And are we really going to leave Scotland without the resolve and the ambition that is sorely needed to save lives and to save our planet? How many more voices and how many pictures of people must we see on these screens without being able to move?
Today, we need the correct mix of voices, ambition, and action. Do some leaders in this world believe that they can survive and thrive on their own? Have they not learned from the pandemic? What the world needs now, my friends, is that which is within the ambit of less than 200 persons who are willing and prepared to lead. Leaders must not fail those who elected them to lead.
What was COP 26 (Conference of the Parties) and why was it necessary?
COP26 was the conference countries revisited climate pledges made under the 2015 Paris Agreement. Six years ago, countries were asked to make changes to keep global warming “well below” 2C – and to try to aim for 1.5C. Ahead of it, 200 countries were asked for their plans to cut emissions by 2030. The goal is reaching net zero by mid-century.
A new global agreement – the Glasgow Climate Pact – was reached at the COP26 summit.
It aims to reduce the worst impacts of climate change – but some leaders and campaigners say it does not go far enough. The agreement – although not legally binding – will set the global agenda on climate change for the next decade:
Emissions
It was agreed countries will meet next year to pledge further cuts to emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) This is to try to keep temperature rises within 1.5C – which scientists say is required to prevent a “climate catastrophe.” Current pledges, if met, will only limit global warming to about 2.4C.
Coal
For the first time, there was an explicit plan to reduce use of coal, responsible for 40% of annual CO2 emissions. However, countries only agreed a weaker commitment to “phase down” rather than “phase out” coal after a late intervention by China and India.
Developing countries
The agreement pledged to significantly increase money to help poor countries cope with the effects of climate change and make the switch to clean energy. While some observers say the COP26 agreement represented the “start of a breakthrough”, some African and Latin American countries felt not enough progress was made.
Fossil fuel subsidies
World leaders agreed to phase-out subsidies that artificially lower the price of coal, oil, or natural gas.
US-China agreement
The world’s biggest CO2 emitters, the US and China, pledged to cooperate more over the next decade in areas including methane emissions and the switch to clean energy.
China has previously been reluctant to tackle domestic coal emissions – so this was seen as recognizing the need for urgent action.
Trees
Leaders from more than 100 countries – with about 85% of the world’s forests – promised to stop deforestation by 2030. This is seen as vital, as tress absorb vast amounts of CO2. Similar initiatives haven’t stopped deforestation, but this one’s better funded. However, it’s unclear how the pledge will be policed.
Methane
A scheme to cut 30% of methane emissions by 2030 was agreed by more than 100 countries.
Methane is currently responsible for a third of human-generated warming. The big emitters China, Russia and India haven’t joined – but it’s hoped they will later.
How will countries be made to meet their pledges? Most commitments made at COP will have to be self-policed. Only a few countries are making their pledges legally binding.
bbc.com
