For more than two weeks in November, world leaders and national negotiators will meet in Scotland to discuss what to do Climate change. It is a complex process that can be difficult to understand from the outside, but this is how international law and institutions help solve problems that no country can fix on its own.
i worked for United Nations For many years as a Law and Policy Consultant and has been involved in international negotiations. Here’s what’s happening behind closed doors and why people are worried COP26 cannot accomplish its goals.
What is COP26?
In 1992, countries agreed to an international treaty called the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which set the ground rules and requirements for global cooperation on combating climate change. This was the first time most countries formally recognized the need to control greenhouse gas emissions, which led to Global warming that drives climate change.
That treaty has since been updated, with the nations signing in 2015. Paris climate agreement. That agreement set a goal to limit global warming to “well below” 2 °C (3.6 F), and preferably 1.5 C (2.7 F), to avoid catastrophic climate change.
COP26 stands for the 26th Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC. The “Parties” are the 196 countries that ratified the treaty and the European Union. The United Kingdom is hosting COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland from October 31 to November 12, 2021, after a one-year postponement due to a partnership with Italy. covid-19 pandemic.
Why are world leaders paying so much attention to climate change?
The latest report from the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, released in August 2021, warns in its strongest terms that human activities have clearly warmed the planet, and that climate change is now widespread, rapid and rapid. Is.
IPCC scientists explain how climate change is fueling extreme weather events and floods, severe heat waves and droughts, species loss and extinction, and melting of ice sheets and sea level rise. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres Called the report a “red code for humanity”.
Enough greenhouse gas emissions are already in the atmosphere, and they remain there long enough for even the most ambitious scenario of countries to reduce their emissions, with the world at least mid-century with rising temperatures. will experience.
However, a narrow window of opportunity remains. If countries can cut global emissions To “net zero” by 2050, which could bring warming below 1.5 C in the second half of the 21st century. Leaders and negotiators are discussing how to approach that course.
What happens in COP26?
During the first days of the conference, about 120 heads of state, such as US President Joe Biden, and their representatives will gather to demonstrate their political commitment to slowing climate change.
Once the heads of state are gone, the country’s delegations, often led by environment ministers, engage in days of talks, events and exchanges to adopt their positions, make new pledges, and engage in new initiatives. Huh. These talks build on months of earlier discussions, policy papers and proposals prepared by groups of states, UN staff and other experts.
NGOs and business leaders also participate in the conference, and COP26 has a public side that focuses on sessions such as impact of climate change On small island states, forests or agriculture, as well as exhibitions and other events.
The meeting ends with an outcome text that all countries agree on. Guterres publicly expressed his disappointment at the outcome of COP25, and there are signs of trouble at COP26.
What is expected to be achieved from COP26?
The Paris Agreement requires countries to update their national climate action plans every five years, including at COP26. This year, he hopes to set ambitious targets by 2030. These are known as Nationally Determined Contributions or NDCs.
The Paris Agreement requires countries to report their NDCs, but it gives them the freedom to determine how they reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. The initial set of emissions reduction targets in 2015 were too weak to limit global warming to 1.5 °C.
A key goal of COP26 is to meet these goals to reach net zero carbon emissions by the middle of the century.
Another objective of COP26 is to increase climate finance to help poor countries transition to clean energy and adapt to climate change. It is an important issue of justice for many developing countries, whose people bear the greatest burden from climate change but have contributed the least to it. Rich countries pledged in 2009 to contribute $100 billion annually by 2020 to help developing countries, a goal that has not been achieved. The US, UK and EU, among the biggest historical greenhouse emitters, are increasing their financial commitments, and banks, businesses, insurers and private investors are being asked to do more.
Other objectives include phasing out coal use and creating solutions that preserve, restore or regenerate natural carbon sinks, such as forests.
Another challenge that has derailed previous COPs is agreeing to implement the carbon trading system outlined in the Paris Agreement.
Are countries on track to meet international climate goals?
The United Nations warned in September 2021 that countries’ revised targets were too weak and would leave the world on pace to warm 2.7 C (4.9 F) by the end of the century. However, governments are facing another challenge this fall that could affect how they respond: a lack of energy supply has hit Europe and China with soaring prices for natural gas, coal and oil. left it.
China – the world’s biggest emitter – presented an updated NDC on October 28, with little variation on promises it had announced almost a year earlier. Major fossil fuel producers such as Russia and Australia are unwilling to tighten their commitments. Saudi Arabia strengthened its targets but does not count oil and gas exports, which it says will continue to produce. India – a significant player as the second largest consumer, producer and importer of coal globally – has also yet to commit.
Other developing countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, South Africa and Mexico are important. So is Brazil, which, under Jair Bolsonaro’s watch, has increased the deforestation of the Amazon – the world’s largest rainforest and vital for biodiversity and removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
What happens if COP26 doesn’t meet its goals?
Many insiders believe the COP26 will not reach its goal of strong enough commitments to cut global greenhouse gas emissions 45% by 2030. This means the world will not be on a smooth path to reaching net-zero emissions by 2050 and aiming to keep warming below 1.5C.
But organizers say it is still possible to keep warming below 1.5 C. Former Secretary of State John Kerry, who is leading the US talks, is hopeful that enough countries will create momentum for others to strengthen their reduction goals by 2025.
The cost of failure is astronomical. Studies have shown that a difference between 1.5 and 2 °C can mean the submergence of small island states, the death of coral reefs, extreme heat waves, floods and wildfires, and widespread crop failure.
This translates into numerous premature deaths, greater mass migration, major economic losses, large numbers of habitable lands and violent conflicts over resources and food – what the UN Secretary-General has called “a hellish future”.
i worked for United Nations For many years as a Law and Policy Consultant and has been involved in international negotiations. Here’s what’s happening behind closed doors and why people are worried COP26 cannot accomplish its goals.
What is COP26?
In 1992, countries agreed to an international treaty called the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which set the ground rules and requirements for global cooperation on combating climate change. This was the first time most countries formally recognized the need to control greenhouse gas emissions, which led to Global warming that drives climate change.
That treaty has since been updated, with the nations signing in 2015. Paris climate agreement. That agreement set a goal to limit global warming to “well below” 2 °C (3.6 F), and preferably 1.5 C (2.7 F), to avoid catastrophic climate change.
COP26 stands for the 26th Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC. The “Parties” are the 196 countries that ratified the treaty and the European Union. The United Kingdom is hosting COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland from October 31 to November 12, 2021, after a one-year postponement due to a partnership with Italy. covid-19 pandemic.
Why are world leaders paying so much attention to climate change?
The latest report from the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, released in August 2021, warns in its strongest terms that human activities have clearly warmed the planet, and that climate change is now widespread, rapid and rapid. Is.
IPCC scientists explain how climate change is fueling extreme weather events and floods, severe heat waves and droughts, species loss and extinction, and melting of ice sheets and sea level rise. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres Called the report a “red code for humanity”.
Enough greenhouse gas emissions are already in the atmosphere, and they remain there long enough for even the most ambitious scenario of countries to reduce their emissions, with the world at least mid-century with rising temperatures. will experience.
However, a narrow window of opportunity remains. If countries can cut global emissions To “net zero” by 2050, which could bring warming below 1.5 C in the second half of the 21st century. Leaders and negotiators are discussing how to approach that course.
What happens in COP26?
During the first days of the conference, about 120 heads of state, such as US President Joe Biden, and their representatives will gather to demonstrate their political commitment to slowing climate change.
Once the heads of state are gone, the country’s delegations, often led by environment ministers, engage in days of talks, events and exchanges to adopt their positions, make new pledges, and engage in new initiatives. Huh. These talks build on months of earlier discussions, policy papers and proposals prepared by groups of states, UN staff and other experts.
NGOs and business leaders also participate in the conference, and COP26 has a public side that focuses on sessions such as impact of climate change On small island states, forests or agriculture, as well as exhibitions and other events.
The meeting ends with an outcome text that all countries agree on. Guterres publicly expressed his disappointment at the outcome of COP25, and there are signs of trouble at COP26.
What is expected to be achieved from COP26?
The Paris Agreement requires countries to update their national climate action plans every five years, including at COP26. This year, he hopes to set ambitious targets by 2030. These are known as Nationally Determined Contributions or NDCs.
The Paris Agreement requires countries to report their NDCs, but it gives them the freedom to determine how they reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. The initial set of emissions reduction targets in 2015 were too weak to limit global warming to 1.5 °C.
A key goal of COP26 is to meet these goals to reach net zero carbon emissions by the middle of the century.
Another objective of COP26 is to increase climate finance to help poor countries transition to clean energy and adapt to climate change. It is an important issue of justice for many developing countries, whose people bear the greatest burden from climate change but have contributed the least to it. Rich countries pledged in 2009 to contribute $100 billion annually by 2020 to help developing countries, a goal that has not been achieved. The US, UK and EU, among the biggest historical greenhouse emitters, are increasing their financial commitments, and banks, businesses, insurers and private investors are being asked to do more.
Other objectives include phasing out coal use and creating solutions that preserve, restore or regenerate natural carbon sinks, such as forests.
Another challenge that has derailed previous COPs is agreeing to implement the carbon trading system outlined in the Paris Agreement.
Are countries on track to meet international climate goals?
The United Nations warned in September 2021 that countries’ revised targets were too weak and would leave the world on pace to warm 2.7 C (4.9 F) by the end of the century. However, governments are facing another challenge this fall that could affect how they respond: a lack of energy supply has hit Europe and China with soaring prices for natural gas, coal and oil. left it.
China – the world’s biggest emitter – presented an updated NDC on October 28, with little variation on promises it had announced almost a year earlier. Major fossil fuel producers such as Russia and Australia are unwilling to tighten their commitments. Saudi Arabia strengthened its targets but does not count oil and gas exports, which it says will continue to produce. India – a significant player as the second largest consumer, producer and importer of coal globally – has also yet to commit.
Other developing countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, South Africa and Mexico are important. So is Brazil, which, under Jair Bolsonaro’s watch, has increased the deforestation of the Amazon – the world’s largest rainforest and vital for biodiversity and removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
What happens if COP26 doesn’t meet its goals?
Many insiders believe the COP26 will not reach its goal of strong enough commitments to cut global greenhouse gas emissions 45% by 2030. This means the world will not be on a smooth path to reaching net-zero emissions by 2050 and aiming to keep warming below 1.5C.
But organizers say it is still possible to keep warming below 1.5 C. Former Secretary of State John Kerry, who is leading the US talks, is hopeful that enough countries will create momentum for others to strengthen their reduction goals by 2025.
The cost of failure is astronomical. Studies have shown that a difference between 1.5 and 2 °C can mean the submergence of small island states, the death of coral reefs, extreme heat waves, floods and wildfires, and widespread crop failure.
This translates into numerous premature deaths, greater mass migration, major economic losses, large numbers of habitable lands and violent conflicts over resources and food – what the UN Secretary-General has called “a hellish future”.
.