After long discussions that lasted until this Saturday and after the drafting of several drafts, the summit on climate change COP 26 issued a final document that shows some progress, but less than many believe necessary.
The document was signed by the almost 200 countries that attended the COP 26 and, although is not legally binding , is expected to establish a global agenda against climate change for the next decade.
This highlights the unprecedented mention that coal is the main source of global warming and there is a commitment to reduce its use. India and China in the end prevented the signing of the term of phasing out its use as an energy source.
There is also a commitment to impose stricter targets against coal burning next year.
Developed countries are also urged to at least double their collective funding provisions aimed at helping nations developing to adapt to climate change to 2025.
This doubles the money that poor countries will receive so that they can adapt to the impacts of climate change.
5 key points
- (rather than committing) developed countries are urged to double funding for developing countries to help them adapt to climate change.
- Countries are asked to update their carbon reduction targets by next year at the latest for 2030.
- There is a call to gradually reduce “the use of coal as an energy source and inefficient fossil fuel subsidies.”
- Emphasis is placed on the need to “significantly increase support” to developing countries beyond $ 100, 00 $ 0 million per year.
- A dialogue will be established to discuss the topic of money in exchange for the damage that climate change has already caused.
The text on the gradual decrease in the use of coal (instead of phase-out) it remains weak and only commits countries to reduce coal relentlessly -that is, the burning of coal that is carried out without some type of mechanism that traps and stores coal in the environment.
There are no defined targets for new financing to assist countries to deal with climate change. There is only talk of an increase.
Although the environmental NGO Greenpeace International classified the text as “weak”, it recognized that the fact that it exists is an achievement.
“The language on coal and subsidies now includes a reference to a just transition and that is welcome,” stated the group’s executive director, Jennifer Morgan.
“It is a call to attention to the interests of fossil fuels, the agreement is weak but if they reject it they will have to respond to the youth, to the people in the front line of the impacts of the climate and finally to history ”
The objective of the COP 26 was to achieve action commitments to keep global warming “well below” 2 degrees Celsius -and reach 1.5 C- to avoid a climate catastrophe.
The goal is to continue reducing emissions until net zero is reached p ara 9634.
What other announcements were made in the two week summit in Glasgow?
US-CHINA COOPERATION
What was announced?
In a surprising statement, the United States and China pledged to boost cooperation on climate issues over the next decade.
They agreed to take action on various issues, including:
- methane emissions
- transition to clean energy
- decarbonization
The joint statement says that both parties “will evoke your firm commitment to work together” to achieve the goal of a maximum temperature increase of 1.5 degrees.
Why does it matter ?
As the two largest emitters of CO2, a The agreement between the US and China is considered critical for the goal of keeping the temperature increase below 1.5 degrees to be achievable.
Previously, China has not wanted to address emissions coal in the short term, so this statement looks like a re awareness of the need to take urgent action.
Is enough?
Organizations such as Greenpeace International welcomed the statement. However, its executive director warned that both countries needed to demonstrate greater commitment to achieve the climate goals.
“At the end of the day, the declaration falls short of the request of the climate-vulnerable countries that demand that nations return to the table every year with higher ambitions until the 1.5 C gap is reached, ”he said.
DEFORESTATION
What was announced?
Leaders of more than 100 countries, accounting for almost the 85% of the world’s forests, promised to halt deforestation to 2030 .
Why does matter?
Trees can absorb large amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2), one of the key greenhouse gases that contributes to global warming. So, eliminating deforestation is considered vital to combat climate change.
¿ Is enough?
Previous similar initiatives have not stopped deforestation, but it is better financed. However, it is unclear how that promise will be watched and kept. And Indonesia, a major signatory, later said the plan was “unfair.”
METHANE
What was announced ?
A program to reduce 30% of current methane emissions for 2025 was agreed by more than 100 countries.
Why does matter?
Methane is one of the greenhouse gases more powerful, and is currently responsible for a third of human-caused warming. Most are produced by activities such as livestock raising and waste disposal.
Is it enough ?
The major emitters, China, Russia and India, did not join the program, but it is expected do it later.
COAL
What was announced ?
More of 40 countries -including major coal consumers such as Poland, Vietnam and Chile – agreed to reduce the use of coal, which for the first time is explicitly named as the root causes of global warming.
Why does it matter ?
Coal is the largest contributor to climate change. Although progress has been made in reducing its use, it was still used to generate almost 37% of the world’s electricity in 2019.
It’s enough?
Some of the countries that depend the most on coal, such as Australia, India, China and the US, have not yet signed the agreement. In addition, this agreement does not contemplate other fossil fuels such as oil and gas.
China and India changed the final text of the COP agreement at the last minute 15 to gradually reduce the use of coal instead of phasing it out.
MONEY
What was announced ?
Some 450 organizations financial institutions, which between them control $ 130 Trillions of dollars, agreed to support “clean” technology, such as renewable energy, and direct financing for those away from fossil fuel industries.
Why does it matter ?
The initiative is an attempt to link private companies in the attempt to achieve the goals of net zero, and commit them to finance green technology.
Is it enough ?
There is still no concrete definition of what exactly the net zero goals are. Also, some environmental organizations pointed out that without a major commitment to end the financing of fossil fuels, this initiative is nothing more than a public relations exercise.
How will countries keep their promises?
To a large extent, any commitment made at the COP will have to rely on self-monitoring.
Only a few countries are making their commitments legally binding. However, there is hope that as the move towards net zero picks up more momentum, there will be more encouragement among countries to keep up.
In theory, it would be possible to impose sanctions on countries that do not do so. But that could also be counterproductive, or cause some nations to withdraw from international agreements.
The purpose of the summits such as COP 26 is to encourage all countries to stay involved.
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The image above is from Getty Images. The display of colors representing the weather is courtesy of the teacher
Ed Hawkins and the university of Reading.
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