HOT CLIMATE STUFF AT COP 26 – Energy & Expectations

It was situation critical to keep the dream of 1.5 alive and to get home countries to up the ante on pledges to help counter dangerous climate change. Fortunately this did happen, through what’s known as the Ratchet Mechanism. Almost all 200 parties agreed to return in 2022, to report back on their home country’s progress on climate.

While activists and NGO’s declared the COP a total failure, and it was difficult to get all parties to agree on the trillions of dollars of climate aid needed and the massive sacrifices warranted, to try and prevent millions of lives and livelihoods from being destroyed by climate change,  many things were achieved, which are important to reflect on.

CLIMATE ACHIEVEMENTS

Over 100 leaders pledged to end deforestation by 2030.

Over 40 countries of 195 have pledged to phase out coal – the single biggest contributor to climate change.

12 countries have committed to a $12 billion funding drive to assist reforestation projects around the world.

SHAME FACED COAL

Glasgow did however end with a last-minute controversy over the language on coal, with India facing criticism for watering down the deal. The critical wording was purposely shifted from “phase out” to “phase down” at the 11th hour. After long and hard negotiations between the 197 parties, India’s environment minister sought a final amendment, which brought a British diplomat on the podium to tears.

At the UN Climate Olympics there were silent battles, and not so silent battles raging.

Issues with coal and fossil fuels underline the hardship developing countries rightly feel, at having to phase out cheap and reliable fossil fuels. The West and all advanced economies have gotten rich and improved the quality of life of their citizens by profiting from the industrialised age and the power of fossil fuels. Many developing countries rightly feel incensed they must phase out fossil fuels now to help fix the damage done by GIANT  polluters including; Australia, Germany, Japan, Norway, Russia and the United States of America.

Coal being the dirtiest of all the fossil fuels, is responsible for a lion’s share of global greenhouse gas emissions. While big exporters like Australia, Brasil, China, and India did not agree to discontinue the production of coal, the Glasgow pact is the first time any kind of curbs for fossil fuels were added to a United Nations climate pact, and this is being celebrated as a major step forward.

CLIMATE ADAPTATION & TRANSITION

Climate Finance was a loser at the conference. The estimated adaptation costs in developing countries could reach $300 billion every year by 2030. And finance for poor countries has been a hot topic at Cops since Paris 2015. Common But Differentiated Responsibility (CBDR) was agreed upon in Paris 6 years ago. Paris also came with a spoken commitment from rich countries to help those poorer adapt to the stresses of climate change. However rich countries so far, have not handed over an adequate number of dollars or made a deal that’s legally binding. This must change.

Coping with problems of climate change (like disaster relief) and preparing for the future, both need funding in equal measure.

According to the UN: “Wealthier countries are obligated to fulfil a commitment made in the Paris Agreement to provide $100 billion a year in international climate finance. They should make sure that at least half goes to adaptation. This would be an important symbol of global solidarity in the face of a challenge we can only solve if everyone in the world works together.”

All Parties to the Paris Agreement committed to strengthening the global response to climate change by increasing the ability of all to adapt and build resilience, and reduce vulnerability, but at COP 26 it was clear that it has not been delivered on to anywhere near the extent it should have been.

Currently only 21 per cent of climate finance provided by wealthier countries to assist developing nations goes directly towards adaptation and resilience, approximately $16.8 billion a year. Cop 26 reminded us that in order to make our communities safer, we must act, as a matter of justice.

Watch leading Indian environmentalist Sunita Narain, who reminds us of this here:

REPRESENTATION & INCLUSIVITY

Poverty is the greatest polluter and at this COP, civil society, including non-governmental organisations, youth groups, First Nations peoples, climate scientists, universities and public campaigners, emerged as a key force, pushing governments to do more now. Each lobby group will now need to keep the pressure up.

Representation and inclusivity is key to understanding a shift in mood at the Cop26. Over all there was more recognition that – “people who are closest to the pain, should be closest to the power,” as Colombian artist and activist Yazmany Arboleda said.

Cop 26 was a climate let down, but there’s HOPE.

To hit the 1.5 target, at least 40% of the world’s existing 8,500 coal-fired power plants must be closed by 2030 and no new ones built. This is something all citizens globally can monitor in their own back yard and demonstrate or petition to correct. Small groups of people can change the world. As we are seeing now, one legal case at a time.

What we can be happy about from Cop 26 is that since the Kyoto protocol was signed in 1997 no Cop decision has made a direct reference to phasing out fossil fuels. This is a world first, due to the traditionally fierce opposition from oil-producing and coal-producing countries, and from those nation’s heavily dependent on consuming fossil fuels. True discussions of fossil fuels have long halted major progress at Cop talks where decisions are made by consensus. Even this very watered-down commitment is a major step forward.

In summary, while some progress was made at Cop 26 our planet is now on death row. Current levels of gas emissions will see us reaching a 2.4 degree world or 2.7 degree world in just 9 years time. (While we are currently sitting at 1.1 – 1.3 degrees celsius above pre industrial levels).

In short, Glasgow was never going to be total solution in tackling the climate crisis, but it part of the roadmap out of hell.

Fresh revisions are planned for next year’s meeting in Egypt, rather than several years away, which is a good news. Cop 26 also proved that while democracy may be the worst best way we have of doing the right thing – it is still 100% better than the alternative: doing nothing.

NGO communities and activists, we now need you to stay extraordinarily active.