As the world prepares for another United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP), an uncomfortable question deserves attention: what happened to the promises made at previous conferences? From climate financing and forest protection to renewable energy and emissions reduction, several commitments remain behind schedule or far from their intended targets. While world leaders continue to gather, negotiate and announce new ambitions, the gap between what they promise and what they deliver remains a major concern. The world cannot afford to keep celebrating climate commitments while failing to implement them.
One of the clearest examples is climate financing. At COP15 in Copenhagen in 2009, developed countries pledged to mobilise US100 billion annually by 2020 to support developing countries in tackling climate change. The target was US 115.9 billion was mobilised. Although financing increased to US132.8 billion in 2023 and US 136.7 billion in 2024, the two-year delay exposed the difficulty of turning international promises into timely support. For developing countries already facing floods, droughts and other climate-related challenges, delayed financing means delayed solutions.
Adaptation financing presents another concern. At COP26 in Glasgow in 2021, developed countries agreed to at least double adaptation finance from 2019 levels by 2025. However, the target required further growth in 2025, with the latest available OECD figures showing US$34.7 billion in 2024. The final assessment of whether the doubling target was achieved remains pending. Adaptation is particularly important for vulnerable communities that need resources to prepare for climate impacts rather than simply respond after disasters occur.
Energy transition commitments also face significant implementation gaps. At COP28 in Dubai in 2023, countries agreed to work towards tripling global renewable energy capacity and doubling the rate of energy-efficiency improvements by 2030, alongside transitioning away from fossil fuels in energy systems. Renewable energy installations have reached record levels, but the world is still not on track to meet the full targets. The International Renewable Energy Agency’s September 2026 assessment warns that faster implementation and investment in electricity grids and storage are still needed.
The Global Methane Pledge, launched at COP26, provides another example. Countries committed to reducing methane emissions by at least 30 per cent from 2020 levels by 2030. Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas that contributes significantly to global warming. Yet emissions are still rising, and the United Nations Environment Programme warns that existing efforts are insufficient without much wider implementation of available solutions.
Forest protection is equally concerning. At COP26, more than 140 countries pledged to halt and reverse deforestation and forest degradation by 2030. However, the latest global assessments show that more than seven million hectares of forest were still lost to deforestation in 2025. Although this represented an improvement from 2024, the world remains significantly off track. Forests are essential because they absorb carbon dioxide, regulate rainfall and support communities and biodiversity.
Meanwhile, the climate finance agreement reached at COP29 in 2024 established a new goal of mobilising at least US$300 billion annually for developing countries by 2035. COP30 in 2025 further called for adaptation finance to triple by 2035. These are important commitments, but they must not become another generation of ambitious targets awaiting implementation.
The bigger question, therefore, is not how many commitments the next COP will produce, but how many existing ones countries are prepared to honour.
Climate conferences serve an important purpose. They provide a platform for countries to negotiate, cooperate and agree on collective responses to a global problem. However, these gatherings also demand enormous financial and logistical resources, from organising international meetings to transporting thousands of delegates, government officials and climate representatives across the world. Such expenditure must produce more than declarations and photographs of leaders shaking hands.
The climate crisis will not be resolved through conference statements. It will be addressed through action.
As countries prepare for more discussions, the priority must shift towards implementation, accountability and measurable results. Governments must explain what they have delivered, what remains outstanding and when they intend to fulfil their commitments.
