COP26 is a United Nations conference that is critical to avoiding the most catastrophic effects of climate change and will be held in the first two weeks of November.
When delegates reviewed the latest draft of the COP26 decision on November 12 (the scheduled last day of talks), here are some quotes from participants and observers:
Grenada Climate Minister Simon Steele
“I believe that if we leave the principles outlined to Glasgow-the key principles of the current text-we can say, I believe that we have gained the most from this COP.”
When asked whether COP26 will maintain the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit), “If the text currently on the table can withstand the blow it may suffer-yes, we will tighten Hold on to our nails”.
Marshall Islands Climate Envoy TINA STEGE
“Loss and damage are too important for us to be satisfied with the seminar. We must strengthen our actions on loss and damage,” she said, referring to calls for action to mitigate the losses and damage caused by climate change.
Bob Ward, London School of Economics
“Calling on countries to phase out unreduced coal power and inefficient fossil fuel subsidies is very important and historically significant. Unreduced coal power emits carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, and all fossil fuel subsidies are inefficient.”
Vanessa Perez-Cirella, Deputy Global Head of WWF
“The revised draft has regressed in key areas. In the face of the climate emergency, we regard the previous text as the absolute bottom line and hope to be stronger and more specific in key areas.”
Notes on the windshield of a Mercedes SUV parked in Glasgow
“Caution: Violation of the climate. In the past ten years, your SUV has been the second leading cause of increased carbon emissions. This is why we disarm your car by deflating one or more tires.”
“You need to take action: get smaller and go to public transportation.”
Greenpeace
“It may be better, it should be better, and we can make it better one day, much better. Now the fingerprint of fossil fuel benefits is still on the text, this is not the breakthrough deal that people hope for in Glasgow. “
“Glasgow negotiators only need to seize the opportunity to reach agreement on some historical issues, but they need to isolate the governments that come here to disrupt progress, and instead listen to the voices of young people and disadvantaged countries.”
Helen Mountford, Vice President of the World Resources Institute.
“Compared to our text two days ago, this is a stronger and more balanced text.”
“We need to see what is immediate, what is established and what it looks like in the end, but it is currently moving in a positive direction.”
Mohamed Nasheed, Former President of the Maldives and Ambassador of the Climate Vulnerability Forum
“Glasgow must be a time when raising ambitions at each COP becomes a continuous process, and this year’s COP decided that it must be mandatory for the annual ambition to increase the platform before 2025 to ensure this.”
NICOLAS GALARZA, Deputy Minister of Environment of Colombia.
“This decade requires action. 2030 feels like the edge of a cliff, and we are running towards it.”
