COP26 - The 2021 UNFCCC COP26 Glasgow Climate Pact

Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

In a nutshell:

The COP26 Glasgow Climate Pact, approved by 200 nations, reaffirmed the 2015 Paris Agreement commitment to keep global warming well below 2 degrees Celsius, and to limit the increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius, above pre-industrial levels [Section IV, paragraph (20)]. A reaffirmed commitment, despite the parties' expressed “alarm and concern” [I(3)] that global warming had already reached 1.1 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial level. 

Consistent with the findings of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Sixth Assessment Report, the Climate Pact recognizes that the consequences of climate change will be far less at 1.5 degrees Celsius, above pre-industrial temperatures, than those at 2 degrees Celsius. Thus, the Climate Pact calls for a 45% decrease in global carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 [IV(22)], in order to achieve net-zero (1) by 2050. The Climate Pact also calls for deep cuts in other sorts of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, such as methane, inviting nations to further reduce their emissions by 2030 [IV(37)].

For the first time in history, the UNFCCC Climate Pact explicitly addressed "the elephant in the room", setting forth a controversial ‘phasing out” of coal and fossil fuels, held primarily responsible for global warming. Despite opposition from developing nations, who are relying on coal for development, and large producers of coal, who would prefer to see “phasing-down”, the Climate Pact [IV(36)]:

"Calls upon Parties to accelerate the development, deployment and dissemination of technologies, and the adoption of policies, to transition towards low-emission energy systems […] including accelerating efforts towards the phase out of unabated coal power and inefficient fossil fuel subsidies” [italics mine].

 An unprecedented call that is mindfully un-dissociated from both the concept of climate justice, specified in the preamble, an the need for just transition to clean energy (specified in several instances: [IV(32)], [IV(36)] and [VII(85)].

The Glasgow Climate Pact also “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” [III(18)]", while noting subsequently with “deep regret” the failure of developing nations to meet the Paris Agreement goal of jointly mobilizing 100 billion USD per year by the year 2020 [V(44)]. Funding to have been provided to developing nations, for the purposes of mitigating the effects of climate change, for which developed countries are held responsible. Thus, the Climate Pact also urges developed nations to renew their commitment, in view of fully delivering on their Paris Agreement promises of 100 billion USD per year through to the later date of 2025, while calling for more clarity and specificity on each of the nation’s pledges in this regard [V(45)]. The Climate Pact also explicitly calls for financial flows to urgently support pathways to low-emissions and climate-resistant development, within the context of the UN sustainable development program, and the eradication of poverty [V(54)].

The Climate Pact also includes a whole section VI on Loss and Damages, already incurred as a result of climate change. In this regard, the Santiago Network (2), is to be provided with funding for the purposes of further addressing, averting, minimizing, supporting and compensating climate-related Loss and Damages [VI(67)].

A Climate Pact that concludes with a section VIII, re-iterating the welcomed collaboration between Parties (i.e. nations) and Civil Society, including explicit mention of indigenous people, local and regional communities, women, youth, and other Non-Party Stakeholders. A Climate Pact where the final paragraph places a contingency on all the climate action specified, based on the availability of financial resources [VIII(97)].

Disappointing for those who believe the urgency of the situation, and see the pact as not enough to avert the disastrous consequences of climate change; heralded as a breakthrough by others (e.g., Aljazeera, Nov 14, 2021; Jordans, AP New Nov. 13, 2021; Rathi & Shankleman, Nov. 13, 2021). The final word on the UNFCCC COP26 Glasgow Climate Pact was spoken by António Guterres, Secretary-General to the United Nations:

The COP26 outcome is a compromise, reflecting the interests, contradictions & state of political will in the world today. It's an important step, but it's not enough. It's time to go into emergency mode. The climate battle is the fight of our lives & that fight must be won. (Guterres, Nov. 13, 2021)

Indeed, if the Secretary-General spoke the truth at the conclusion of COP 26, then the Climate Pact compromise is short on delivering all the hope and possibilities expressed in Sir David Attenborough's spirited send-off address, on Nov. 1, 2021, at COP 26,  in Glasgow, UK. 

Notes
(1)  "Net-zero refers to a state in which the greenhouse gases going into the atmosphere are balanced by removal out of the atmosphere." (Net Zero Climate)

(2) The Santiago Network, previously set forth during COP25, in Madrid, under the presidency of Chile, was designed to bring together multiple parties for technical assistance, in connection with reports of climate-related loss and damages, occurring particularly in developing and vulnerable countries. The Santiago Network is accessible via the UNFCCC portal  (Santiago Network, UNFCCC). 

References

Aljazeera Staff (Nov 14, 2021). Betrayal of people planet: World reacts to COP Climate Pact. 

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/11/14/betrayal-of-people-planet-world-reacts-to-cop26-climate-pact

Jordans, F. (Nov. 13, 2021). Good COP, bad COP? Takeaways from the new climate deal. 

https://apnews.com/article/climate-business-scotland-glasgow-europe-ef49bd6336c3cbd5356aea1e8af19f6d

Guterres, A. (Nov 13, 2021). Re: UNFCCC COP26 Glasgow Climate Pact.  Tweet https://twitter.com/antonioguterres/status/1459615542764093447?r

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Sixth Assessment Report. 
https://www.ipcc.ch/assessment-report/ar6/

Net Zero Climate -  https://netzeroclimate.org/what-is-net-zero/

Rathi, A. & J. Shankleman (Nov. 13, 2021). COP26 seals breakthrough climate deal after major compromises.
https://nationalpost.com/news/world/cop26-seals-breakthrough-climate-deal-after-major-compromises

Santiago Network at the UNFCCC 

https://unfccc.int/santiago-network/about 

United Nations Climate Action  https://www.un.org/climatechange

UNFCCC COP21 Paris Agreement  

https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/the-paris-agreement/the-paris-agreement

UNFCCC COP26 Glasgow Climate Pact (Advanced version - Nov. 13, 2021)
https://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/resource/cma2021_L16_adv.pdf 

UNFCCC (Dec. 3, 2020) - COP 25 & Incoming COP 26 - Developing the Santiago Network for loss and damages. 

https://unfccc.int/event/developing-the-santiago-network-for-loss-and-damage