The United Nations climate summit, COP30, will take place in Brazil this November amid growing concern that many countries have yet to submit their 2035 emissions reduction targets under the Paris Agreement.

Fewer than a third of the nearly 200 parties have met the deadline, raising questions about global ambition and political will to tackle the climate crisis.

Singapore, however, was among the first to submit its target, pledging to cut emissions to between 45 and 50 million tonnes by 2035, showing a steady path toward net zero by 2050.

On The Big Story, Nadiah Koh speaks to Melissa Low, Research Fellow, Centre for Nature-based Climate Solutions, National University of Singapore and Head, NUS Sustainability Academy, to explore why some countries have yet to submit their 2035 climate targets ahead of COP30 and what Singapore’s early submission signals about its climate ambitions.