As negotiations for a halt to global warming continued late into the evening, Cop26’s climate change discussions were in danger.
World leaders were warned the draft text left the goal of limiting rising temperatures to 1.5C in ‘mortal peril’ as negotiators battled over the final wording.
As countries clashed on fossil fuel policies, Glasgow Summit, originally scheduled for last night, was extended.
Boris Johnson said the goal of the UN conference was to ‘keep 1.5C alive’, but experts warned the current pledges would still let Earth warm up by 2.4C.
World leaders were warned the draft text left the goal of limiting rising temperatures to 1.5C in ‘mortal peril’ as negotiators battled over the final wording. Boris Johnson stated that the goal was to keep 1.5C alive.
The Prime Minister warned: ‘People need to understand that the deal that’s on the table… that is the text.
‘We either find a way of agreeing it or I’m afraid we risk blowing it. That’s the reality.’
He urged leaders to find the ‘courage’ to strike a deal, adding: ‘What we can’t do is stop global warming at Glasgow – we’ve got to accept that. What we can do is keep alive the prospect of restraining the increase in temperatures to 1.5 degrees by the end of the century.’
Scientists believe that limiting warming to 1.5C is essential in order to prevent climate change from causing havoc.
Last night’s draft deal made no progress toward achieving this goal. Progress was slowed by nations like the US, Australia, China and Saudi Arabia.
Although the draft talked of ending the world’s dependence on coal and fossil fuels for the first time, the language was watered down.
Countries were ‘requested’ to strengthen their 2030 targets by next year, when they are expected to meet in Egypt.
A pledge for richer nations to give the poorest £73billion a year to adapt to climate change also appears to have been diluted.
As countries clash over policies regarding fossil fuels, Glasgow Summit, originally scheduled for last night, was extended into extra time
Asked whether the draft met his hopes, climate expert Lord Stern said: ‘It falls short of what one would hope for in the sense of really driving to 1.5C and tackling clean development – but it goes beyond where I thought it might be a few days ago.’
The peer, who led the 2006 Stern Review on the Economics of Climate Change, added: ‘This new text is stronger, has a greater sense of urgency.’
Dr Thomas Hale, associate professor in Public Policy at Oxford’s Blavatnik School of Government, said: ‘We have seen some progress. But we need to see much more next year.’
The issue of how much aid to be given to countries that are most vulnerable, such as islands states, in order for them after climate change has become a major point of contention.