Will the climate summit get the world on the same page? ‘COP26 is the moment of truth’ | Inland

“COP26 is the moment of truth for the world. The question everyone is asking is whether we seize the moment, or let it slip,” said the British Prime Minister.

One hundred and twenty world leaders will travel to Glasgow this weekend to meet on Monday and Tuesday for the first part of the UN conference. Negotiations will take place over the next two weeks. With approximately 25,000 in attendance from 196 countries, it is one of the largest conferences ever held in Britain.

Global warming

The key question is whether Johnson will get all government leaders on the same page. In Paris, it is true that every country has pledged to make an effort to keep global warming within 1.5, or preferably 2 degrees. However, the question of how this should be done, and what share each country will provide, is a divisive issue.

Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, and European Commissioner Frans Timmermans arrive in Glasgow with their heads held high. “Europe is on track to become the first continent to become climate neutral by 2050,” says von der Leyen proudly. “We are already at a reduction of 31 percent and that shows that it is possible in combination with economic growth.”

$100 Billion Annual Contribution

On climate finance, an annual contribution of USD 100 billion for vulnerable states, she is hopeful for an agreement. The EU already brings in 25 billion euros a year, of which 1.3 billion comes from the Netherlands. The committee’s president expects the total amount to rise further. In Glasgow, she also presents an agreement with US President Joe Biden to reduce methane emissions, also a greenhouse gas, by 30 percent.

Recently, European Commissioner Frans Timmermans has literally flown all over the world to convince other government leaders to follow the European example of the Green Deal. While many superpowers are still in the stage of verbal promises, Timmermans’ proposals for agriculture, transport and the housing market go much further.

Not enthusiasm everywhere

There is not enthusiasm everywhere. For example, the European plan to introduce a carbon tax on imported products from outside the EU – where they are not affected by European emissions trading – is bad in many countries. In Europe, the idea is explained as a way to get other countries on the green course. But developing countries see it as a form of protectionism, and the same thing as twenty years ago. Then Brussels also tried in WTO trade conferences to ban products from outside the EU, because of alleged lower standards for the environment and animal welfare.

The Netherlands is represented during the negotiations by the European Commission. Dutch diplomats do try to convince other countries of serious climate policy. State Secretary Yesilgöz (Climate) is, however, cautious about the outcome. “The opportunity is there nonetheless” […] that COP26 will yield less results than hoped for,” she wrote to the House of Representatives.

–