After the major industrialized countries were accused of delaying ambitious new commitments on Monday (November 1), the United Nations meeting was deemed essential to avoid the most catastrophic effects of climate change.
The day before the COP26 meeting in Glasgow, Scotland, the G20 large economies failed to commit to a deadline for halting net carbon emissions in 2050-a sign widely regarded as a condition to prevent the most extreme global warming.
On the contrary, their talks in Rome only recognized the “key relevance” of stopping net emissions “by the middle of this century”, did not set a timetable for phasing out coal in the country, and played down the commitment to reduce methane emissions, another greenhouse gas.
“As global citizens, we urge you to face the climate emergency. Not next year. Not next month. Now,” Swedish activist Greta Thunberg tweeted, asking her millions of followers to sign an open letter accusing the leader of betrayal.
“As global citizens, we urge you to face the climate emergency. Not next year. Not next month. Now.”
Join me and activists around the world and ask leaders to face the climate crisis #COP26
So far, more than 650,000 people have signed it!https://t.co/MJTQHx4FH0-Greta Thunberg (@GretaThunberg) October 31, 2021
Many leaders will take the stage in Glasgow on Monday to defend their climate change record, and in some cases make new promises at the start of the two-week negotiations, the host of the meeting, Britain, was called a success or failure.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson told reporters: “If we want to prevent COP26 from failing, then this situation must change. I must be clear that if Glasgow fails, then the whole thing will fail.”
But fierce quarrels between some of the world’s largest emitters will not make the task easier. US President Joe Biden accused China and Russia of not making recommendations.
“It is disappointing that Russia and… China have basically not made any commitments to address climate change,” Biden told reporters at the G20 that his climate ambitions are facing resistance at home.
According to the official schedule, Chinese President Xi Jinping will speak in a written statement on Monday.
Delayed by a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, COP26’s goal is to control global warming at 1.5 degrees Celsius higher than the pre-industrial level-a level that scientists say will avoid its most devastating consequences.
To this end, the meeting needs to obtain more ambitious emission reduction commitments, lock in billions of climate-related funds, and complete the implementation of the 2015 Paris Agreement rules signed by nearly 200 countries.
Existing commitments to reduce emissions will increase the average temperature of the planet by 2.7 degrees Celsius this century. The United Nations says this will exacerbate the damage already caused by climate change, as storms intensify, exposing more people to deadly heat and floods, and killing coral reefs. And destroy natural habitats.
COVID-19 will make this United Nations climate conference unique because every day 25,000 delegates must wear masks, maintain social distancing and test negative for COVID-19.
Beginning on Monday, world leaders will give two-day speeches, followed by technical negotiations. Any transaction may be concluded hours or even days after the event ends on November 12.
