Boris Johnson has traveled to Glasgow to catch up on the negotiations for a final package which could limit dangerous climate change.
Boris Johnson will be returning to the COP26 summit tomorrow in an effort to encourage negotiators’ ambitions during the chaotic last few days.
To take stock of discussions regarding a final package to limit climate change, the PM will be traveling to Glasgow.
Johnson is focusing on pledges for ‘coal and cars’, while officials behind-the scenes are pleased with the progress.
Downing Street is hoping the return of the premier will bring more changes and give him credit for making progress.
Alok Sharma (COP26 President) tried to lower expectations, insisting that there was still ‘a mountain’ to climb.
The spokesperson from No10 said that the Prime Minister was going to the summit to speak with negotiators and get an update about the progress of talks. He also encouraged ambitious actions in the final days.
First draft of the “cover decision” will be released overnight. It aims at closing the gap between countries’ actions and the necessary measures to deal with the crisis, in accordance with the Paris Agreement.
This could be a way to accelerate action to reduce greenhouse gasses in this decade, keeping global warming below 1.5C. Countries may also revisit their emission-reduction plans over the coming years.
In order to adapt to climate change, there are likely to be financial moves that increase financing for developing countries.
After new analysis, it will be published. It is a result of plans made by some countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions over the following decade. This would put the world on the right track for warming at 2.4C.
Based on the actions countries actually take, Climate Action Tracker also warned that temperatures could rise to 2.7C in the next century.
In 2015, the Paris Agreement was signed by countries that committed to keeping the temperature rises well below preindustrial levels. They also pledged to continue efforts to reduce them to 1.5C.
However, the Paris agreement did not require countries to take sufficient domestic actions as they promised to make ‘nationally determined contribution’.
The world remains far from its destination despite the requirement that countries return ahead of Cop26 with better plans to action for 2030.
In 2025 the next “ratchet” for increasing ambition in accordance with the Paris Agreement will be set. However, nations are free to make new plans anytime and countries could also plan for action after 2030.
With scientists warning that emissions must be cut by nearly half in the 2020s to curb temperature rises to 1.5C in the long term, leaving further action to the 2030s would mean letting the target slip away – and putting the world at risk of more dangerous sea level rises, storms, droughts, crop damage and floods.
Vulnerable nations are urging countries to submit plans that are consistent with the limiting of temperatures to 1.5C over the next year, and long-term plans to reach the target by 2023. However there has been some resistance from other countries.
The Paris Agreement is still in its final stages of implementation. Negotiators have been working to iron out details about transparency, carbon markets and the common timelines for actions plans.
Although countries pledged at Glasgow to cut methane and phase out coal, it has been questioned how these promises will be kept.
Climate activists dressed in Glasgow as world leaders today, left to right: Fumio Kishida (Japan), Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz (Canada), Boris Johnson (Australia), Scott Morrison (Australia), Jair Bolsonaro (Brazil) and Joe Biden (USA).
Sharma declared that ahead of publication of the draft cover determination, it was now time to reach political consensus in areas where divergence is possible. There are still a few days.
He said, “We’re making progress at Cop26, but there is still a lot to do in the coming days.”
The commitments made collectively go some distance, but it is not enough to keep 1.5C in reach. There has been a reduction in the disparity between ambitions and actual results.
“Now, the world requires confidence that we will immediately shift into implementation, the promises made here will be fulfilled, and the policies will follow quickly.
He stated that the cover decision will likely need negotiating groups to consult their leaders as well as capitals.