Net-Zero Targets: The Global Landscape Reveals Only Two Major Emitters Without Commitments
The Myth of Unilateralism
In recent political discourse, several right-leaning figures have argued that the United Kingdom stands alone in its pursuit of net-zero emissions. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has claimed other nations are not following the UK's lead, while GB News owner Paul Marshall likened the policy to unilateral economic disarmament. These assertions, however, rest on a selective reading of global climate action. A closer look at the data reveals that the UK is far from isolated—in fact, it is part of a broad international consensus.
Global Net-Zero Adoption: The Numbers
According to the Net Zero Tracker, a consortium that monitors net-zero pledges worldwide, 140 out of 198 countries—71% of all nations—have set net-zero targets. This represents a dramatic shift since the UK became the first major economy to enshrine such a goal in law back in 2019. Today, these commitments cover approximately 74% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
Top Emitters Without Targets
Critically, among the world's 20 largest carbon dioxide emitters, only two lack a net-zero target: Iran and the United States. The US previously had a target under the Biden administration, but it was rescinded by the current Trump administration. Iran has never adopted one. If the UK were to abandon its net-zero goal—as advocated by the opposition Conservatives and the hard-right Reform UK—it would join this small group of outliers.
Types of Commitments
Nations pursue net-zero through varying levels of formality. The Net Zero Tracker categorizes them as follows:
- In law: 34 countries, including the UK, have legally binding targets.
- In policy document: 63 countries have stated the goal in official government documents.
- Pledge: 16 countries have made a public commitment.
- Proposal: 23 countries have put forward a formal proposal.
- Already achieved: 4 nations declare net-zero already reached.
This diversity shows that while legal enshrinement is the gold standard, most major economies have signaled their intent in some form.
The US and Iran: A Closer Look
The United States, as the world's largest historical emitter, had a net-zero target under President Joe Biden. However, the current administration reversed that commitment. Despite this, many subnational actors continue the push: 18 US states and 43 cities still maintain net-zero pledges, according to the Net Zero Tracker. Iran, by contrast, has never set a national target, making it the only other major emitter without one.
John Lang, lead of the Net Zero Tracker, notes the irony: "Of the world's 20 largest emitters, only the US and Iran lack net-zero targets—precisely as the Iran crisis exposes the risks of dependence on fossil fuels and volatile oil markets."
Geopolitical and Energy Security Implications
Arguing against net-zero, Lang continues, is "arguing for greater exposure to geopolitical instability and energy price shocks." The very fact that the two holdouts are Iran—a nation often at the center of global energy tensions—and the US—a country that has flip-flopped on climate policy—underscores the link between climate ambition and energy independence.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the world's foremost authority on climate science, has stated unequivocally that reaching net-zero CO2 emissions is the only pathway to halt global warming. Without such targets, nations risk both environmental catastrophe and continued reliance on volatile fossil fuel markets.
Conclusion
The notion that the UK is pursuing unilateral economic disarmament through net-zero is demonstrably false. Instead, the country stands alongside the vast majority of nations and a large share of global emissions. The real outliers are Iran and the current US administration—two actors whose absence from the net-zero table raises both climate and security concerns. Far from being a reason to abandon the goal, the global consensus underscores the necessity of collective action. Return to top.