indicated support for a variety of climate policies. Yet, despite clear public support, many governments have failed to take adequate steps to curb emissions. Why do you think this might be? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.

The climate crisis requires action at all levels – local, national and international. While governments may be slow to respond, public pressure and grassroots movements have the power to push leaders toward the necessary change. 

Have a go: Climate Action Tracker (optional)

If you want to investigate further, you can use the Climate Action Tracker website to find out how your country (or any other) is doing in terms of climate action.  

Does your government’s plan align with what’s needed to tackle the climate crisis effectively?  

Share what you found out on the Climate Action Tracker and what you think about your country’s contributions in the Comments section.