What is COP26?Here’s how global climate negotiations work and what to expect from the Glasgow Summit

Sherry Inglis Executive Director of the Center for Human Rights, University of Dayton.

For two weeks in November, world leaders and national negotiators will meet in Scotland to discuss what to do about climate change. It is a complex process that is difficult to understand from the outside, but international law and international institutions can help solve problems that no country can solve on its own.

I have worked for several years at the United Nations as a legal and policy advisor and have been involved in international negotiations. Find out what’s going on behind closed doors and why people are worried COP26 won’t reach its goals.

What is COP26?

In 1992, countries agreed to an international treaty called the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The treaty sets out the ground rules and expectations for global cooperation in the fight against climate change. It was the first time that a majority of countries formally recognized the need to control greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global warming causing climate change.

The convention has since been updated, including in 2015 when countries signed the Paris Climate Agreement. The agreement set the goal of keeping global warming “well below” 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 F), preferably 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 F), to avoid catastrophic climate change.

COP26 stands for the 26th Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC. “Contracting Parties” refers to the 196 states that have ratified the Convention plus the EU. The UK, in partnership with Italy, is hosting her COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland from 31 October 2021 until 12 November, after his one-year postponement due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Why are world leaders paying so much attention to climate change?

The latest report of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, released in August 2021, definitely warmed the earthand climate change is now widespread, rapid, and intensifying.

IPCC scientists explain how climate change has fueled extreme weather and flooding, severe heatwaves and droughts, loss and extinction of species, melting ice sheets and rising sea levels.United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said the report “Code Red for Humanity”.

Enough greenhouse gases are already being emitted into the atmosphere, and even under the most ambitious scenarios of rapidly reducing emissions, the world will experience rising temperatures at least until the middle of this century.

However, the opportunities are still limited. If countries can reduce global emissions to ‘net zero’ by her 2050, warming in the second half of the 21st century could return to below her 1.5°C. The way to approach that direction is what leaders and negotiators are talking about.

What will happen at COP26?

About 120 heads of state and their representatives, including US President Joe Biden, will gather in the first few days of the conference to show their political commitment to slowing down. climate change.

When heads of state leave, national delegations, often led by environment ministers, participate in negotiations, events and exchanges for several days to adopt their positions, make new pledges and participate in new initiatives. These exchanges build on discussions, policy documents and proposals made several months ago by national groups, UN staff and other experts.

Non-governmental organizations and business leaders will also attend the conference. As well as exhibitions and other events, COP26 will be open to the public with sessions focused on topics such as impacts of climate change on small island states, forests and agriculture.

The meeting ends with a result text agreed upon by all countries. Guterres has publicly expressed his disappointment with the outcome of COP25, and there are signs of trouble heading into COP26.

What is COP26 expected to achieve?

Countries are required to update their national climate action plans every five years, including at COP26, under the Paris Agreement. This year they are expected to have his 2030 ambitious target. These are known as Nationally Determined Contributions, or NDCs.

The Paris Agreement requires countries to report their NDCs, but gives them freedom in deciding how to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. Our first emissions reduction target for 2015 was too weak to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

One of COP26’s key goals is to phase these targets up to net zero carbon emissions by mid-century.

Another objective of COP26 is to increase climate finance to help poor countries transition to clean energy and adapt to climate change. This is a key issue of justice for many developing countries, where people bear the greatest burden of climate change, yet contribute the least to it. Rich countries pledged in 2009 to provide $100 billion annually by 2020 to help developing countries, but this goal has not been met. The US, UK and EU, one of her largest greenhouse gas emitters in history, are increasing their financial commitments, prompting banks, corporations, insurers and private investors to do more. You are asked to

Other goals include phasing out coal and creating solutions that protect, restore or regenerate natural carbon sinks such as forests.

Another challenge that has derailed past COPs is agreeing to implement the carbon trading system outlined in the Paris Agreement.

Are countries on track to meet international climate goals?

In September 2021, the United Nations warned that revised national targets were too weak to keep the pace of a global temperature rise of 2.7 C (4.9 F) by the end of the century. But the government faces another challenge this fall that could affect how it responds. Energy supply shortages are driving up the price of natural gas, coal and oil in Europe and China.

China, the world’s largest emitter, has yet to file an NDC. Major fossil fuel producers such as Saudi Arabia, Russia and Australia appear reluctant to step up their commitments. India, a key player as the world’s second largest coal consumer, producer and importer, has also yet to commit.

Other developing countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, South Africa and Mexico are also important.that’s right Brazilwhich Under the watchful eye of Javier Bolsonaroincreased Amazon deforestation — It is the world’s largest rainforest and is important for biodiversity and the removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

What if COP26 fails to meet its goals?

Many insiders believe COP26 will fall short of its goal of getting strong enough commitments from countries to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions by 45% by 2030. A goal to keep warming below 1.5°C.

But organizers say it’s still possible to keep warming below 1.5°C. We hope that this will generate momentum to strengthen our reduction targets.

The cost of failure is astronomical. Studies show that a difference of 1.5 and 2 degrees Celsius can submerge small island nations, kill coral reefs, and reach extreme conditions. heat wavefloods and Forest fireand widespread crop failure.

it translates to many things early deathmore mass movementheavy economic losses, vast uninhabitable lands, violent conflicts over resources and food – what the UN Secretary-General called a “hellish future.”

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