The Conference of the Parties 26 Climate Summit (COP26) was the United Nation’s 26th climate change conference that took place in Glasgow, Scotland from October 31st to November 12th of 2021. The main objectives of the conference were to unite the world to tackle climate change and bring parties together to accelerate action towards the goals of the Paris Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. The four goals that were prioritized during the summit were (1) securing global net zero by mid-century and keeping 1.5 degrees of temperature warming within reach, (2) adapting to protect communities and natural habitats, (3) mobilizing finances, and (4) working together to reach the set goals. While these goals may seem overly ambitious considering the lack of global care thus far despite the state of the climate emergency, the conference was critical in highlighting the necessity for universal cooperation.
Leaders from all around the world attended the summit, with the exception of presidents from Brazil, China, Iran, Mexico, North Korea, Russia and South Africa. However, most of these countries sent other representatives, such as ambassadors and climate experts, in place of their presidents. It was essential for all countries to attend the summit and pledge their support and cooperation in combating climate change because, given the current path the world is on, our window of opportunity to save the planet has almost closed. As the COP26 President, Alok Sharma, put it, the goals set “will only survive if we keep our promises and translate commitments into rapid action,” emphasizing the need for collaboration to solve the collective issues of the climate crisis.
During the summit, the actions needed to achieve the four main goals were clearly provided. These include accelerating the phase-out of coal, curtailing deforestation, speeding up the switch to electric vehicles, encouraging investments in renewables, protecting and restoring ecosystems, and building defenses against climate change, such as sea walls. To finance these efforts, other goals include developed countries mobilizing at least $100 billion in climate finance per year, and instructing international financial institutions to unleash the trillions of dollars in private and public sector finance required to secure global net zero emissions. In addition to countries working together to finalize the Paris Rulebook, a guide for implementing the principles of the Paris Agreement, collaboration between governments, businesses, and civil societies is essential to achieving the goals above.
While the objectives of the summit are extremely important in the climate fight, there is an overwhelming lack of detail on how to successfully take action to achieve the goals set by the UN, as well as how the UN will oversee each country to ensure that they are living up to their commitments. Moreover, issues such as the inequity of climate change need to be discussed further since countries like the United States and China, which are the largest emitters of greenhouse gasses, will not face the consequences of their actions as severely as other countries. Fiji, for example, is more vulnerable to climate related disasters, such as rising sea levels and flooding, and yet is responsible for a significantly smaller amount of greenhouse gas emissions and overall climate change-causing events. Islands like Fiji underline the need for countries that are greater contributors to climate change to be more responsible for taking actions against it.
Other issues and concerns brought up for global net zero goals include financial ambitions in the carbon markets, rules for the transparent reporting of action and support, common timeframes for emission reduction commitments, enabling enhanced adaptation actions, and addressing the damage as a result of climate change-inducing actions. A necessary basis for all of these goals is a continual response to the latest science and the ambition of current emission reduction targets, as well as promoting fair, inclusive climate action. All of these topics need to be considered in order for our climate solutions to be successfully implemented.
Furthermore, there is a larger issue at hand which was not directly addressed at COP26: the actions of large corporations, which are responsible for the majority of the climate-related issues facing the world. According to The Carbon Majors Database, the same one hundred companies have been responsible for 71% of global greenhouse gas emissions causing climate warming since 1998. Until we hold these corporations accountable for the nearly irreversible damage they have caused, all other climate-saving actions laid out in the Paris Agreement will never work in full effect.
The COP26 conference brought together 120 world leaders and countless representatives to address the ongoing issue of climate change. Climate change is a constant threat to our existence and the summit was successful in unifying all countries to discuss tackling this global issue and accelerate action towards achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement. While this conference was one large and impactful step towards tackling climate change, there is still a long way to go before we are able to salvage the Earth and the fate of humanity. The main focus going forward should be to determine an effective and efficient way to ensure the goals set at the summit are achieved and that each country lives up to their commitments and promises. Collaboration between all parties, in addition to ensuring corporations are held responsible for the damage they have caused, is vital in order to achieve the goals set during the summit and ensure a livable world for ourselves and future generations to come.
Sources
“COP26 Goals”. UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) At The SEC – Glasgow 2021, 2021, https://ukcop26.org/cop26-goals/.
“Glasgow 2021”. UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) At The SEC – Glasgow 2021, 2021, https://ukcop26.org/.
“Negotiations”. UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) At The SEC – Glasgow 2021, 2021, https://ukcop26.org/uk-presidency/negotiations/.
“Negotiations Explained”. Ukcop26.Org, 2021, https://ukcop26.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/COP26-Negotiations-Explained.pdf.
Meredith, Sam. “Who’S Going To The COP26 Climate Summit? Meet The Key Players At The UN Talks”. CNBC, 2021, https://www.cnbc.com/2021/10/31/whos-going-to-cop26-and-who-wont-be-there-for-the-un-climate-talks.html.