General – COP26
This weekend the COP26 in Glasgow came to an end. And overall it can be said that the COP26 was just a timid step in the right direction. No more and no less.
‘The time is ticking and we need to act immediately. If not now, when?’ That is the key question that has remained unanswered for many who took part in this multimillion-euro summit. A huge disappointment.
A visibly deeply moved Alok Sharma, the president of the COP26 summit, nearly burst into tears as he closed the meeting. He lamented the lack of some major turning points and was deeply ashamed of the result achieved by the world leaders in Glasgow. And apologized for that.
Nearly 200 nations agreed to adopt the Glasgow Climate Pact on Saturday after more than two weeks of intense negotiations, with the UK host of the talks saying the deal would keep alive international hopes of averting the worst impacts of global warming.
Language on phasing out coal was watered down at the last minute (at India’s behest) to ‘phase-down’ while the language on phasing out fossil fuel subsidies was watered down to ‘inefficient’ fossil fuel subsidies. Many countries expressed their “deep disappointment” with the changes and pointed out that the language is not consistent with the science behind achieving a 1.5 degree pathway, and that ‘phase-down’ does not provide a clearly defined objective.
Here are some of the achievements of the deal:
RATCHETING UP AMBITION
The agreement acknowledges that commitments made by countries so far to cut emissions of planet-heating greenhouse gases are nowhere near enough to prevent planetary warming from exceeding 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial temperatures.
To attempt to solve this, it asks governments to strengthen those targets by the end of next year, rather than every five years, as previously required.
Failure to set, and meet, tougher emissions-cutting goals would have huge consequences. Scientists say that to go beyond a rise of 1.5C would unleash extreme sea level rise and catastrophes including crippling droughts, monstrous storms and wildfires far worse than those the world is already suffering.
“I think today we can say with credibility that we’ve kept 1.5 (degrees Celsius) within reach,” said Alok Sharma. “But its pulse is weak, and we will only survive if we keep our promises.” But it was clear from his face that he had serious doubts about it.
TARGETING FOSSIL FUELS
The pact for the first time includes language that asks countries to reduce their reliance on coal and roll back fossil fuel subsidies, moves that would target the energy sources that scientists say are the primary drivers of manmade climate change.
The wording was contentious, though.
Just before the Glasgow deal was adopted, India requested that the deal call on countries to ‘phase down’, instead of ‘phase out’ unabated coal. That minor word change triggered a lot of angst in the plenary hall, but delegations agreed to the request to save the deal.
The deal’s wording on ‘inefficient subsidies’, meanwhile, kept the ‘phase out’ phrasing.
Questions remain about how to define ‘unabated’ and ‘inefficient’.
PAYMENTS TO POOR AND VULNERABLE NATIONS
The deal made some headway on the demands of poor and vulnerable countries that wealthy countries responsible for most emissions pay up.
The deal, for example ‘urges developed country Parties to at least double their collective provision of climate finance for adaptation to developing country Parties from 2019 levels by 2025.’
It also, for the first time, made mention of so-called ‘loss and damage’ in the cover section of the agreement. Loss and damage refers to the costs that some countries are already facing from climate change, and these countries have for years wanted payment to help deal with it.
Under the deal, though, developed countries have essentially just agreed to continue discussions on the topic. We will see where that leads.
RULES FOR GLOBAL CARBON MARKETS
Negotiators also closed a deal setting rules for carbon markets, potentially unlocking trillions of dollars for protecting forests, building renewable energy facilities and other projects to combat climate change.
Companies as well as countries with vast forest cover had pushed for a robust deal on government-led carbon markets in Glasgow, in the hope of also legitimising the fast-growing global voluntary offset markets.
Under the accord, some measures would be implemented to ensure credits are not double-counted under national emissions targets, but bilateral trades between countries would not be taxed to help fund climate adaptation – that had been a core demand for less developed countries.
Negotiators also reached a compromise that sets a cut-off date, with credits issued before 2013 not being carried forward. That is intended to ensure too many old credits don’t flood the market and encourage purchases instead of new emissions cuts.
SIDE DEALS
There were a number of notable side deals too. The United States and the European Union spearheaded a global methane cutting initiative in which around 100 countries have promised to reduce methane emissions by 30% from 2020 levels by 2030.
The United States and China, the world’s two biggest carbon emitters, also announced a join declaration to cooperate on climate change measures, a deal that reassured observers of Beijing’s intention to accelerate its efforts to combat global warming after a long quiet period.
Companies and investors also made a slew of voluntary pledges that would phase out gasoline-powered cars, decarbonize air travel, protect forests, and ensure more sustainable investing.
Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC)
Despite the great dissatisfaction with the outcome of the summit, Ben Backwell, CEO at the Global Wind Energy Council, noticed some positive elements in the final text. The Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) particularly welcomes the new language on ‘rapidly scaling up the deployment of clean power generation’.
According to the CEO, the outcome of the summit also puts the onus on countries to come back again ahead of COP27 in Egypt with pledges which are compliant with the Paris Agreement. “It’s vitally important that pressure is maintained so that this happens once and for all,” he said. It is a positive outcome that the agreed text ‘requests’ that governments submit their revised NDCs in 2022, rather than further ahead as a couple of countries had tried to propose.
“The direction of travel continues to be clear, and I believe that there is such strong momentum now from governments, business, and civil society that it will be increasingly difficult for any parties to delay or obstruct progress in the year ahead.”
Meanwhile, the real work on the ground will continue. The renewable energy sector, with wind at the forefront, has already laid the basis for rapid and cost effective decarbonisation. We will work with a growing coalition of actors to accelerate the energy transition across the world in the months ahead.