The two weeks of COP26 which ended this Saturday evening in Glasgow, after the conclusion of a long-awaited agreement, were marked by the cries of young people, the anger of poor countries, but also by significant announcements which would nevertheless let the planet slip away towards a warming ” well beyond ” of + 2 ° C. Back on six highlights of this Cop26.
The cry of distress of the small islands of the Pacific
“We want to exist in 100 years, and if our existence means anything, then we must act in the interests of our people who depend on us”, launched the Prime Minister of Barbados Mia Mottley, calling on COP26 to act to prevent a ” death sentence “ of his people and others in the same situation.
At the start of this Cop in early November, more than 120 heads of state marched through the plenary hall of the Glasgow conference center, with large CO2 emitters promising to do more against global warming in small Pacific islands threatened by rising sea levels calling for help.
Russian and Chinese presidents brilliant with their absence
Former US President Barack Obama has criticized Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin for failing to join other world leaders at the negotiating table.
“I must admit that it is particularly disheartening to see the absence of the leaders of two of their biggest emitters in the world, China and Russia, refusing even to attend the debates. Their national plans reflect what appears to be a dangerous lack of urgency ”Barack Obama said in a speech last Monday.
Protesters and scientists in the street
The torrential rain did not stop tens of thousands of people of all ages from marching through the streets of Glasgow amid the two-week conference to demand the “Climate justice” and immediate action for communities already affected by climate disasters.
The day before, thousands of young people, including very young, had already demonstrated in the Scottish city, behind the Swedish Greta Thunberg. The judgment of the face of the youth movement for the climate was already final: “It’s no secret that the Cop26 is a failure”, she said, describing the conference as “Celebration of + business as usual + and blah blah”.
Scientists have joined the ranks of demonstrators protesting in front of the premises in which debates have been linked for two weeks. Some were even chained to each other to protest, relates Nature.
Read also: 6 questions on the Cop26 agreement, “moment of truth” for the planet
Historic decision on phasing out fossil fuels
This Cop was marked as never before by a desire of many countries to accelerate the exit from fossil fuels, the main cause of global warming. The agreement reached is the first-ever draft text to call on countries to “Accelerate the exit from coal and fossil fuel subsidies”. A commitment of which the Paris Agreement makes no mention.
About twenty states, including the United States, have thus committed to putting an end by the end of 2022 to foreign financing of fossil energy projects without carbon capture techniques. Another coalition of some 40 nations issued a declaration to transition from coal to clean energy, and a few countries have launched a coalition to phase out oil and gas.
Around 100 countries have also pledged to reduce methane emissions by at least 30% by 2030. Tackling this powerful greenhouse gas can begin by detecting and repairing leaks during the process. the production and transport of gas or oil.
China and the United States pledge against greenhouse gases, India for carbon neutrality
On the eve of the official end of COP26, China and the United States, the world’s leading emitters of greenhouse gases, announce a surprise agreement for “Strengthen climate action”.
An agreement greeted with caution by observers, who see in it a desire of the two countries to overcome their differences to discuss the crucial issue of climate.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi caused a sensation by announcing for the first time for his country a goal of carbon neutrality, for 2070, and reinforcing its ambitions to reduce emissions for 2030.
Tears for a snatched deal
With more than 24 hours of delay – an overflow not unusual for a Cop -, on November 13 a little before 8:00 p.m. GMT, a hammer blow from the president of the Cop26 Alok Sharma marks the adoption of the “Glasgow Pact for the climate ”intended to accelerate the fight against global warming.
The Briton announces this adoption of emotion in his voice and tears in his eyes, after a last minute demand from China and India which further extended this day full of tensions.
Despite “Steps forward welcome”, as the reference to fossil fuels, it is “ not enough “, Says UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Noting World Still Heading For Warming “Well above 2 ° C”, still not in the nails of the objectives of the Paris agreement. “The climate catastrophe is always knocking on the door”.
– .
