COP26 - the Glasgow Climate Summit

[GordMay]

What is COP26 - the Glasgow Climate Summit?

Every year, since 1995, the UN has brought together nearly every country in the world, to address climate change, at what is called the “Conference of Parties” (COP).

Last year marked the 26th year of COP, but the global pandemic delayed the gathering, so COP26 is taking place this year from November 1 to 12.
It will bring together more than 20,000 participants, in Glasgow, including heads of state, negotiators, climate experts, business leaders, and citizens.

Simply put, it's the biggest, most important climate conference on the planet, and COP26 has been hailed as "the world's best last chance" to stave off the worst effects of the climate crisis, and “a turning point for humanity”.

In 2015, at COP 21, for the first time, countries agreed to work together to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius, aiming for 1.5 C under the ‘Paris agreement’.

COP26 has four key aims:
- Secure global commitments to net zero emissions by 2050, and keep 1.5 degrees within reach, specifically by taking measures like phasing out coal, switching to electric vehicles and stopping deforestation.
- Adapt to protect communities and natural habitats.
- Mobilize finance to make good on the promise to pool at least $100bn in climate finance per year by 2020.
- Work together to deliver on these goals.

Critics have warned, that current [updated] national pledges, to reduce carbon emissions, will miss climate targets by a long shot. At the moment, we're only 50 per cent closer, than we were two years ago, to being on track for 1.5 degrees, if no more NDC revisions are made, ahead of the Glasgow summit. Pledges to reach the $100 billion in financing, to help developing countries, have also fallen short.

Major emitters, like China, India and Australia*, still haven't submitted updated NDCs ahead of the summit. Current pledges represent a 12 per cent reduction in global emissions, but that still puts the world on track for 2.4 C warming by 2100.

In a nutshell, a successful COP26 will be about making good on promises, made in the 2015 Paris Agreement. It's about making more ambitious moves, to meet climate targets, as early as possible. And it's about having concrete plans of action; [not just words] to get us there.

* Australian comedian Dan Ilic has run satirical ads attacking Australia's climate policy on the world's biggest billboard in Times Square, New York. Ilic initially crowdfunded money for a campaign to purchase billboard space in Glasgow to coincide with the Cop26 climate summit. After exceeding his initial targets, Ilic bought 10 minutes of time on the billboard known as Godzilla and will also run his ads in marginal seats in Australia
➥ https://youtu.be/RXx_z4WG7O8



“COP26: Glasgow 31 Oct - 12 Nov 2021" ~ United Nations Climate Change [UNFCCC]
➥ https://unfccc.int/process-and-meeti...nge-conference

Schedule ➥ https://unfccc.int/sites/default/fil...dule_COP26.pdf

More about ➥ https://unfccc.int/process-and-meeti...oad-to-glasgow




"REthink Energy: Countdown to COP26"“ ~ by The Institute of International and European Affairs [IIEA]
The concept underpinning this series is to provide a platform for thought leadership and cross-sectoral debate on the critical issues in energy policy as the world prepares to meet in Glasgow in November for the major UN climate conference: COP26. Throughout the course of this series, the Institute will convene international thought leaders, renowned energy experts, and political leaders who will evaluate the roadmap to a future of net-zero carbon emissions.
➥ https://www.iiea.com/esb?gclid=EAIaI...iAAEgKnxvD_BwE

The Italy-hosted “Pre-COP” was held in Milan on 30 September-2 October 2021.
➥ https://ukcop26.org/pre-cop/pre-cop-milan/

IISD's Earth Negotiations Bulletin coverage of the Glasgow Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC COP 26) can be accessed
Here ➥ https://enb.iisd.org/Glasgow-Climate...nference-COP26

Some News media reports:

“What to look out for at COP26" ~ The Economist
The UN’s climate summit promises new targets, big bills and plenty of hot air
➥ https://www.economist.com/the-econom...t-for-at-cop26

“COP26: what’s the point of this year’s UN climate summit in Glasgow?” The Conversation
➥ https://theconversation.com/cop26-wh...glasgow-167509

“Research in support of COP26" ~ Nature
➥ https://www.nature.com/collections/hfggdbdcee/

“What is the COP26 climate summit?” ~ New Scientist
➥ https://www.newscientist.com/definition/cop26/

“Looking to Glasgow: A scene-setter ahead of COP26" ~ European Parliament Think Tank
➥ https://www.europarl.europa.eu/think...RI(2021)698752

“What is COP26 and why is it so important? ~ EuroNews
➥ https://www.euronews.com/green/2021/...t-so-important

“China's Xi will not attend COP26 in person, UK PM Johnson told -The Times” ~ Reuters
➥ https://www.reuters.com/business/env...es-2021-10-15/

“Scott Morrison: Australia PM to attend COP26 summit after global pressure” ~ BBC
➥ https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-58907526

“Putin says he may not attend climate summit COP26 over Covid fears” ~ CNBC
➥ https://www.cnbc.com/2021/10/13/russ...end-cop26.html

[boatman61]

To quote a famous critic...
Climate change needs to be addressed blah, blah, blah..
Raise more money through taxes blah, blah, blah...
Green economy blah, blah, blah..
Just Blah, Blah, Blah.!!!

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by GordMay

... In 2015, at COP 21, for the first time, countries agreed to work together to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius, aiming for 1.5 C under the ‘Paris agreement’...l

COP21 - 2015

In undertaking the Paris Agreement, at COP21, 196 governments* agreed to work to keep the world’s average temperature well below rising to 2°C, above what it had been before the industrial revolution, and preferably to keep it rising below 1.5°C.

To keep the global temperature below 1.5°C or 2°C rise, over pre-industrial levels, the Paris Agreement represents a legally binding international treaty, by which each nation sets out its own goals, and plans for reduction of emissions of greenhouse gasses. These goals and plans are called “NDCs”, which stands for Nationally Determined Contributions.

Beginning with COP26, LT-LEDS are also required. “LT-LEDS” stands for Long-Term Low Greenhouse Gas Emission Development Strategies.

Signatories to the Paris Agreement are also bound to develop and report how much greenhouse gas is being produced in their jurisdiction. These reports are called “greenhouse gas inventories” and must be updated every two years.
A final acronym is “ETF”, which stands for Enhanced Transparency Framework, under which participating countries can see what other participants are doing, while having their own actions visible to the rest of the world.

* It’s notable that the number of countries, initially signing up to the Paris Agreement [196], is even more than the number of countries, who are members of the UN [193].

“The Paris Agreement” ~ UNFCCC
About ➥ https://unfccc.int/process-and-meeti...aris-agreement

Text ➥ https://unfccc.int/sites/default/fil..._agreement.pdf

“How do we know? Because IPCC!” ~ Succession, formerly the Tooker Gomberg Greenspiration Fund
“The Graphic Novel Because IPCC” – A True Story from 100 Years in the Future – History and Science of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
➥ https://becauseipcc.thesuccession.ca/
Video ➥ https://becauseipcc.thesuccession.ca...ipcc-the-video

[bgallinger]

Originally Posted by boatman61

To quote a famous critic...
Climate change needs to be addressed blah, blah, blah..
Raise more money through taxes blah, blah, blah...
Green economy blah, blah, blah..
Just Blah, Blah, Blah.!!!

AGREED! Blah, blah, blah

[Lake-Effect]

Originally Posted by bgallinger

AGREED! Blah, blah, blah

When you look at what's probably coming down the pipe, then consider the above sage commentary, it's hard not to be cynical.

But I do understand where such sentiment comes from. And like them, most of us on CF are so old and sufficiently well-off that we won't experience climate change as anything more than occasional bad weather. Sucks to be our kids or grandkids though.

[boatman61]

Funny how the change seems to start with the acceleration of space shots with a multitude of satellites and activities for moon and mars shots, Explorer flights etc..
So many pinpricks in the atmosphere of our fragile blue balloon..

"Since 1970, the Earth’s temperature has raced upwards faster than in any comparable period."

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by boatman61

To quote a famous critic...

Climate change needs to be addressed blah, blah, blah..

Raise more money through taxes blah, blah, blah...

Green economy blah, blah, blah..

Just Blah, Blah, Blah.!!!

Do you suggest we do nothing ?

[GordMay]

Personally, I welcome substantive comments, even those, with which I disagree.
On occasion, I might offer a refutation, when I feel I have contrary evidence, to the 'facts' and opinions expressed.
This results in a "discussion".


However, some post are just a waste of bandwith, to which I suggest we just:

[Lake-Effect]

Originally Posted by GordMay

Personally, I welcome substantive comments, even those, with which I disagree.
On occasion, I might offer a refutation, when I feel I have contrary evidence, to the 'facts' and opinions expressed.
This results in a "discussion".

However, some post are just a waste of bandwith...

Sure, but consider first who's generated and disseminated the CC misinformation that said trolls have weaponized, and then observe that some 40+ % of our North American population are either in agreement with or sympathetic to the deniers. We can choose to ignore them here on CF... but they have had an effect in the world, nonetheless.

(see also: COVID)

[bill352]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

Do you suggest we do nothing ?

I can't speak for boatman61, but the "famous critic" he quotes was pointing out that a great deal needs to be done, and that the participants in COP26 (and the current UN Biodiversity Convention) do nothing but talk. God knows they do a lot of it, but it's still nothing but talk.

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

Do you suggest we do nothing ?

I have never said that, if you have read some of my responses to these "End of the World is Nigh" threads you'd have seen that I am pro "Greening".. but that is restoring the Amazon and African rain forests, restoring the Himalayas, Hindu Kush and other mountain ranges which have been stripped of vegetation resulting in massive erosion and decreasing the amount of fertile silt that used to washed down to the plains.
But nothing constructive will come of COP for the masses.. just a lot of talk about how to blag us and keep growth and profits going for the 1‰ and a bit with the privileged delux 5* shelters well filtered and provisioned to live comfortably.. and another 2* annex for their enforcers.
But real progress.. in your dreams..
Nuclear is the best mass power option, as for the waste.. now space travel is safe enough for 90yr old day trippers it should be safe enough to shoot ships loaded with waste into the sun to burn up.

[bgallinger]

May I suggest some reading as these individuals are knowledgeable in such matters...

https://link.springer.com/article/10...82-021-05913-7

https://www.lomborg.com/

[PippaB]

Originally Posted by GordMay

...It will bring together more than 20,000 participants, in Glasgow, including heads of state, negotiators, climate experts, business leaders, and citizens...

How far will these 20,000 participants travel to participate? Let's say 1000 miles/1600 kilometers each way, 2000/3200 roundtrip (that get's you into central Europe from Glasgow - some will travel a lot less, but many will travel significantly further if they come from anywhere other than Europe, and air is the only practical way to get there from anywhere other than the UK). The ICCT estimates 90g CO2/passenger/kilometer for air travel. 90g*20000pass*3200k/1000g/kg/1000kg/ton = 5760 tons of CO2 for the air travel of those attending the COP26 conference.

If you are in the camp that CO2 emissions are a concern, certainly we can find a better/higher use for 6 kilotons of CO2 emissions?

I'd quote that famous critic and say "blah, blah, blah" as well, but then she is, unfortunately, guilty of the same sins.

[El Pinguino]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

Do you suggest we do nothing ?

We could stop making more people.

Some 'industry leader' just the other day said Australia needs another 2 million immigrants urgently - I don't think so.

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by El Pinguino

We could stop making more people.



Some 'industry leader' just the other day said Australia needs another 2 million immigrants urgently - I don't think so.

What’s leads you to believe “ you don’t think so” Australia is an extremely under populated area.

World population modelling shows peak population by about 2055 , in particular western and developed countries are falling below the replacement rate and are in effect depopulating