The 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP26, held in Glasgow, Scotland, brought together representatives from almost 200 countries to address the pressing issue of climate change. The summit marked a critical moment in global efforts to combat the climate crisis, with countries struggling to reach consensus on key issues and commitments. Let’s delve into the details of the countries involved and the decisions taken during this historic event.
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Recap of the 2021 Climate Change Summit in Glasgow.
COP26 was attended by a diverse range of countries, each bringing their unique perspective, challenges and contributions to the table. While all nations share the common goal of combating climate change, their roles and responsibilities vary according to factors such as emissions history, economic development and vulnerability to climate impacts.
Several countries emerged as protagonists in the COP26 negotiations and discussions, exerting significant influence in defining the summit’s outcomes. These include:
- United States: Under the leadership of President Joe Biden, the United States has made a triumphant return to the global stage, reaffirming its commitment to climate action after years of retrenchment and skepticism. The Biden administration has promised ambitious emissions reduction targets and announced initiatives to accelerate the transition to clean energy.
- China: As the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases, China’s role in the fight against climate change was closely watched at COP26. Although the country reiterated its commitment to achieving carbon neutrality by 2060, there were doubts about the pace and scale of its emission reduction efforts.
- European Union: The European Union (EU) demonstrated its leadership in climate action, with member states collectively committing to reducing emissions by at least 55% by 2030, compared to 1990 levels. The EU also advocated initiatives to mobilize climate finance and support developing countries in their transition to a low-carbon future.
- Small Island Developing States (SIDS): Vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, SIDS have played a crucial role in advocating for ambitious targets and increasing support for adaptation and resilience efforts. Their voices highlighted the existential threat posed by rising sea levels, extreme weather events and biodiversity loss.
Main decisions and commitments:
- Glasgow Climate Pact: The Glasgow Climate Pact, the comprehensive agreement reached at COP26, reaffirmed countries’ commitment to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius and to pursue efforts to limit it to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. The parties also agreed to increase their nationally determined contributions (NDCs) to reduce emissions and strengthen adaptation measures.
- Funding and support: At COP26, there were promises of greater financial support for climate adaptation and resilience efforts in developing countries, especially those most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Developed countries pledged to mobilize US$ 100 billion annually in climate finance by 2023 and promised additional funding for adaptation and loss and damage.
- Global commitment to methane: Several countries, including the United States and the European Union, have signed the Global Methane Pledge, pledging to reduce methane emissions by 30% by 2030, compared to 2020 levels. Methane, a potent greenhouse gas, contributes significantly to global warming and is one of the main targets of mitigation efforts.
- Forests and biodiversity: The Glasgow Leaders’ Declaration on Forests emphasized the importance of protecting and restoring forests as a crucial nature-based solution to climate change. Countries pledged to halt and reverse deforestation by 2030 and to mobilize funds to support sustainable forest management and conservation efforts.
COP26 represented a milestone in global efforts to tackle the climate crisis, with countries reaffirming their commitment to ambitious climate action and reaching agreements on key issues. As the world faces the urgent imperative to reduce emissions and build resilience, the decisions taken at COP26 will shape the trajectory of international climate policy for years to come. It is now up to all nations to translate their commitments into concrete action, forging a path towards a more sustainable and resilient future for our planet.
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