Boris Johnson has returned to the COP26 summit, asking countries to pull out every last bit’ to reach a climate agreement.
After campaigners have criticized the first draft declaration, the PM will attempt to place rocket boosters in the last few days of negotiations.
After being scheduled to fly in, Johnson took the train to Glasgow and will now insist that there is no further delay in the efforts to reduce temperature rises.
Although the premier plans to hold a press conference tonight, there are concerns that it may be eclipsed by the ongoing row about Tory sleaze.
Cop26 has released the first draft of the pact. The document urges countries to increase their emission-cutting efforts for 2020.
They are also required to draft “cover decisions” to establish long-term plans by next year. This will allow them to reduce global warming by 1.5C and reach net zero emissions around mid-century.
The document was released by the UK Cop26 presidency six hours late than anticipated. However, it still has to be completed by all countries participating in the negotiations.
Although the summit ends on Friday, it almost always extends into Saturday amid last-ditch bargaining.
Boris Johnson, who took the train from London to Glasgow to begin the COP26 summit earlier in the day, will insist that there is no further delay in efforts to reduce temperature rises.
Although the summit ends on Friday, it almost always extends into Saturday amid some last-ditch bargaining
The draft says that meeting the goal to limit global warming to 1.5C – which countries pledged to try to pursue under the Paris climate accord – needs meaningful and effective action in ‘this critical decade’.
Scientists have warned that keeping temperature rises to 1.5C, beyond which the worst impacts of climate change will be felt, requires global emissions to be cut by 45 per cent by 2030 and to zero overall by mid-century – but country plans for this decade leave the world well off track for the goal.
In the document, countries are asked to expedite the end of fossil fuel subsidies and coal subsidies, and the developed world is requested to double the amount of climate finance they provide to countries that help them adapt to the climate change. This will be part of the scaling up of money to aid the poorer countries.
Delegations are expected to be in contact with their leaders and capitals to discuss what their position on it will be – particularly in those countries whose leaders did not attend the world leaders’ summit, such as China and Russia.
To help make pledges turn into actions, negotiators also seek to reach agreement on the technical aspects of the Paris Agreement. This includes common timelines for nations to commit to emission reductions, and ways countries can report on progress.
Further discussions are underway to provide finance to developing countries for climate change adaptation and to address the problem of damage to land, people and infrastructure due to global warming.
Before leaving London, Mr Johnson said: ‘Negotiating teams are doing the hard yards in these final days of Cop26 to turn promises into action on climate change.
“There is still so much work to be done. Today, I am meeting ministers and negotiators in order to discuss the progress made so far and how gaps can be closed.
“This is bigger than any country. It is now that nations can put aside their differences and work together for the good of our planet, our people and all life.
“If we want 1.5C to be within our reach, then we need to do all that’s possible.”
Campaigners quickly criticised the draft deal for not being strong enough.
Jennifer Morgan, Greenpeace International’s executive director, said that the draft agreement was not a solution to the climate crisis.
She stated, “It is a polite request for countries to maybe, possibly, increase their efforts next year.”
This comes just as an analysis shows that the world is well on its way to 2.4C warming, based upon current actions taken up until 2030.
Alok Sharma (pictured), worked with various countries to reach a compromise.
Outside the summit at Glasgow, yesterday were protestors dressed up in world leaders
Ms Morgan explained that the goal of the conference was always get 1.5C to be achieved, but this text shows world leaders who are putting it off until next year.
She stated that “if they are able to come up with the best, it is no surprise kids today are furious,” and added that it was necessary for more support in finance and adaptation for countries in developing nations.
The Cop26 conference will mark ‘transport day.’ It includes a variety of goals, such as zero emission vehicles for heavy trucks to be sold in the UK by 2040.
Thirty countries have also agreed to work together to make zero emissions vehicles the new normal, and plans for ‘green shipping corridors’ will be unveiled – facilitating a shift to zero emissions vessels.
A total of 14 nations, which together account for 40% of all global aviation emissions have signed a pledge to meet a new goal to decarbonize.
In Glasgow, the Prime Minister will also be joined by Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary General. He will then meet with heads of other delegations.