US and Iran Stand Alone as World's Only Major Emitters Without Net-Zero Goals, New Data Reveals
Breaking: US and Iran Are the Only Top 20 CO2 Emitters Without Net-Zero Targets
New analysis from the Net Zero Tracker, published today, shows that among the world’s 20 largest carbon dioxide (CO2) emitters, only the United States and Iran lack any form of net-zero target. This directly contradicts claims by right-leaning UK politicians that Britain is isolated in its climate ambition.
The data reveals that 140 out of 198 countries—71% of all nations—have adopted net-zero targets. The UK, which was the first major economy to set such a goal in 2019, is far from alone.
Misleading Claims of UK ‘Unilateralism’ Debunked
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch and GB News owner Paul Marshall have both argued that the UK’s net-zero target is a form of “unilateral economic disarmament.” Their statements have been used to push for abandoning the goal. However, the latest tracker data shows that these claims ignore global progress.
“Ironically, 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,” said John Lang, lead of the Net Zero Tracker, in an exclusive interview.
Background: Global Net-Zero Momentum
Since the UK set its net-zero target in 2019, nearly all major emitters have followed. China announced its target in 2020; India, Saudi Arabia, and Russia did so in 2021. Today, around 74% of global emissions are covered by national net-zero goals, according to the Net Zero Tracker.
Among the 34 nations that have enshrined their targets into law, the UK remains a leader. Additionally, 63 nations have stated goals in policy documents, 16 have made pledges, and 23 have proposals. Four have already declared net-zero achieved.
- 34 nations have net-zero targets in law.
- 63 nations have them in policy documents.
- 16 nations have made pledges, 23 have proposals.
- Four nations have declared they already reached net-zero.
The United States, historically the largest cumulative emitter, had a net-zero target under former President Joe Biden, but it was abandoned by the current Trump administration. Despite this, 18 U.S. regions and 43 cities maintain their own net-zero commitments, per the tracker.
What This Means: Geopolitical and Economic Risks
If the UK scrapped its net-zero target, as urged by the opposition Conservatives and hard-right Reform UK, it would join a group of just two major holdouts—the US and Iran. This would align Britain with nations whose fossil fuel dependence is now seen as a security liability.
“Arguing against net-zero is arguing for greater exposure to geopolitical instability and energy price shocks,” Lang added. The ongoing Iran crisis underscores the volatility of oil markets, making the case for renewable independence stronger than ever.
In its latest assessment, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) stated that reaching net-zero CO2 emissions is the only way to stop global warming. With the US and Iran as outliers, the international consensus remains clear: net-zero is not a unilateral path—it is a global standard.