Speaking Science to Policy

Climate policy in 2025–2026 is shaped by updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement following COP30 (Belém, 2025). Several countries have submitted revised 2030 targets and indicative 2035 pathways. The European Union confirmed a 2030 emissions reduction target of at least 55% and set out an indicative 2035 reduction range of 66.25% to 72.5% below 1990 levels, in line with its climate neutrality goal for 2050. 

Recent Arctic Council updates highlight continued cooperation focused on climate change, sustainable development in the Arctic, marine protection, biodiversity, and community resilience. At the same time, adaptation-related work is increasingly focused on cascading climate risks, including permafrost thaw, wildfires, and infrastructure stress. 

However, despite clearer targets and growing attention to cascading climate risks, progress is still limited by uneven implementation across sectors and levels of governance. The continued reliance on largely non-binding cooperation in regions such as the Arctic reflects a wider global challenge in climate communications and governance: turning political commitments into clear, coordinated, and actionable plans.  

Improving how climate goals are communicated and translated into policy, alongside stronger implementation frameworks, better policy alignment across sectors, and more reliable adaptation financing, will be essential to close the gap between ambition and real-world action.