A Picture to Sum Up COP 26

 

From The Guardian.


There, don't you feel better?

The Guardian spoke with six negotiators working on the final statement. Their enthusiasm seems a bit underwhelming.

#1

The world needs a Marshall plan to face the climate emergency humanity is now facing. We can’t let Glasgow Cop26 fail to rescue the most vulnerable now on the hook of adverse impacts of runaway climate change.

#2

The IPCC [Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change] report is very clear, and the cover decision [summary of aims] needs to reiterate the messages from the IPCC report, acknowledge the gap between emissions pledges and the emissions cuts needed, and call on parties to fill the gap. Parties need to submit NDCs [nationally determined contributions] by 2022.

#3

To be honest, the text is devoid of any real ambition on finance and adaptation, especially in the context of the motto of keeping the 1.5C alive. Furthermore, it seems to be a sign of sobering realisation that all the hype around Cop26 and gloss is fading and fading fast.

There seems to be some mad scramble now to kick the can on many issues down the road into next year. The so-called UK leadership does not seem to be present.

#4

There need to be stronger words on reducing emissions in the near term, especially from developed countries, and much more than the current vague acknowledgments that more finance is needed.

#5

As well as the highly publicised failure to meet the $100bn target, which was intended as a floor, there are a number of other key issues.

At present, there is an imbalance in the prioritisation of mitigation finance over investment in adaptation. For the developing world, the need to scale up adaptation financing is urgent. Yet sticking points for developed nations continue to grind negotiations to a halt.

Refusals to commit to concrete financial targets, inabilities to discuss the definition of climate finance and stubbornness on the share of proceeds issue under article 6.2 are all contributing to an increasing disillusionment with this negotiation process among developing nations.



Make of that what you will.

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