COP26 update: the new draft agreement seems to downplay restrictions on fossil fuels

WaterAid criticized the current draft agreement, saying that it “sadly lacks decisive language.”

The global charity stated that although positive steps have been taken, the call to support poorer countries lacks “clear and adequate financial commitments.”

They said that the consequences of doing so will have a real impact on disadvantaged communities that “do not have the luxury of time”.

WaterAid Chief Executive Tim Wainwright said: “Cop26 is an opportunity for rich countries to begin paying their deadly climate debts to poorer countries, but they have yet to materialize.”

“We must prioritize investment in basic services such as climate-resilient water supply systems to help people on the front lines of crisis adapt to the inevitable consequences of today’s climate change.”

Ed Miliband said he welcomes the enhanced draft text in certain areas, but warns that there is still “ambiguity.”

In an interview with BBC Radio 4’s Today program, the Shadow Energy Minister said: “The problem that still exists for me in the text is ambiguity… Paris’s goal is to control global warming well below 2C and try to keep it under control. 1.5C, and there is ambiguity in the text as to whether we come back for the previous goal or the next goal.

“So if possible, this needs to be strengthened.”

Mr. Miliband added that the 1.5C goal “is in fatal danger, and if we want to change the status quo, we will have to do something very different from the previous two years in the next 12 months.”

Greenpeace stated that the new Cop26 draft text released on Friday morning “may be better” and “should be better.”

The document seemed to weaken the language about fossil fuel restrictions and was criticized as a result.

COP26 Chairman’s latest draft proposal calls on countries to speed up the “phasing out the unabated coal power generation and inefficient subsidies for fossil fuels”.

The previous version on Wednesday called on countries to “speed up the phase-out of coal and fossil fuel subsidies.”

Commentators say that increasing “inefficiency” can help countries that want to keep some of their fuel subsidies for the poor while removing subsidies for major fossil fuel benefits.

Jennifer Morgan, the executive director of Greenpeace International, responded to the new draft agreement. He said: “It can be better, it should be better, and we can make it better and better one day.

“Now that the fingerprint of fossil fuel interests still exists on the text, this is not the breakthrough agreement that people hope to reach in Glasgow.

“The key route of phasing out coal and fossil fuel subsidies has been severely weakened, but it still exists and needs to be strengthened again before the end of this summit.

“That will be a big battle, and we need to win this battle.”

On the last day of Cop26, protesters wearing animal masks held a small demonstration in the SEC grounds.

The organization called on world leaders to keep “1.5C within reach.”

Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s chief minister, has said that she “will not invest a lot of money” in the Cop26 negotiations that conclude before 6 pm on Friday.

She said: “I hope we can see progress today, and of course I hope it will end at 6 o’clock tonight.

“Similarly, I would not be surprised to know that it will last until tomorrow.”

Ms. Sturgeon emphasized that overspending in climate negotiations is “not uncommon” and that “if it does happen, no one should read anything in particular.”

When asked whether Boris Johnson should return to Glasgow to see the agreement reached, she said: “If needed, then yes.”

The first minister gave a speech on Sky News.

She said: “I think it is well organized, but the most important thing is of course its political results.”

Ms. Sturgeon also believes that it is positive that the termination of fossil fuel subsidies is still mentioned in the recently announced Cop26 agreement.

She told Kelly, “Everyone thinks this may be a victim of drafts.”

The new draft agreement that may be reached in the Glasgow Cop26 climate negotiations seems to weaken its efforts to curb fossil fuels.

The first draft of the “Coverage Decision” called on countries to “speed up the phase-out of coal and fossil fuel subsidies.”

In a new draft issued on Friday morning, this has become a call for countries to accelerate the transition to clean energy systems, “including the rapid expansion of clean power generation and the phasing out of unabated coal power and the use of fossil fuels. Inefficient subsidies”. .

The mention of fossil fuels is the first time in such a UN decision document, but it is expected to be strongly opposed by some countries.

Alok Sharma released a draft proposal for the Cop26 protocol, which is 46 pages long.

All 197 parties participating in the UN Climate Summit need to sign and agree on the exact wording of the agreement.

More details on the contents of the document will be announced soon.

As the United Nations climate summit entered its scheduled last day, Cop26 Chairman Alok Sharma warned of “the huge challenge before us”.

But Mr. Sharma emphasized: “In general, we have no choice but to meet this challenge and do our best to achieve timely results that we can all be proud of.

“Because in the end, this result, no matter what it is, will belong to all of us.”