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COP26 Climate Summit, 2 weeks of negotiations culminate in disappointment

26th Nov 2021
COP26 Climate Summit,  2 weeks of negotiations culminate in disappointment

President of COP26 Alok Sharma came close to tears as he apologised for the late amendment on coal was added to the draft text by India.

(Credit: Tim Hammond/ 10 Downing St)

 

 

Sarah Sakeena Marshall, Grit Daily Contributor, The Muslim News Environmental Columnist

Was COP26 a success? It depends on whom you ask, for the once hopeful Environmental activists the answer is a resounding “no” as suggested by the sober conclusion of the event.

Some national leaders’ strengthened nonbinding commitments while others, particularly those from developing nations facing existential risk due to climate change, were conspicuously absent, due to COVID and cost concerns. Neither Chinese President, Xi Jinping, nor Russian President, Vladimir Putin, attended, disappointing many other leaders because of those countries’ high emissions and because without their involvement, keeping global warming below pre-industrial levels (1.5°C) would be impossible.

The Glasgow conference, which took place from November 1-13 was packed with negotiators: world leaders and their reps, climate NGO activists, and fossil fuel lobbyists. Each day had a different theme: finance, loss & damage and adaptation, energy, transport, youth and public

empowerment, gender and science & innovation, and more. COP26 was meant to end on November 12, but just as with all previous COPs, negotiations spilled over into the weekend. The language around coal was a last-minute sticking point, with delegates from China and India, demanding that the final document state that they “phase down” rather than “phase out” unabated coal, leaving COP26 President Alok Sharma visibly emotional just before he struck the gavel to close the conference. Sharma said, “I apologise for the way this process has unfolded, and I am deeply sorry. I also understand the deep disappointment, but I think as you have noted, it’s also vital that we protect this package.” Small island states were especially devastated by the move.

It is unlikely that the Glasgow Climate Pact will be viewed as hard-hitting as the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement, which this conference was meant to build upon. Joeri Rogelj, Director of Research at the Grantham Institute and lead author on the IPCC’s latest climate report, told The Muslim New “The pledges are highly insufficient to limit warming to 1.5°C degrees and even to limit warming to slightly higher levels. It’s still insufficient.

They’re still, at this stage, just announcements or promises without really a backbone in national policy. Now, that is also not super surprising, but it’s definitely an important gap to be filled over the next year where these pledges need to be translated into national policy so that they’re actually achieved and those emission reductions are achieved on the ground.”

COP26 was considered the next major climate summit to update commitments since the Paris Climate Agreement, signed during COP21 in 2015. UK PM Boris Johnson gave a speech on November 10 where he stated, “We need to pull out all the stops if we’re going to do what we came here to do and that’s keep 1.5 alive and make Paris the success the world needs it to be.”

The pledges made at this COP would keep warming to 1.8°C compared to pre-industrial levels, assuming that all countries comply with their pledges, but a preliminary report showed that warming would rise to 2.4°C. This decade is considered the last chance to keep climate change in check. Speaking to The Muslim News Emily Martin, National Policy and Programs Manager for Our Climate, said “The expectation was to pass huge bold climate policy that was binding and had global impact and unfortunately, this year turns out to be more kicking the can down the road another couple of years.”

Notable Moments

Deforestation

One of the first decisions reached was to end deforestation by 2030. Even Brazil, which has seen an increase in deforestation under President Jair Bolsonaro, signed the agreement, along with over 100 other countries. There is scepticism over the plan, even though the signatories represent countries with 85% of the world’s forests. India did not sign the deforestation pledge, claiming that the trade issues would hinder its economic growth. In 2014, a similar pledge was made, but deforestation has increased since then. Funding for indigenous communities to take care of their trees was a standout point in the plan, as studies have shown that protecting the rights of native peoples best protects forested areas.

Global Methane Pledge

Over 100 countries signed an agreement to cut methane emissions by 30% by 2030. Methane is 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide but does not last as long in the atmosphere. Agriculture, waste disposal, and fossil fuel production are the most significant drivers of methane emissions. Russia, India, and China were the most notable countries to not sign the methane reduction pledge. For years, scientists have reported on the possibility of global warming to unleash tonnes of trapped methane under Siberia’s permafrost, which could lead to runaway warming of the planet. India did not sign on because of its reliance on agriculture, an industry that employs nearly half of its population. Still, the methane pledge was viewed as a success because of the gas’s warming potential.

US-China Cooperation

Surprisingly, American and Chinese reps pledged to work together on reducing carbon emissions in a joint press conference. The vague commitment drew attention because tensions between the US and China are at an all-time high, over Taiwan and dominance in the Indo Pacific.

The conference presented an opportunity for the two countries, the world’s greatest carbon emitters, to collaborate on solutions to the climate crisis. Within its borders, China mines a variety of rare earth metals necessary for solar panel, wind turbine, and electric car battery production. The US, while no longer the world’s largest emitter overall, overtakes China in per capita emissions. During the leaders’ summit US President Joe Biden criticised Chinese President Xi Jinping for not attending the conference.

Tuvalu Foreign Minister’s Striking Speech

The Foreign Minister of Tuvalu, Simon Kofe, was unable to attend COP26 but gave a speech halfway submerged in water off the coast to show what will happen if leaders do not act to curb climate change. He stated, “We are sinking, but so is everyone else, and no matter if we feel the impacts today like in Tuvalu or in a hundred years we will all still feel the dire effects of this global crisis one day.”

President Obama’s Address

Former US President, Barack Obama, slammed his successor Donald Trump for pulling America out of the Paris Climate Agreement. He also addressed protesters, telling them to continue to be angry and to use their anger in productive ways to bring about much-needed change. Some protesters pushed back on the former president’s criticism of other nations like China and Russia when the Paris Agreement’s finance pledge of $100 billion per year to help developing nations with mitigation and adaptation was never met, using the hashtag #ShowUsTheMoney.

Female Youth Panel and Celebrity Appearances

Emma Watson chaired a panel at The New York Times Climate Hub that included Greta Thunberg, Vanessa Nakate, Malala Yousefzai, Daphne Frias, Dominique Palmer, Tori Tsui, and Ati Viviam Villafaña, discussing the intersectionality of those worst hit by the climate crisis.

Actor Idris Elba appeared on a panel with Ugandan activist Vanessa Nakate to discuss food security. He acknowledged that people might find his presence irritating given that he is a celebrity and not an expert, but said he wanted to use his “big mouth” to bring light to food security. He said, “The supply chain is going to be damaged if we don’t figure out what to do around climate change and what it is doing to our food systems. That image of all those lines of people in LA lining down with families waiting for food is a reality for us in the future if we don’t find ways to tackle this issue now.”

Nakate went on to vividly describe the issue, stating, “We are watching farms collapse and livelihoods lost due to drought, floods, and swarms of locusts. Climate change has disrupted weather patterns in countries like mine, causing shorter and heavier rainy seasons plus longer dry seasons.”

Sir David Attenborough, renowned English broadcaster and natural historian, spoke about the correlation between fluctuations in carbon concentration in the atmosphere and global temperatures. Carbon concentrations and temperatures ultimately stabilised about 10,000 years ago, securing predictable weather patterns and allowing for human civilization to thrive. He warned, “The stability we all depend on is breaking. This story is one of inequality as well as instability. Today, those who have done the least to cause this problem are being the hardest hit. Ultimately, all of us will feel the impact, some of which are unavoidable.”

Other celebrities spotted at the conference included Leonardo DiCaprio, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Ellie Goulding, Maisie Williams, and Matt Damon.

 

Controversies

Loss and Damage

Loss and damage were a hot topic at the conference because nations already hit hard by the climate crisis feel they deserve compensation for damage already done, and economic loss that occurred as a result.

Kenyan activist Elizabeth Wathuti, Founder of Green Generation Initiative, spoke to the BBC about her experience at COP and asked, “How can they continue to lie to us that they are keeping 1.5 alive when the emissions keep rising? And how can they continue to lie to us that they care about the children and the people that are suffering from this crisis when they have nothing to do with loss and damage in the decisions that they are making today?”

The ultimate Glasgow pact failed to create a new damages fund for nations already negatively impacted by climate change, after pushback from the US, EU, and other rich nations.

Emissions Reporting

The Washington Post published a deep-dive investigation into the way emissions are reported, finding that “Many countries attempt to offset the emissions from burning fossil fuels by claiming that carbon is absorbed by land within their borders.”

The UN allows nations to offset emissions in this way, but it may not be accurate and allows countries to claim net-zero even when they are not taking concrete action to offset emissions, instead assuming that their land and natural tree growth will automatically offset a high threshold of carbon emissions. When the data reported to the UN is compared to that of satellites monitoring emissions, major discrepancies emerge. IPCC climate scientist Joeri Rogelj disagrees that there are reporting discrepancies as “There are IPCC guidelines on how to report and measure your emissions. So I kind of disagree that there wouldn’t be a standardised practice but there are very clear guidelines, and they’re very science-based.”

Fossil Fuel Had Largest Delegation

The fossil fuel industry had a larger delegation than any one country at COP26, garnering criticism from activist groups, with some suggesting that fossil fuel lobbyists be barred from joining the talks as they could pose a significant hindrance to progress on climate goals. Global Witness reported that “27 official country delegations registered fossil fuel lobbyists, including Canada, Russia and Brazil.”

Fossil fuel companies, which often receive hefty government subsidies to operate, have an incentive to make sure commitments do not go too far in vilifying their industries. The Glasgow pact was the first to mention fossil fuels in the final draft and called for a phasing down of fossil fuel subsidies. This is something activists have considered a no-brainer for years, but the fossil fuel industry claims that costs for consumers will skyrocket without such subsidies, though some experts disagree.

Finance

The Paris Climate Agreement of 2015 called on rich, developed nations to offer $100bn per year for developing nations most vulnerable to climate change, so they could invest in adaptation and mitigation measures. Since then, only $80bn per year has been disbursed to countries in need of funding. The Glasgow Climate Pact “Urges developed country Parties to at least double their collective provision of climate finance for adaptation to developing country Parties from 2019 levels by 2025,” acknowledging that past fund allocations have been insufficient. The document also calls on financial institutions and the private sector to offer financing for adaptation and mitigation efforts in Global South countries.

Automobiles

Twenty-four nations as well as Ford, Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar-Land Rover, and Volvo are among those who signed the pledge to transition to zero-emission vehicles by 2035. While the decision was hailed a win, major car-producing countries such as the US, Germany, and China did not sign onto the pledge, nor did Toyota, Volkswagen, Hyundai-Kia, and Renault-Nissan. While vehicles are a major source of carbon emissions, the transition to exclusively electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles would demand a revamp of many countries’ energy grids to sustain the significant increase in demand.

Protests and Activism

COP26 galvanised an estimated 100,000 protestors, including indigenous delegations, Extinction Rebellion, and youth campaigners representing climate organisations from all around the world. Many protesters expressed feeling excluded from the talks. The Guardian interviewed protesters on the ground, with one stating, “Yesterday I was talking to Indigenous people from Brazil and they were just being like ‘they’re literally discussing what to do with our lands without us being there,’ so this is really exclusive.”

The Muslim News spoke to Indy Howeth, an activist in attendance at COP26 with Action for the Climate Emergency. Howeth spent the first week protesting in the “green zone” before receiving accreditation to enter the “blue zone” where delegates negotiated.

He expressed a stark contrast in the energy of the zones, with the protesters evoking, “this sense that we’re all in it together and we’re up against a big fight, but we’re not in it alone.” He said of the delegation area, “I felt there was a huge lack of passion in the actual decision-making rooms.” Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg called the COP a “failure” and “a greenwash festival.”

COP26 was closely watched because it was the next major conference since Paris in 2015. Nations were expected to increase their emissions reduction targets and show their commitment to tackling the climate crisis. Instead, it felt like more of the same. The coronavirus pandemic devastated the global economy, and its effects on supply chains and consumer patterns are still being felt. Thunberg’s famous speech called world leaders’ speeches and commitments, “blah blah blah,” and that is what many feel the conference ultimately sounded like.

World leaders patted themselves on the back more for compromising and signing something than doing enough. Most statements about the deal have included caveats because the plan does not go as far as many countries hoped in bringing down carbon emissions to keep temperatures below 1.5C.

In protecting national economies, leaders are willing to take huge risks on the unpredictability of climate outcomes. By protecting industries, they could ultimately create the circumstances that allow for extreme weather events that wipe out economic production.

There are costs that come with cleaning up the devastation that natural disasters wreak. By focusing on creating higher standards of living for people, a well-intentioned goal, complacent leaders may create the conditions that lead to lower standards of living or even death for those who suffer the consequences of the climate disasters that are accepted as inevitable, unless temperatures and emissions are kept low. PM Boris Johnson, at the conference’s outset, released a video speech stating, “In years to come, historians will look back at COP26 as the moment humanity finally got real about climate change.” That is a highly questionable assertion.

Editorial: Glasgow Climate Pact fails to heed disaster warnings

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