Kathmandu | Analysis Report
A decade after the adoption of the Paris Agreement, global climate governance appears to be entering a period of renewed tension and uncertainty. Recent international developments indicate a widening gap between scientific urgency, political will, and economic interests.
According to a report published by Reuters, global assessments mark ten years since the Paris climate accord, with many countries struggling to meet emissions reduction commitments. While renewable energy deployment has accelerated, global greenhouse gas emissions remain high, and adaptation efforts continue to lag behind climate impacts.
In the United States, climate policy is facing significant shifts. Coverage by Bloomberg reports that the US has renewed threats to withdraw from the International Energy Agency (IEA), citing concerns over the agency’s climate advocacy. Simultaneously, commentary from the Wall Street Journal Opinion section highlights a major regulatory development: the US Environmental Protection Agency’s move to end the “endangerment finding,” a foundational determination under US law that greenhouse gases threaten public health and welfare. The potential rollback of this key legal basis for federal climate regulation has raised questions about the future direction of US climate governance.
At the multilateral level, tensions are also visible. Reporting by Al Jazeera indicates that the US has pressured Vanuatu at the United Nations over proceedings related to a landmark climate ruling from the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The ICJ case, driven by vulnerable island nations, seeks legal clarity on states’ obligations to address climate change and protect present and future generations.
Within Europe, climate coordination remains a pressing issue. Euronews reports that EU advisory bodies have urged member states to urgently strengthen coordination on climate adaptation as extreme weather events intensify. Meanwhile, Reuters notes that Sweden and several other EU countries oppose calls to delay the bloc’s new carbon market mechanisms, underscoring internal debates over balancing economic competitiveness with climate ambition.
Scientific findings continue to reinforce the urgency. A study published in Nature links human-induced climate change to amplified storm dynamics, referencing catastrophic flooding in Valencia in 2024 as an example of intensified extreme weather. These findings add to a growing body of evidence that climate impacts are accelerating faster than adaptation systems in many regions.
Agriculture and forestry sectors are also under strain. The Financial Times reports that British beef farmers are facing compounded economic pressure from climate variability and market shifts. Similarly, commentary in The Express Tribune emphasizes the critical role of sustainable forestry in climate mitigation and resilience.
Another emerging dimension is the intersection of technology and climate narratives. A study highlighted by Common Dreams claims that a significant portion of Big Tech’s climate-related AI claims remain unproven, raising concerns about “greenwashing” and the need for transparent, evidence-based climate innovation.
A Fragmented but Decisive Moment
Taken together, these developments suggest that global climate politics are at a crossroads. Legal accountability efforts are expanding through international courts. Scientific evidence is becoming more definitive. Yet, policy reversals, geopolitical tensions, and economic pressures continue to complicate collective action.
For developing countries such as Nepal, these global dynamics carry direct implications. International climate finance flows, carbon markets, adaptation support, and legal precedents may shape national policy frameworks in the coming years. As the world reflects on ten years since Paris, the central question remains whether political systems can align with scientific warnings and vulnerable communities’ demands for climate justice.
Ecosphere News will continue to monitor these evolving global climate developments and their implications for Asia and beyond.
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