Why is it in the news?

• Recently, the Climate Ambition Summit (CAS) took place in New York as part of the United Nations General Assembly.
  • Notable absentees from the CAS were China, the United States, and India, which collectively account for about 42% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

About the Summit

• The summit aimed to showcase leaders who have credible actions, policies, and plans to address climate change and keep the 1.5°C degree goal of the Paris Agreement alive.
• About 100 heads of state responded to Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ call to ramp up climate action, but only representatives from 34 states and 7 institutions were given speaking slots.
• Criteria for speaking at the summit included presenting updated pre-2030 Nationally Determined Contributions, net-zero targets, energy transition plans, fossil fuel phase-out plans, and adaptation and resilience plans.
• The summit set high standards for participation and focused on transition plans to achieve net-zero emissions.
• India last updated its climate pledges in 2022, committing to reducing emissions intensity by 45% from 2005 levels by 2030 and meeting 50% of its electric power needs from renewable sources.
• India had also committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2070, but some experts argue that these commitments may not be sufficient to meet the Paris Agreement goals.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres emphasized the urgency of climate action, warning of the consequences of failing to address the climate crisis.