Only two of the countries that signed the Paris Climate Accord are actually taking steps to meet the goalof limiting global warming to 1.5 C degrees above pre-industrial levels.

The latest report from Climate Action Tracker (.pdf link) which measures countries’ progress toward meeting this goal found that only The Gambia and Morocco currently have policies that meet the 1.5-degree target.  The highly developed countries that really need to cut carbon emmissions aren't doing it.

"When you look at the overall emission reductions that we need to see globally, it doesn't mean that every country has to reduce their emissions," said Climate Action Tracker's Yvonne Deng, ""Countries that are still developing need to be allowed to increase their emissions from current levels.  Countries that have already developed really need to look at decreasing emissions."

Of the countries that haven't met their obligations, five stand out as "critically insufficient or highly insufficient".  These include Russia, Ukraine, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and the US.  While some individual American states and municipalities are adopting good policies, the US government led by Donald Trump is actually regressing.

And that's a grave disappointment to nations that are taking the issue seriously.

"I'll be very frank," said Morrocco's former environment minister, Hakima El Haite, in an interview with Public Radio International.  "When you see America withdraw from the Paris agreement, I'm not only disappointed, I'm feeling that politicians are not taking their responsibilities seriously.  The United States was a leading country during the negotiation, and now, as President Trump decided to withdraw from the Paris agreement, they are still blocking the negotiation.  This is not right."

Morocco and The Gambia are in Africa, which accounts for only four percent of the world's carbon emmissions. 

"The ones who are impacting the world are the fuel producers and industrial developers," said El Haite.  "Those countries should lead the negotiations.  I'm thinking about the United States, Russia, China, Europe, et cetera.  So, I'm really feeling disappointed - as a Moroccan, as an African, as a citizen of the world - and feeling that those who are blocking the negotiation now are not taking responsibility.  Many millions and millions of people will die because of this decision."