Summary of the first two days of COP 26

Here are the 𝐤𝐞𝐲 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 from day one and two:

𝗚𝟮𝟬 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀’ 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁:

The G20 countries are responsible for around 80% of global greenhouse gas emissions, and 85% of global GDP. The Group of 20’s leaders’ summit ended on the opening day of COP26 with an agreement to end coal financing by the end of the year and to aim to contain global warming to 1.5 degrees celsius. But the final statement lacked firm pledges and failed to put an end date on the actual use of coal. They also pledged to reach a target of net-zero carbon emissions 𝐛𝐲 𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐢𝐝-𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐲, instead of setting a clear date.

𝗔 𝗯𝗶𝗴 𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝘂𝘁 𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗲 𝗲𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀:

Around 100 nations and parties have signed on to a global pledge to cut methane emissions by 30% of 2020 levels by 2030.

𝗟𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗯𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟯𝟬:

124 countries, representing more than 85% of the world’s forests, agreed to end deforestation by 2030. Among the nations taking part in the pledge are Brazil, Canada, Russia, Colombia, Indonesia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which holds some of the world’s most important carbon sinks (forests, oceans, or other natural environments viewed in terms of their ability to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere e.g. the Amazon rainforest in Brazil).

Full list of countries: https://ukcop26.org/glasgow-leaders-declaration-on…/

𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗮’𝘀 𝗡𝗲𝘁 𝗭𝗲𝗿𝗼 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗶𝘀𝗲:

India announced a net-zero emissions target for the first time, pledging it will become carbon neutral by 2070. The 2070 target is a decade later than China’s, and two decades after the world as a whole needs to achieve net-zero emissions in order to avoid temperatures from rising beyond 1.5 degrees celsius as per the Paris Agreement.

𝗔𝗯𝘀𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗕𝗜𝗚 𝗘𝗠𝗜𝗧𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗦:

China (largest emitter of GHG) and Russia (4th largest emitter of GHG) were not present in the COP26 negotiations and aren’t signatory to the methane pledge.

𝗩𝘂𝗹𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽:

The second day of the leaders’ summit saw a number of emotional speeches from leaders of African and small island countries. The Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF), a group that unites the 48 countries most at-risk from climate change, convened a meeting on the second day of COP26, calling on the developed nations to mobilize finance and help the developing nations in transition to green economies and deal with the impacts of rising temperatures.

𝗕𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗮𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗵 𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗢𝗣𝟮𝟲:

Bangladesh has recently submitted an ambitious and updated NDC to UNFCCC. The country has doubled its climate-related expenses in the past seven years and is now in the process of preparing a National Adaptation Plan to tackle climate change. Addressing the Leaders’ Meeting on Action and Solidarity – Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina underscored four points:

The major emitters must submit ambitious NDCs, and implement those.

Developed countries should fulfill their commitments of providing 100 billion dollars annually with a 50:50 balance between adaptation and mitigation.

Developed countries should disseminate clean and green technology at affordable costs to the most vulnerable countries.

The development needs of the CVF countries also need to be considered.

The issue of loss and damage must be addressed, including global sharing of responsibility for climate migrants.

With the world leaders and big names gone, the tough negotiations regarding Climate Finance will begin from day 3, largely behind closed doors.

Over the remaining 10 days, negotiators from nearly 200 countries will discuss what other steps they can take to make further progress on climate change. From Youth Policy Forum, we will try to give regular updates on the developments in COP26.