Glasgow Climate Pact Explained

Glasgow Climate Pact
Date Signed:13 November 2021 [1]
Location Signed:Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom
Parties:197
Depositor:Secretary-General of the United Nations
Languages:English
Wikisource:Glasgow Climate Pact

The Glasgow Climate Pact is an agreement reached at the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26).[2] The pact is the first climate agreement explicitly planning to reduce unabated coal usage. A pledge to "phase out" coal was changed to "phase down" late in negotiation, for coal in India and coal in China and other coal reliant countries.[3] [4]

Development

The pact's main elements were:

Pledges

The number of countries pledged to reach net-zero emissions passed 140. This target includes 90% of current global greenhouse gas emissions.[6]

More than 100 countries, including Brazil, pledged to reverse deforestation by 2030.

More than 40 countries pledged to move away from coal.

India promised to draw half of its energy requirement from renewable sources by 2030.[7]

The governments of 24 developed countries and a group of major car manufacturers including GM, Ford, Volvo, BYD Auto, Jaguar Land Rover and Mercedes-Benz committed to "work towards all sales of new cars and vans being zero emission globally by 2040, and by no later than 2035 in leading markets".[8] [9] Major car manufacturing nations like the US, Germany, China, Japan and South Korea, as well as Volkswagen, Toyota, Peugeot, Honda, Nissan and Hyundai, did not pledge.[10]

Reception

U.N. climate chief Patricia Espinosa stated that she was not happy with the last minute change of language affirmed by members of the Indian and Chinese parties but did say that, "No deal was the worst possible result there. Nobody wins,” stating she was satisfied with the deal overall. “We would have preferred a very clear statement about a phasing out of coal and (the) elimination of fossil fuel subsidies,” Espinosa said, but explained she understands India’s needs.[11]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: FCCC . PA . Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties . 14 November 2021.
  2. News: Rincon. Paul. Paul Rincon. 14 November 2021. COP26: New global climate deal struck in Glasgow. BBC News.
  3. News: Volcovici. Valerie. Abnett. Kate. James. William. 2021-11-14. U.N. climate agreement clinched after late drama over coal. en. Reuters. 2021-11-14.
  4. News: 2021-11-13. Last-minute coal compromise in climate deal disappoints many at COP26. CBC News. The Associated Press. 2021-11-14.
  5. Web site: Is carbon capture too expensive? – Analysis. 2021-11-18. IEA. en-GB.
  6. 2021-11-09. World heading for 2.4C global warming - report. en.
  7. News: India pledges net-zero emissions by 2070 — but also wants to expand coal mining . NPR . 3 November 2021.
  8. News: COP26: Deal to end car emissions by 2040 idles as motor giants refuse to sign . Financial Times . 8 November 2021.
  9. News: COP26: Every carmaker that pledged to stop selling fossil-fuel vehicles by 2040 . CarExpert . 11 November 2021.
  10. News: COP26: Germany fails to sign up to 2040 combustion engine phaseout . Deutsche Welle . 10 November 2021.
  11. News: Avanti . Pedro . UN climate boss: 'Good compromise' beats no deal on warming . 14 November 2021 . The Independent.