Glasgow: Developing nations accused rich nations of bargaining with billions of lives on the frontlines of the climate crisis on Monday, destroying insufficient commitments as COP26 talks enter their final week with confidence in short supply.
Countries are clearly divided over key issues at the UN meeting, including how fast the world is going to curb carbon emissions and for countries already hit by hurricanes, floods and droughts hit by global warming. How to extend support
After a week of major announcements from host Britain on ending deforestation and phasing out coal, experts say the underlying COP26 talks have progressed very little.
Countries are in Glasgow to work out how to implement it Paris AgreementThe goal is to limit temperature rises to between 1.5 and 2 °C.
And while recent announcements mean they have come to a close, many controversies remain unresolved.
These include pushing for more ambitious national carbon reduction plans, promising $100 billion annually to developing countries, and regulations governing carbon markets.
“As the group least responsible for the climate crisis but most affected by its impact, we came to Glasgow with high hopes,” said Sonam Phuntsho Wangdi of Bhutan, who is the head of least developed nation conversation block.
He urged “strong commitment” from delegates at UN talks, calling for rapid emissions cuts.
“Any agreement on limiting temperature rise to 1.5C this decade would mean negotiating the lives of billions of people in the most vulnerable countries like ours.”
With scientists warning that countries have almost halving emissions by the end of the decade, former US President Barack Obama Attended the summit to tell delegates “time is really running out”.
He said the 2015 Paris Agreement had made significant progress, but stressed that the deal was just the beginning.
“Most nations have failed to be as ambitious as they should be,” he said, echoing the current president Joe Biden Saying it was “disturbing” that neither China nor Russia’s leaders had traveled to Glasgow.
Earlier, COP26 President Alok Sharma Said that the first week of technical talks “has already settled some important issues that will advance accelerated climate action”.
But he said no preliminary conference decision text – which ministers will discuss when they arrive in Glasgow later this week – has yet to materialise.
Britain’s chief negotiator said: “We have a lot to work on on all other issues.” Archie Young.
A senior diplomatic source told AFP that much had yet to be agreed that the draft texts would be “unreadable” for ministers.
“All the countries are playing hardball,” Stephen Leonard, climate law and policy expert and veteran COP observer told AFP.
“The EU wants the highest ambition. African countries want as much finance as possible for adaptation. Australia and Japan want to be able to trade in as much carbon as possible.”
COP26 is taking place a year late because of the Covid-19 pandemic and against a backdrop of droughts, floods and storms supercharged by high temperatures affecting countries around the world.
Its first week saw nearly 100 countries commit to reducing their emissions of methane – a potent greenhouse gas – by at least 30 percent by 2030.
In another development likely to cut emissions, India – the fourth largest polluter – said it would achieve carbon neutrality by 2070.
Experts said these announcements, along with the countries’ latest emissions-cutting promises, could have a real impact on future temperature rises.
But a United Nations assessment late last week found that emissions will still rise to 13.7 percent by 2030.
To limit warming to 1.5C, they would have to fall 45 percent this decade.
After environmental activists, thousands of people took to the streets of Glasgow on Saturday demanding prompt action from governments. Greta Thunberg termed the summit “a failure”.
Within decades, dozens of countries, including major users in South Korea and Vietnam, have signed a COP26 initiative to end their use of coal – the most polluting fossil fuel.
But missing from the agreement were the top consumers of China, India and the United States.
Major exporter Australia, which also declined to join the initiative, said on Monday it would continue selling coal for “decades in the future”.
Countries are clearly divided over key issues at the UN meeting, including how fast the world is going to curb carbon emissions and for countries already hit by hurricanes, floods and droughts hit by global warming. How to extend support
After a week of major announcements from host Britain on ending deforestation and phasing out coal, experts say the underlying COP26 talks have progressed very little.
Countries are in Glasgow to work out how to implement it Paris AgreementThe goal is to limit temperature rises to between 1.5 and 2 °C.
And while recent announcements mean they have come to a close, many controversies remain unresolved.
These include pushing for more ambitious national carbon reduction plans, promising $100 billion annually to developing countries, and regulations governing carbon markets.
“As the group least responsible for the climate crisis but most affected by its impact, we came to Glasgow with high hopes,” said Sonam Phuntsho Wangdi of Bhutan, who is the head of least developed nation conversation block.
He urged “strong commitment” from delegates at UN talks, calling for rapid emissions cuts.
“Any agreement on limiting temperature rise to 1.5C this decade would mean negotiating the lives of billions of people in the most vulnerable countries like ours.”
With scientists warning that countries have almost halving emissions by the end of the decade, former US President Barack Obama Attended the summit to tell delegates “time is really running out”.
He said the 2015 Paris Agreement had made significant progress, but stressed that the deal was just the beginning.
“Most nations have failed to be as ambitious as they should be,” he said, echoing the current president Joe Biden Saying it was “disturbing” that neither China nor Russia’s leaders had traveled to Glasgow.
Earlier, COP26 President Alok Sharma Said that the first week of technical talks “has already settled some important issues that will advance accelerated climate action”.
But he said no preliminary conference decision text – which ministers will discuss when they arrive in Glasgow later this week – has yet to materialise.
Britain’s chief negotiator said: “We have a lot to work on on all other issues.” Archie Young.
A senior diplomatic source told AFP that much had yet to be agreed that the draft texts would be “unreadable” for ministers.
“All the countries are playing hardball,” Stephen Leonard, climate law and policy expert and veteran COP observer told AFP.
“The EU wants the highest ambition. African countries want as much finance as possible for adaptation. Australia and Japan want to be able to trade in as much carbon as possible.”
COP26 is taking place a year late because of the Covid-19 pandemic and against a backdrop of droughts, floods and storms supercharged by high temperatures affecting countries around the world.
Its first week saw nearly 100 countries commit to reducing their emissions of methane – a potent greenhouse gas – by at least 30 percent by 2030.
In another development likely to cut emissions, India – the fourth largest polluter – said it would achieve carbon neutrality by 2070.
Experts said these announcements, along with the countries’ latest emissions-cutting promises, could have a real impact on future temperature rises.
But a United Nations assessment late last week found that emissions will still rise to 13.7 percent by 2030.
To limit warming to 1.5C, they would have to fall 45 percent this decade.
After environmental activists, thousands of people took to the streets of Glasgow on Saturday demanding prompt action from governments. Greta Thunberg termed the summit “a failure”.
Within decades, dozens of countries, including major users in South Korea and Vietnam, have signed a COP26 initiative to end their use of coal – the most polluting fossil fuel.
But missing from the agreement were the top consumers of China, India and the United States.
Major exporter Australia, which also declined to join the initiative, said on Monday it would continue selling coal for “decades in the future”.
.