4 Big Outcomes the Leaders Summit on Climate Can Deliver

The briefing argues that the Leaders Summit on Climate should be used to secure a 50% emissions reduction target from the US by 2030, align the 2030 targets of major economies like China and Japan with net-zero trajectories, increase climate finance for developing nations while ending public coal funding, and ensure COVID-19 recovery packages prioritize green infrastructure over fossil fuels.

• The United States should establish a 2030 emissions-reduction target of 50% below 2005 levels to lead global efforts and spur economic innovation. Such a target is considered cost-effective and could potentially support 25 million jobs over 15 years while saving households up to $2,000 annually on energy costs.
• Major economies that have pledged mid-century net-zero goals but lack aligned 2030 Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)—specifically China, Japan, South Korea, and Canada—should use the summit to unveil more ambitious targets. China is specifically urged to limit non-CO2 emissions, such as methane and hydrofluorocarbons, as its non-CO2 emissions alone would rank as the seventh-largest global emitter if they were a separate country.
• Developed nations must increase climate finance for developing countries, with the US needing to deliver $2 billion in unpaid 2014 pledges to the Green Climate Fund. Additionally, China, Japan, and South Korea—the three largest public funders of coal plant construction—should fully end public coal finance for projects in countries including Indonesia, Vietnam, and South Africa, where 84 GW of capacity is currently under construction.
• Governments should pivot COVID-19 economic recovery plans toward green infrastructure rather than fossil fuels, as clean energy and ecosystem conservation investments provide economic returns two to seven times higher than unsustainable sectors.

APA

World Resources Institute (2021). 4 Big Outcomes the Leaders Summit on Climate Can Deliver. https://www.wri.org/insights/4-big-outcomes-leaders-summit-climate-can-deliver

Chicago

World Resources Institute. 4 Big Outcomes the Leaders Summit on Climate Can Deliver. 2021. https://www.wri.org/insights/4-big-outcomes-leaders-summit-climate-can-deliver.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=World Resources Institute |title=4 Big Outcomes the Leaders Summit on Climate Can Deliver |date=7 April 2021 |url=https://www.wri.org/insights/4-big-outcomes-leaders-summit-climate-can-deliver |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{worldresourcesinstitute2021big, author = {{World Resources Institute}}, title = {{4 Big Outcomes the Leaders Summit on Climate Can Deliver}}, institution = {World Resources Institute}, year = {2021}, month = apr, url = {https://www.wri.org/insights/4-big-outcomes-leaders-summit-climate-can-deliver}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }