What is COP26?
COPs (Conference Of the Parties) are annual UN global climate summits bringing together almost every country on Earth. COP26 will be the 26th.
Why is it important?
Many scientists believe COP26 in particular will hold a special importance and urgency for the future of the planet. This is the first summit where countries’ national plans to limit carbon emissions, known as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), will be updated since their development in COP21 – when it was agreed they should be updated every 5 years. Belief that the decade to 2030 is crucial in limiting global warming to 1.5°C gives COP26 even more urgency.
Simply put, COP26 needs to be decisive.
The COP26 summit will bring together leaders/parties from across the globe to accelerate action towards the Paris Agreement and to avert the climate crisis.
COP21 and the Paris Agreement
Taking place in Paris 2015, COP21 was the first time every country agreed to work together to limit global warming to comfortably below 2°C, aiming for 1.5°C. This is known as the Paris Agreement with each country committing to and developing their NDCs. Scientists and climate models project that the current NDCs, plans and environmental policies do not go far enough and would likely lead to more than 3°C of global warming. Significant improvements will be required to get close to the 1.5°C target.
How will COP26 help mitigate warming to 1.5°C?
COP26 has published 4 key goals it hopes to achieve from the summit:
Countries need to set ambitious 2030 emissions reductions targets aligning with the aim to achieve net zero by 2050. Countries need to: accelerate phasing out coal and fossil fuels, stop deforestation, accelerate the switch to electric vehicles and encourage renewable energy investment.
We need to adapt to the already changing climate, so countries need plans to: protect and restore ecosystems and build defences, resilient infrastructure and agricultural systems to guard against the increase in extreme weather events that will result from our warming climate.
To deliver goals 1 and 2, developed countries must see through their promise to mobilise at least $100 billion in climate finance per year in order to secure global net zero.
It is clear that to avert climate change the world needs to work together at COP26 and beyond. At COP26 we need to: finalise the Paris Rulebook (the rules needed to implement the Paris Agreement) and accelerate action to tackle climate change through the collaboration of governments, businesses and civil society.
Key Dates to look out for:
COY16 – 28/10/2021-31/10/2021
The 16th Global Conference of Youth (COY16) will serve as a meeting for young climate leaders. COY16 will culminate in the handover of a ‘Youth Statement’ policy document to be shared during the UN climate negotiations.
G20 Leaders’ Summit – 30/10/2021-31/10/2021
The world’s leading economies will be brought together to address shared challenges. Focusing on recovering from the pandemic and addressing climate change.
COP26 – 31/10/2021-12/11/2021
What we’ve all been waiting for!
Harry Grosvenor – Carbon Charter Assistant, Groundwork East.
