Archive news from COP26

By Lucie Halloova on 12 November 17.15

COP26 President Alok Sharma opened the plenary of the last (scheduled) day of the COP26 conference this afternoon. A lot of work remains to be completed, as all parties must agree on the statements in the final cover decision. President Sharma gave the floor to interventions of the parties on key outstanding issues. 

Comments came from key COP26 figures, including EU climate policy chief Frans Timmermans, who said: “We need to make sure major emitters reduce their emissions, so we keep 1.5C alive – that needs to be at the heart of our conclusions today.” The Commission vice president added that COP must send a clear signal about commitment to halt fossil fuel subsidies and finally turn the page on coal. On climate finance, he said that EU is contributing $27bn and is “ready to explore the possibilities for further efforts” – adding that the pool of donors must expand and private finance has to be a part of the equation.

US climate envoy John Kerry argued for urgency in climate action, and reminded delegates that the debate on climate change is neither ideological nor political, but fact-based. And that COP26 is here to follow science, including the reference to 1.5 degrees.

Some negotiators have said that the language in today’s draft decision about “phasing out unabated coal and inefficient fossil fuel subsidies” is not ambitious enough, but Mr Kerry insisted that it should stay as it is, allowing the prospect of cleaner coal use – although his view of subsidies was scathing: “We are struggling each year to find money but $2.5tn in the last 5-6 years went into subsidies for fossil fuel – that’s a definition of insanity.”

Mr Kerry’s attachment to the wording on fossil fuel appears pragmatic, and his approach was seemingly vindicated by the view of a speaker from Saudi Arabia, who said that the draft cover agreement is “something that is workable” and can be “considered”. This statement has surprised many, given Saudi Arabia’s previous stance on fossil fuels. It may be that the language in this morning’s draft will prove enough of a compromise for all sides of the fossil fuel debate to support.

The question of finance for climate action may be tougher to resolve. Many developing nations are unhappy with its treatment in the current draft. A Kenyan representative, who  spoke powerfully about how climate change is devastating Africa, expressed disappointment with the proposed draft cover decision. He said that adaptation finance must be adequate, predictable, new, additional, and accessible – and that novelty, additionality and accessibility is not captured in the current cover decision.

He also noted that “it is not fair that 20 countries that control 80% of the global GDP and contribute to 80% of the global emissions are pushing other countries for more ambition,” and expressed agreement with the statement of the EU that “they must take more responsibility.”

President Sharma closed the plenary after contributions from numerous nations, saying that he and his team had taken careful note of the comments and proposals and that he hoped the parties would be able to find textural solutions for the outstanding issues quickly. He aims to publish clean versions of relevant texts later today for consideration and, ultimately, adoption tonight.

By Laura Sefton on 12 November 12.25

COP26 is scheduled to end at 6pm today. But it is likely that that the negotiations will overrun – COPs almost always do. 
 
We’ve seen many positive commitments by members of the international community over the last few weeks –  a pledge by 190 countries and organisations to phase out coal power; a pledge by 100 countries to end deforestation by 2030; a pledge by 83 countries to cut methane emissions by 30% by 2030 (compared to 2020 outputs); and a surprise announcement by the US and China to cooperate to achieve the 1.5C temperature goal set out in the 2015 Paris Agreement.
 
However, a lot of work remains to be completed. In particular, there is the finalisation of what is known as the ‘cover decision’. This summarises the key points agreed at COP26. It will not be a new international treaty, but it will have international legal force.
 
The cover decision may only be finalised with the complete consensus of all parties. This helps to explain the laborious negotiation process characteristic of COPs, and is why many critics tend to view COP decisions as vague or overcautious. However, the agreement of every nation to the final text does provide legitimacy and encourages compliance. 
 
A new draft of the COP26 cover decision was published early this morning.  A number of key issues are still on the table, including: 

• A call for countries to phase out the use of coal and fossil fuel subsidies. This would be the first reference to phasing out fossil fuels in a COP agreement. The commitment in today’s draft has been softened from that in a draft published on Wednesday – it now refers to the ‘unabated use of coal’ and ‘inefficient’ subsidies, providing scope for governments to reduce, rather than end, their use of coal and fossil fuel subsidies. 
   
• The accelerated submission of national plans to reduce emissions (known as NDCs). Currently, countries are only required to update their NDCs every five years. This is widely deemed inadequate, given the urgency of the climate emergency. The draft “requests” that governments “revisit and strengthen the 2030 targets in their nationally determined contributions as necessary to align with the Paris Agreement temperature goal by the end of 2022, taking into account different national circumstances”. The intention is that they will reconvene at COP27 and take stock, with a view to enhancing their ambitions the following year. 
   
• The strengthening of commitments – particularly financial commitments – to help developing countries, especially those already suffering severely from climate change. COP26 has heard many impassioned calls for increased support from developed nations. The draft cover decision provides for some, beyond the currently promised $100bn per year. However, it fails to address the immediate shortfall in funding – the long-standing pledge of $100bn is not expected to be met until 2023.

The agreement that comes out of COP26 will not achieve a ‘gold standard’ result in all these areas, but each new or enhanced commitment is an important step forward. 

By Sofiya Yerokhina on 12 November 10.30

Collaboration between subnational states is essential to setting and reaching climate targets together. They can share experience and learn from one another to reach climate goals. Yesterday’s COP26 presidency event Climate leadership of subnational actors in the UK and beyond featured Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, showcasing their ambition of helping to limit global warming to 1.5C. 

The Scottish Government has legally committed to a net zero target of 2045, five years ahead of the rest of the UK. This target is among the most ambitious anywhere in the world, with interim goals of 75% emissions reduction by 2030 and 90% by 2040, compared to 1990 levels. According to Scotland’s Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero, Energy and Transport, Michael Matheson: “Scotland is the fastest decarbonising country in G20. We see it as a race, and we should race against each other” but do so in a “collaborative and cooperative fashion.”

In order to achieve the 2030 target, the Scottish Government is focusing on key three things: 

• Decarbonising the energy network – currently 97% of all domestic electricity comes from renewable sources. 
• Changing behaviour – from 31 January, all Scottish residents under the age of 22 will be eligible for free bus travel in an effort to make public transport the number one choice of transport. 
• Creating nature-based solutions for carbon capture and storage – using afforestation and the re-flooding of wetlands to create natural carbon sinks. 

The agri-food sector is a big driver of the Northern Ireland economy. It is also the largest emitting sector, responsible for 27% of greenhouse gases. 

Edwin Poots – NI’s Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs – highlighted that one of the biggest problems is methane emitted from cattle and how it can be captured. Smart cattle nose-rings,  which can capture up to 50% of methane being released, are one method. Methane can also be captured from cow manure through anaerobic digestion. Biomethane, which is produced by this method, can be used to power lorries and heat houses. 

About 50% of Northern Ireland's electricity is already generated from renewables but clearly, given the Scottish example, there is significant room for improvement. Moving forward, hydrogen is considered a key fuel for heating homes and for powering lorries, public transport, industrial vehicles and, ultimately, cars. 

Transport generates around 17% of all emissions in Wales. In an effort to address this, all new road-building projects are being halted while the Welsh Government conducts a review. The Government would like to shift money from new roads to maintaining existing routes and investing in public transport. It was noted that this scheme is “politically difficult”, with some communities hostile to the idea. However, the transport problem must be confronted if Wales is to reach the target of net zero emissions by 2050.

By Natasha Kenber on 12 November 09.30

Efficiency, resilience and adaptation were at the centre of yesterday afternoon’s Presidency event: Ministers and Mayors on Buildings as a Critical Climate Solution.
 
Moderated by Cassie Sutherland of C40 Cities, the event explored the role of local government in achieving a zero emission built environment. Panellists reiterated the need for national, local and intercity collaboration. While public procurement can push change, real change requires collaboration between the public and private sectors. 
 
We heard first from Patrick Harvie, Scotland’s Minister for Zero Carbon Buildings, Active Travel and Tenants’ Rights. He spoke about Scotland’s target to cut greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2045 – five years ahead of the date set by the UK as a whole. 
 
Heating, and the heating of homes in particular, makes up a significant percentage of emissions in Scotland. This has driven the Scottish government to publish its Heat in Buildings Strategy and commit £1.6bn in capital funding to achieve energy efficiency and zero carbon heating in Scotland’s buildings. Indeed, on finishing his keynote speech, the minister had to rush to the Buildings Pavilion for the launch of the Clean Heat Forum, an initiative that unites national governments and the private sector to decarbonise heating. 
 
Felipe Ward, the Chilean Minister of Housing and Urban Planning, detailed Chile’s commitments to reducing carbon emissions in the built environment. These include refitting 36,000 homes per year, implementing new standards for thermal insulation and green roofs, and reducing emissions in the construction sector.
 
Clean construction opens a new future of opportunity for cities. This was the key takeaway from Marina Robles, Mexico City’s Secretary of the Environment. As a signatory to the C40, Mexico City is committed to progressing the drive towards clean construction by pushing for more recycling of construction waste and introducing a focus on nature in the built environment. In various parts of Mexico City, recycled construction materials are being given new life in innovative building projects. 
 
This theme of utilising the resources already in our cities was echoed by Krista Mikkonen, Finland’s Minister of the Environment and Climate Change. To achieve carbon neutrality, the whole life cycle of a building’s emissions needs to be considered. 
 
Finland has set an ambitious target to be carbon neutral by 2035. Built environment policy will be key in this, with a new land use and building act being prepared which will cover, for example, biodiversity in the built environment, low carbon construction, and carbon footprint limits for buildings.
 
Carlos Eduardo Correa Escaf, Colombia’s Minister of the Environment and Sustainable Development, emphasised the role that municipal leaders have in incorporating their citizens’ vision and concerns in carbon neutral strategies. Making cities more resilient to the impact of climate change is imperative.  
 
Clean construction was the focus for Oslo’s Vice Mayor for Environment and Mobility, Sirin Hellvin Stav. She detailed the exciting developments in Oslo that have been achieved through a collaboration with C40 Cities. Joint goals of demolishing less, rehabilitating more and using clean construction are being reached with emission-free construction machinery – which has the added benefit of reducing noise and air pollution. 

By Cheryl Gurnham on 11 November 18.00

One discussion in the Green Zone at today’s COP26 was around the role that cities have in climate action. Glasgow City Councillor Richard Bell commented on how there are really two COPs – one happening in the Blue Zone, where the large state-level discussions take place, and the other happening in the rest of Glasgow, in the Green Zone and elsewhere. He thought that the discussions in the Green Zone were particularly exciting and dynamic, with so many people discussing a way forward. 

In particular, it was an opportunity for private finance to say what cities need to do better in order to attract investment. But it was also an opportunity for cities to shout about the areas where they need investment. Carolina Urrutia Vásquez, Bogotá’s Secretary of the Environment, added that, as a result of the discussions at COP26, national governments are realising that they need to listen to cities, as they have such an important role in combating climate change. She saw real business opportunities opening up, with fewer accusations of greenwashing. She also made an important plea for biodiversity in cities not to be forgotten.

By Breezy White on 11 November 15.45

The surprise joint declaration yesterday evening by the US and China set the tone for the opening of Day 12 of COP26, which focused on the need for deep collaboration in order to create tangible climate action, particularly in the Built Environment.
The challenge the sector must overcome is significant. Buildings and construction account for 40% of global carbon emissions, of which a quarter comes from construction materials. Yet despite this colossal footprint, the Built Environment has slipped from the COP agenda in recent years, last appearing on a world stage at COP21. 

Inger Anderson, Under-Secretary-General of the UN and Executive Director of the UK Environment Programme, stressed that the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) submitted at COP26 are too vague and weak, with current NDCs only set to achieve a reduction of 7.8% in global carbon emissions by 2030, versus the 50% reduction needed. 

Anderson stated that while 2020 had seen energy-efficient investments increase by 11%, most of the increase could be attributed to a handful of countries. For every $1 invested in energy efficiency in buildings, $37 is invested in conventional energy-inefficient buildings. Yet the potential socio-economic benefits of green investment in the sector are impressive, with 9-30 jobs created for every $1m invested in energy-efficient renovation and new construction. 

Capital partners are increasingly looking for investments where there is strong consideration of the whole carbon lifecycle of an asset, and particularly net zero buildings. Mary Nicholson, Head of Responsible Investment at Macquarie Asset Management, highlighted the importance of ensuring businesses are climate resilient, particularly that old and new stock are capable of withstanding the effects of climate change. Collaboration from capital partners will be crucial, with an increase in capital flow of $27bn needed over the next decade to realise sustainable building requirements. 

Neil Martin, CEO Europe at Lendlease, warned of the underappreciated threat presented by scope 3 emissions. Scope 3 emissions are those produced by the materials and products used in the Built Environment and the energy used by occupiers and tenants. 

Martin stated that the need for deep collaboration was even more acute in order to tackle scope 3 emissions. Lendlease has seen impressive progress in this regard, being both the first from the Built Environment to sign up to the Responsible Steel initiative and a founding member of Steel Zero. Both initiatives are looking to change how the industry produces steel to move to a lower carbon model.  

The moderator of the morning session, Dame Jo de Silva, Global Director of Sustainable Development at ARUP, emphasised that that all stakeholders across the value chain of the Built Environment have crucial roles to play in working together to take the action necessary to deliver on the Paris Agreement, and called for collaboration across what has been a traditionally fragmented and siloed sector. 

Mary Nicholson echoed this in her closing remarks, highlighting that partnership must become the new leadership if the sector is to achieve its 2030 and 2050 goals. 

By Brooke Nisbet on 11 November 15.25

The topic of construction formed part of this morning’s Green Zone session on The Built Environment.  The event was co-chaired by Andy Mitchell (Construction Leadership Council co-chair) and Sarah Linnell (a young industry professional), who spoke with a number of industry leaders about paving the way to net zero.

In an effort to curb the 13.6bn tonnes of carbon produced by buildings each year, engineers are moving toward a textile-based method of building where the textiles used are derived from renewable sources such as timber. Pressure is mounting on members of the industry to understand and influence the customer when they are making textile decisions in the planning process. 

However, 80% of existing buildings will still be here in 2050, so it should also be a priority to retrospectively decarbonise these. This will have social and environmental gains in terms of improving health, safety and comfort in homes and offices.

Of course, there are barriers in enabling such vast change, such as differing building standards, protected buildings, cost and cultural change.  In relation to cost, Richard Robinson of Atkins UK & Europe suggested that the solution is to make carbon visible, using data specifically from building operations and building construction. This way we can base solid planning on the successes and failures of the construction industry without the delay that other solutions would cause.  

The speakers highlighted that both strategic and day-to-day decisions are vital for progress towards the 2050 goal. Strategic decisions include initiatives such as the Construction Industry Council’s partnership with the government to create an action plan to refurbish thousands of homes across the country with energy from renewable sources. 

Day-to-day decisions may be more immediately tangible, such as Keltbray’s decision – highlighted by its Group CEO Darren Jones – to offer clients the option of using reduced-carbon concrete. Concrete is a major contributor to climate change.  In fact, if the concrete industry was a country, it would be third in the international league table for carbon emissions.  

Carbon-free solutions are being engineered, and it is up to the industry to implement them. As Darren Jones said: “If you’re an asset owner, insist on it. If you’re a client, insist on it. If you’re a designer, specify it. If you’re a quantity surveyor or a cost consultant, price it into the job. If you are a supplier, make it available. And if you’re a contractor, use it.”

By Jessica Lee on 11 November 12.45

Thursday morning saw a COP26 Green Zone panel on how buildings will play a role in climate change. 

With buildings contributing to around 40% of emissions, panellists agreed that it is imperative to foster a wider understanding of how our infrastructure and buildings can be adapted to combat climate change.

Educating younger generations is key. The development of passive housing will be pivotal in demonstrating to young people that we can live comfortably yet sustainably. It was also acknowledged that many architects, builders and engineers could benefit from more in-depth training on climate change and sustainability – for example, on the benefits of sustaining the life of buildings to avoid demolition.

A key speaker in today’s event was Scott Foster, the Director for Sustainable Energy at the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, who touched on concepts that could change the future of construction and provide sustainable building practices.

One of these was the creation of high-performance buildings which can contribute positively to the environment – delivering quality of life, comfort, health, affordability, efficiency and sustainability. Key components in the creation of high-performance buildings include:

• A building’s envelope (materials, design, construction)
• Its systems (HVAC, plug-ins)
• Its energy source (on-site/off-site)
• ICT (smart connect + monitor)
• Mobility (city-design, low-c mobility)
• Services (food, water, waste)

The session also included a presentation from Scott Foster on UNECE’s High-Performance Building Initiative. The initiative consists of four bodies which all contribute to the model:

• The International Centres of Excellence – a network of centres engaging with the construction community to discuss how positive contributions to the environment can be made.
• The High-Level Strategy Group – a body of gurus helping to develop a UN protocol on buildings and sustainability.
• The Global Research Consortium – universities looking at research and education to inform young people about buildings and the climate.
• The Industry Leadership Group – calling on companies to prove concepts about construction and efficiency. 

The aim of the initiative is to support the transition of the construction industry towards becoming more sustainable and efficient. More information can be found on UNECE’s website. 

By Sara Keag on 11 November 12.10

The opening Green Zone panel for Built Environment day, led by Poppy Potter of the Carbon Trust, focused on how cities have a responsibility for leading the way in implementing climate adaptation strategies, by taking on a more ambitious role in reaching the goal of net zero. 

First up was Lee Waters, Wales’ Deputy Minister for Climate Change, who spoke passionately about the Welsh government’s focus on critical climate issues, referencing the important implementation of the Well-being of Future Generations Act, the first of its kind, which requires public bodies in Wales to think about the long-term impact of their decisions, to work better with people, communities and each other, and to prevent persistent problems such as poverty, health inequalities and climate change.

The Welsh government has also set up a Climate Change department to drive driving change, with a focus on short-term strategies for delivery. Three recent areas of focus have been a review of all road schemes, halting any where work was yet to start; the identification of ‘road blocks’ in the way of progress (e.g. the reasons for delay in planting trees); and scaling up renewable energy in communities.  

Alison Gowman, Alderman and Sheriff for the City of London Corporation, covered the City’s history of embracing sustainability and its ambitious net zero targets of 2027 (scope 1 and 2) and 2040 (scope 3). Partnerships with City-based financial institutions are key. The corporation has also collaborated with the Greater London Authority, the Mayor of London and the London boroughs to implement changes to planning regulations (e.g. smarter buildings, green roofs) and investment into open spaces. 

Hot of the press was Guadalajara’s UN award for its climate change action plan. Mario Ramón Silva Rodríguez, General Director of the Instituto Metropolitano de Planeación Área Metropolitana de Guadalajara, talked about the challenges involved in coordinating climate change efforts across a metropolis, and in using support from C40 to summon the effort and participation required to align targets at a political level and to use public/private partnerships to help finance actions. 

Lu Sun, Head of Climate Action Planning for C40 Cities, finished by reminding us that half the world’s population live in cities, and that cities account for two-thirds of all energy consumption, and more than 70% of carbon emissions.

Cities are both the source and the victim of the climate crisis. They are also where change happens first. If a city has a plan it is three times more likely to be taking climate action. 

China has 19 of the world’s hundred largest cities. C40 is helping Chinese cities frame their plans around ambitious targets, resilience to target hazards, inclusivity and benefits, and Governance and collaboration.

The panel concluded by focusing on measurement. Systems need to be in place to quantify change against strategy, whether that is comparison against science-based targets, or including specific deliverables within financial fund management. This is the way to drive and achieve earlier milestones. 

By Nicholas Carroll on 10 November 17:30

The issue of maritime decarbonisation is a central topic at today’s COP26 Transport Day. Maritime transport accounts for a significant majority of global freight: ships carry around 80% of world trade by volume and around 70% by value. But it is far from being a low carbon form of transportation.

In the UK for example, even though shipping is one of the more carbon-efficient methods of transporting freight, as highlighted in the UK’s Transport Decarbonisation Plan, the domestic maritime sector emits more greenhouse gases than the UK’s trains and buses combined. (International shipping emissions are not included in the UK data.)

One of the key headlines from COP26 today is the UK’s announcement that 19 countries, including the US, France and Canada, have signed up to the Clydebank Declaration. Signatories to the declaration intend to establish a series of green shipping corridors – zero-emission shipping routes between two ports. The initial aim is to establish at least six green corridors by 2025, with “many more” to follow by 2030. 

A green corridor will be a route on which the relevant government or governments have worked with ports, operators and others to achieve decarbonistion. The participation of ports and operators is expected to be voluntary, and there will be no requirement for all vessels using a green corridor to be zero-emission, or even to participate in the scheme. 

At the COP 26 International Maritime Hub (IMH), discussions are well underway on the role that innovative technologies, strategies and future maritime fuels will play in helping the industry reach net zero. It is clear that more has to be done to make alternative fuels commercially feasible, which will require innovation in all sections of the value chain, including fuel production, bunkering infrastructure, vessel design and fuel storage systems.

Elsewhere at the IMH, presentations focused on the systemic changes required to make maritime contracts fit for a net carbon future. At present, the industry is fragmented – the bilateral nature of most maritime contracts feature little collaboration and largely hark back to the eras of wind and steam. Decarbonisation depends on holistic industry collaboration.

Proposed solutions include embodying decarbonisation within maritime contracts, replacing speed and consumption warranties with emissions warranties, and introducing the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (which would require shipping companies to purchase CO2 allowances to cover CO2 emissions when travelling between EU member state ports, and also half of the CO2 emitted when sailing to or from the EU).

By Celine Skinner on 10 November 16:01

Today’s COP26 headlines are dominated by the COP26 ‘final decision’ drafts, issued by the UK Presidency in early this morning. The drafts had been expected at midnight but, in what may be an indication of intense late night negotiation, were released just before 6am.

There are two drafts (CP.26 and CMA.3), which represent respectively the position of the COP and of the parties to the Paris Agreement. (What we all refer to as ‘COP26’ is technically the twenty-sixth session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the sixteenth session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol, the third session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement and the sessions of the subsidiary bodies!)

The drafts are the same in many places, but the CMA draft representing the parties to the Paris Agreement is longer and is the one on which public attention is focused.

The CMA draft expresses “alarm and concern” that human activities have already caused around 1.1C of global warming and stresses the great urgency and requirement for “increased ambition and action in relation to mitigation, adaptation and finance” at this critical point. It also says that in order to limit global warming, “rapid, deep and sustained reductions” in global emissions are required.

A call to phase out coal is included, although critics highlight that no clear dates or targets are set. There is also a push for countries that have not yet communicated their long-term low greenhouse gas emission development strategies in accordance with the Paris Agreement to comply. 

There are some notable square brackets in the draft, including placeholders relating to the completion of the Paris Rulebook and enhanced transparency framework reporting 
requirements. This may suggest that delegates are still deeply divided on these issues. Final agreement of the rulebook will require a common position on carbon markets and how nations verify and report their emissions. Both are deeply important for climate change mitigation, and obtaining agreement on the rulebook had been one of the key aims of the UK Presidency.

One of the biggest talking points at COP26 has been the fact that developed countries have not provided enough financial support to help developing nations tackle climate change – or even come up with the annual $100bn that they had pledged to put in place by 2020. The draft decision calls for developed countries to “at least double their collective provision of climate finance”. 

The draft decision has been criticised for vagueness, and for “urging” rather than mandating some important measures. But the final decision must be consensual, and some governments will be reluctant to agree firmer language. Advocates for the draft believe it includes some genuinely important steps towards stronger climate action. European Commission vice-president Franz Timmermans, for example, has argued that the “clear intention” of the draft to close the gap in emissions cuts needed to keep 1.5C alive within a year is extremely important.

The final decision is due to be published on Friday, but there are rumours that it could be delayed, with some delegates expecting publication on Saturday or even Sunday. It would hardly be the first time a COP had overrun. COP25 in Madrid, for example, ended two days late – and most of the delegates in Glasgow are hoping for a much stronger final decision than COP25’s.

By Hanna Rannikmae on 10 November 14:17

Continuing on the theme of zero emission vehicles, various governments, businesses and other organisations today committed to rapidly accelerating the transition to zero emission cars and vans to help achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement.

The new declaration on accelerating the transition to 100% zero emission cars and vans has a target of making all sales of new cars and vans zero emission by 2035 in leading markets and by 2040 worldwide. The signatories have also committed to “support efforts to achieve the road transport breakthrough announced by world leaders, which aims to make zero emission vehicles the new normal by making them accessible, affordable and sustainable in all regions by 2030.”

Over 30 national governments – and numerous cities, states and regional governments – have signed the declaration, as have automotive manufacturers including Ford, General Motors, Jaguar Land Rover, Mercedes-Benz and Volvo, and other interested parties, including a number of investors. But several big car manufacturers have not signed. Nor have the governments of the world’s three largest automotive markets: China, the US and Japan.

In the aviation sector, the signatories of the new declaration on the International Aviation Climate Ambition Coalition – including the UK, the US, Canada, Turkey, France and Spain – have recognised that, despite the impact of Covid-19 on international aviation, the number of global air passengers is still expected to increase significantly over the next 30 years, as is the volume of cargo. The signatories have therefore committed to working together through the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and other cooperative initiatives towards reducing aviation CO2 emissions at a rate consistent with efforts to limit the global average temperature increase to 1.5°C.

The work to be done through ICAO will include the preparation of up-to-date state action plans well in advance of the 41st ICAO Assembly in 2022, detailing ambitious and concrete national action to reduce aviation emissions. The signatories have also pledged to ensure the maximum effectiveness of the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation and to promote the development and deployment of sustainable aviation fuels and new low- and zero-carbon aircraft technologies.

By Celine Skinner on 10 November at 12:55

Transport Day at COP26 will see the conference delve into how we can shift to zero emissions vehicles in order to reduce the climate impact of one of the world’s most polluting sectors.

The UK started the day by confirming that all new heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) in the UK will be zero emission by 2040. According to the government’s Transport and Environment Statistics report, domestic transport (excluding international aviation) accounted for 27% of the UK’s emissions in 2019, with nearly one-fifth of those emissions coming from HGVs.

The government’s pledge states that sales of new non-zero emission HGVs weighing 26 tonnes or less will be phased out by 2035, and that all new HGVs sold in the UK will be completely zero emission by 2040. The UK is the first country in the world to make such a commitment.

This, combined with the government’s previous announcement that the UK will end the sale of new internal combustion engine cars and vans by 2030, sets an ambitious target for the UK’s transport industry.

In line with these commitments, the UK government has revealed a new design for electric vehicle chargepoints. The concept for these new chargepoints prioritises ease of use and will provide greater choice to the industry, whilst helping the UK build a much more affordable charging network to support its transition to electric vehicles.

By Val Dougan and Emily Pepper on 10 November at 11:10

Gender and climate change was one of yesterday’s themes at COP26. Climate change disproportionately affects women. Across the globe, they are more likely than men to face poverty and have less access to human rights, education and resources. As the IMF point outs, it is a great injustice that those who have contributed the least to climate change are the ones most affected by it.

A Tuesday morning Green Zone session on securing a ‘pathway to a gender just transition’ presented an international perspective on the challenges that women in different countries and different communities face. Facilitated by Dunja Krause of the United Nations Research Institute on Social Development and Melissa Moreano from The Critical Geography Collective, panellists discussed the impact that gender has on climate change, and how women need to be heard as we move towards more sustainable ways of working across different economies across the world.

A feminist just transition could involve dialogue with the International Labour Organization and a greater recognition of the different types of labour that exist, acknowledging that not all work is in paid employment. A move towards a caring economy was mentioned, and also the view that a truly just transition should be inclusive to all workers – for example, men who may have been in the majority in the fossil fuel industries should not be sidelined, so that there is common ground in terms of tackling injustice.

We also heard about minority communities that have been disproportionately impacted by climate change matters and addressing injustices caused by climate change. An obvious injustice is the impact on women in communities dependent on sectors such as agriculture, fishing and fashion, which are heavily affected by climate change itself (as well as by steps to tackle climate change). ILO figures were discussed with over 60% of working women in Southern Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa work in agriculture, which is often unpaid or poorly paid. 

A number of international speakers highlighted inequalities for women resulting from climate change. Kavindu Ediriweera of the Slycan Trust referenced women working in the struggling agriculture sector in Sri Lanka who have been forced to move from rural locations into cities to pursue jobs in sectors such as fashion, often with minimal rights.

Women in informal or rural sectors may have relevant knowledge but often haven’t tapped their potential to influence climate change matters in their communities. International work is driving some changes from a community level upwards, but this is a long-term project. In the short term, consumers (who are often women in charge of households) can drive demand for products with a lower environmental impact through their buying choices. Education is a key long-term tool here, although access to education is itself an area of gender inequality.

Gender inequality is not a new topic, but this session offered an important perspective, highlighting it as a global issue which cannot be excluded from the climate change agenda.

By John Craske on 9 November at 19:10

While Tuesday is the official COP26 Science and Innovation day, many scientific initiatives were launched during the first week of the conference, or even earlier, including Mission Innovation, the Adaptation Research Alliance and the UK’s Climate  Adaptation and Resilience research programme.
 
Nevertheless, the day has seen a number of new announcements, including a commitment from 42 countries to reduce global healthcare emissions. 
 
There was also an agreement on how the Breakthrough Agenda announced by World Leaders on 2 November will be supported. A new ‘Global Checkpoint Process’ will strengthen international cooperation across emitting sectors. Independent experts led by the International Energy Agency, together with the International Renewable Energy Agency and the UN High Level Climate Action Champions, will produce an annual report to track progress and advise on action, enabling countries to discuss how they can work together to make faster progress. 
 
Led jointly by India and the UK, the Industrial Deep Decarbonisation Initiative is a global coalition of public and private organisations working to stimulate demand for low carbon industrial materials. It launched a campaign today to commit to:

• the disclosure of embodied carbon of major public construction by no later than 2025;
• achieve net zero in major public construction steel and concrete by 2050; and
• work towards an emission reduction for 2030, to be announced next year. 

The UK COP26 Presidency, in partnership with Italy, has announced a “new global partnership to leverage the power of science and innovation to address key challenges blocking the path to a climate-resilient, net zero future”. The partnership will bring together nations to pool scientific expertise and develop new ways to bring citizen voices into policy making, with a series of region-led projects tackling specific net zero challenges.
 
Away from COP26, the day also brought news of the public-private funding secured by Rolls-Royce for the development of small modular nuclear reactors in the UK, to generate cleaner energy. This may prove to be a significant step in the UK’s transition to a lower carbon economy.
 
But the biggest scientific news of the day came out of Germany, from where the highly respected Climate Action Tracker (CAT) published its latest report. It warns that the short-term targets set out at COP26 could see temperatures rise by 2.4C before the end of the century – a “appalling outlook” much higher than estimates of 1.8C and 1.9C that were circulating at COP26 last week, and almost unimaginably higher than the toughest Paris goal of 1.5C.
 
CAT’s worst case scenario – for “real world action based on current policies” – envisages an even higher rise of 2.7C. Its most optimistic scenario would see a rise of 1.8-1.9C – but this would require the full achievement of all targets announced to date (including net zero targets, LTSs and NDCs). 
 
While its conclusions are hardly welcome, the report reminds us forcefully of the value of independent and robust science in assessing our efforts to tackle climate change. As CAT makes clear, unless we greatly strengthen and accelerate those efforts, future generations will say we failed.

By John Craske on 9 November at 19:10

While Tuesday is the official COP26 Science and Innovation day, many scientific initiatives were launched during the first week of the conference, or even earlier, including Mission Innovation, the Adaptation Research Alliance and the UK’s Climate  Adaptation and Resilience research programme.
 
Nevertheless, the day has seen a number of new announcements, including a commitment from 42 countries to reduce global healthcare emissions. 
 
There was also an agreement on how the Breakthrough Agenda announced by World Leaders on 2 November will be supported. A new ‘Global Checkpoint Process’ will strengthen international cooperation across emitting sectors. Independent experts led by the International Energy Agency, together with the International Renewable Energy Agency and the UN High Level Climate Action Champions, will produce an annual report to track progress and advise on action, enabling countries to discuss how they can work together to make faster progress. 
 
Led jointly by India and the UK, the Industrial Deep Decarbonisation Initiative is a global coalition of public and private organisations working to stimulate demand for low carbon industrial materials. It launched a campaign today to commit to:

• the disclosure of embodied carbon of major public construction by no later than 2025;
• achieve net zero in major public construction steel and concrete by 2050; and
• work towards an emission reduction for 2030, to be announced next year. 

The UK COP26 Presidency, in partnership with Italy, has announced a “new global partnership to leverage the power of science and innovation to address key challenges blocking the path to a climate-resilient, net zero future”. The partnership will bring together nations to pool scientific expertise and develop new ways to bring citizen voices into policy making, with a series of region-led projects tackling specific net zero challenges.
 
Away from COP26, the day also brought news of the public-private funding secured by Rolls-Royce for the development of small modular nuclear reactors in the UK, to generate cleaner energy. This may prove to be a significant step in the UK’s transition to a lower carbon economy.
 
But the biggest scientific news of the day came out of Germany, from where the highly respected Climate Action Tracker (CAT) published its latest report. It warns that the short-term targets set out at COP26 could see temperatures rise by 2.4C before the end of the century – a “appalling outlook” much higher than estimates of 1.8C and 1.9C that were circulating at COP26 last week, and almost unimaginably higher than the toughest Paris goal of 1.5C.
 
CAT’s worst case scenario – for “real world action based on current policies” – envisages an even higher rise of 2.7C. Its most optimistic scenario would see a rise of 1.8-1.9C – but this would require the full achievement of all targets announced to date (including net zero targets, LTSs and NDCs). 
 
While its conclusions are hardly welcome, the report reminds us forcefully of the value of independent and robust science in assessing our efforts to tackle climate change. As CAT makes clear, unless we greatly strengthen and accelerate those efforts, future generations will say we failed.

By Erin Crawley on 9 November at 17.20

The COP26 Science and Technology Day opened this morning with the ‘Science behind COP’ press conference, where we heard from Sir Patrick Vallance, the UK Government Chief Scientific Adviser; Mona Nemer, Canada’s Chief Science Advisor; and astronaut Tim Peake. 

The recent IPCC reports are clear that we must ‘follow the science’ to prevent the earth’s temperature from increasing by more than 1.5C. And we can learn a lot from scientific missions to space, which push the boundaries of technology and engineering. Tim Peake cited the International Space Station as an interesting example of effective collaboration, and how humans can work together on a mission to reach a common goal. 

These lessons should be brought back to earth. Sir Patrick and Mona Nemer agreed that science will be crucial in achieving our mission, but we need pledges to be followed by plans, which need to be actioned. Monitoring is also going to be paramount, to ensure that we are mitigating and adapting effectively, to prevent the irreversible effects of climate change. And as Tim Peake reminded us, space and satellite technology is vital for that: “Almost 50% of all our climate data comes from space – we need space to be a finger on the pulse of the planet.” 

By John Craske on 9 November at 10.00

Why are COP26 delegates discussing Science and Innovation today?

We need science to help us measure and hold everyone to account. That’s not to say that everything that matters can be measured, but measurement can help to bring focus, drive behaviours and target investment to where it will have the biggest impact. Science-based targets are key to recognising the impact we are having and setting ourselves the ambitious goals we need to limit global warming. This is true for governments, businesses and individuals. Lots of businesses (including CMS UK and many of our clients and competitors) have committed to achieving net zero using science-based targets to measure progress.

Of course, using science to highlight and measure the scale of the problem isn’t enough – we need our scientists to help us find and develop new solutions. In the COP26 news today we should expect discussion about targets, and commitments from more countries on the vision for 2050; commitments to develop climate-resilient low carbon systems (for example in health); sector specific initiatives; and agreements on how public-private alliances (such as those being created by Mission Innovation) can help drive new developments.

Innovation is also a mindset – changing our perspective to look for ways to do thing better. A drive to find solutions. If the global Covid pandemic has shown us anything is that where there is a political will and money, then solutions follow – vaccines and new antiviral treatments have been developed at record speed. If we can harness the same political will and energy (and money) to develop solutions to climate change then we can make a real difference. But the example of vaccine rollout also highlights a key issue for governments at COP26: how do we make sure that the benefits of science and innovation are shared globally and fairly?

By Alison Hetherington on 9 November at 10.00

COP26 yesterday saw the launch of a new incarnation of the UNFCCC Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action, which brings together fashion brands, manufacturers, suppliers, consumers and policymakers to address the climate crisis. 

Central to the new iteration of the charter are:

• A call for companies to set science-based targets or to halve their emissions by 2030, with a pledge to achieve net zero emissions by no later than 2050. The previous target was a 30% cut by 2030.
• Sourcing all electricity from renewable sources by 2030.
• Sourcing environmentally friendly raw materials and phasing out coal from supply chains by 2030.
• Asking all signatories to incentivise their suppliers to adopt science-based targets by 2025, as most of a typical brand’s climate footprint is in its supply chain.

The event highlighted the need to align fashion communication to the Paris agreement goals, promoting lifestyles and values that will help limit global warming. Speakers discussed the ‘big mind change’ they are seeing, as young people within the industry – as well as suppliers, retailers and consumers – become more climate-conscious.

Lots of challenges are ahead, ranging from accessing renewable energy to developing innovative non-oil-based materials. For example, solar panels on factory roofs can provide some 35% of energy required, but solutions still need to be found for the remaining 65%. This could be the first step towards reduction of emissions in the industry. Government incentives to move to renewables would help to make factories greener. 

The Higg Index was discussed as a method developed within the industry to measure social and environmental performance across the value chain. Gathering such industry and environmental data will be key to identify ‘hot spots’ which need improvement.

Speakers identified three key ‘levers which have to get pulled’: scaling existing solutions and preferred fibres and materials, investment in innovation, and degrowth. They also agreed that collaboration is critical for progress and achieving the charter commitments.

“In a time when the climate crisis is accelerating to unprecedented levels, we need the real economy to lead on climate action. The strengthened commitments of the fashion charter signatories is an excellent example of such leadership,” said Niclas Svenningsen, Manager of Global Climate Action in the UNFCCC secretariat.

By Annabel Jago Cunningham on 8 November at 18.20

Speaking at COP26 this afternoon, Barack Obama emphasised the urgency of the fight to limit climate change and the scale of the challenge. “Getting people to work together on a global scale takes time, and that’s time we don’t have.” But he also praised the campaigning efforts of young people and, while arguing that compromises will be necessary and that we must be ready “for a marathon, not a sprint”, insisted there was still some room for optimism in the face of the climate crisis. 

Concerned that the global community is falling short and running out of time, the former US president said: “It’s not just that we can’t afford to go backwards, we can’t afford to stay where we are.” Not only must governments set and meet more ambitious goals but they must work together. “We need everybody, even if we disagree on other things” – including China and Russia, two of the largest emitters of greenhouse gases, whose leaders did not come to COP26 and whose apparent “lack of urgency” is “dangerous”.

Although he accepted that meaningful progress had been made since COP21 in Paris, the veteran of several previous COPs warned that “despite the progress that Paris represented, most countries have failed to meet the action plans that they set six years ago, and the consequences of not moving fast enough are becoming more apparent all the time.”

He said young people are right to be frustrated at inaction of world leaders, and praised the actions of Greta Thunberg and other environmentalists in raising awareness about climate change and challenging politicians on the urgency and importance of the issue. But he also warned that listening to and understanding the reluctance or indifference of individuals is necessary to achieve real change that doesn’t adversely impact minorities.

A final call to action and warning against cynicism drew an ovation from the audience: “We can’t afford hopelessness. Instead, we’ll have to muster the will and the passion and the activism of citizens to push governments to meet this challenge ... We will not have more ambitious climate plans coming out of governments unless governments feel some pressure from voters ... Keep pushing harder and harder for more and more – because that is what is required to meet this challenge … I’m ready for the long haul if you are, so let’s get to work.”

By Alison Hetherington  on 8 November at 16.30

Adaptation is key to creating permanent solutions to the climate crisis. Actions which address inequalities and support those who are the most vulnerable to climate change are critical to fighting climate injustice – the most vulnerable have generally done the least to cause climate change but are paying the price first. It is crucial to take action now to support them.
Today’s headline presidency event, the ‘Ministerial on Adaptation Action’, emphasised that a balance must be found between climate adaption and climate mitigation in order to achieve the ambitions that have been expressed over the last week at COP26 and the commitments that have been made.

Many speakers highlighted that action on adaptation is critical not only because it is the morally right thing to do, but also because it is ‘economically the smartest thing to do’. Many of the participating countries spoke of the importance and long-term benefits of investing in climate resilient infrastructure. 

Over 80 countries are now covered by adaptation plans and adaptation communications, setting and sharing a course for change. Various participants, including the UK, France, and the Netherlands announced new financial pledges to supporting the development of climate adaptation strategies in Africa and Asia. The importance of access to reliable climate data and information was also raised, as was the need to address gaps in impact forecasting and improve the quality of data (‘measure better to target better’).

An increase in adaptation finance is crucial to success. The adaptation finance gap was reported by several speakers as considerable, with the latest OECD report showing that just over $20bn a year – roughly 25% of total climate finance – goes to adaptation. This figure represents only a fraction of the $300bn likely to be needed annually by 2030 to achieve climate goals.
Access to funding should also be considered, with a focus on needs-based assistance and a higher proportion of grants, to prevent the further indebtedness of the least developed countries.

The session closed with a motivational quote from Olympic long distance gold medallist Sifan Hassan, to inspire the race to tackle climate change. “It’s going to be hard, but hard is not impossible.”

By Mark McMurray on 8 November at 15.00

With today’s focus on Adaptation, Loss and Damage at COP26, the conference heard from Architecture 2030, a US non-profit organisation whose mission is to rapidly transform the built environment from a major emitter of greenhouse gases to a central solution to the climate crisis.

Significant advancements in reducing CO2 emissions have been made in the power sector. But a greater contribution is needed from the built environment in future, as buildings account for 33% of energy demand globally. Examples were given of the progress already being made: the building sector in the US has seen a 30% reduction in CO2 emissions since 2005 despite an increase in floor area of almost 20%. (The equivalent global figures are 4% and 22%.) However, many are calling for more to be done, and more quickly. 

With global building floor area expected to double by 2060, the importance of making improvements in energy efficiency and the supply of energy to the built environment is clear. However, it was also highlighted that two-thirds of the buildings that exist today will still exist in 2040 – making them just as important as new buildings. Transforming existing buildings remains one of the biggest challenges for the built environment.

It is relatively straightforward to set building and design standards for new buildings which are designed to reduce or remove greenhouse gas emissions. But it is more complicated to require changes to existing buildings, such as the retrofitting of new technology, not least because of the costs involved. This can be particularly prohibitive for homeowners.

While the conference heard calls for governments to provide more support for people looking to make changes to their homes and buildings, a key theme of the session was that those involved in the industry also need to take some responsibility for making the necessary changes.

By Annabel Jago Cunningham on 8 November at 12.00

Adaptation, Loss and Damage is today’s focus at COP26, where an emphasis will be placed on the damage caused by the climate crisis and, looking forward, methods of adaptation. 

This morning, representatives from communities severely impacted by climate change shared their experiences on the effect of extreme weather and environmental degradation, and the success of funding and support in providing water and food security for rural areas. We heard from Kenya, India and Chile on locally led initiatives which support the goal to build collective resilience against climate change. 

In particular, the Pawanka Fund in Chile supports indigenous communities in promoting and preserving traditional knowledge in order to prepare for hazardous events. For example, enabling the traditional process of making potato chunõ, a nutritional food source with preservation capacity, to be shared across generations is key to allow communities to prepare and adapt to the unpredictability of climate change and limit the negative impacts, such as loss of water and food security. This is an excellent example of the importance of funding and support being directed towards the frontline. 

As the day progresses, the focus will turn to seeking practical solutions which can prevent further loss and damage and build a climate resilient future. Here, it is essential to note, as Barbadian Prime Minister Mia Mottley mentioned regarding climate finance last week, the difference between adaptation and mitigation. Whilst the latter is targeted at minimising the emission of greenhouse gases, the former concentrates on actively altering our behaviour and systems to reduce the impacts of climate change. They are equally important in tackling climate change.

By Joanna Waddell on 6 November at 16.59

The Innovation Center for Energy and Transportation (iCET) announced three new initiatives at COP26 this afternoon, to address the global climate challenges of super-city clusters. iCET is a thinktank with offices in LA and Beijing that works in the areas of energy and transportation, carbon management and clean technology.

More than half the world’s population lives in urban areas, a figure expected to grow to almost 70% by 2050. This urban growth will especially be seen in rapidly developing economies with large populations such as China and India, and will create huge challenges associated with climate change and urban transportation.

China already offers a good example of these challenges. A hundredfold growth in motor vehicle ownership over 40 years has helped to created mega-cities that have been shown to be unsustainable, posing huge energy and environmental challenges. (The UN defines a mega-city as one with a population of over 10 million. In 2018 it said there were 33, including six in China.)

As China’s growth continues, super-city clusters are forming, and iCET aims to help them avoid the paths that mega-cities have taken and the problems which have resulted.

iCET’s initiatives are:

• A global city cluster carbon neutral project, focusing on a scoping and landscaping analysis of global super-city clusters.
• A Transportation Net-Zero Roadmap for China’s Guangdong - Hong Kong - Macau Greater Bay Area (GHMGBA).
• A US-China Clean Tech Centre (UCCTC) programme to help business and markets focus on how best they can achieve net zero goals.

By 2025 there will be eight cities in the world that have populations of over 20 million. By 2050 eight cities will have over 30 million people living in them. Three of these – Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata – are in India. However there are super-city clusters in China that have populations of more than 100 million. The US too has super-city clusters, with the LA/Long Beach cluster and the New York/Newark cluster.

Dr Feng An, iCET’s founder and director, believes that these super-city clusters should be the focus of future climate action. iCET will be asking:

1. Where are the existing and emerging global city-clusters and what are their development trends?
2. What are their carbon footprints, starting with transportation?
3. What should be done to manage their carbon budgets and what sustainable pathways are needed in order to reach net zero by 2050?

This was a hugely interesting session. If you are interested in this topic, the session is available here to view on demand.

By Kathryn Nolin on 6 November at 15.00

Continuing with this morning’s theme of efficient land use, this afternoon saw a plenary event focused on accelerating a just rural transition to sustainable agriculture.

Bolstered by the star power of Idris and Sabrina Elba, both goodwill ambassadors for the International Fund for Agricultural Development, panellists argued that agriculture has for too long been a neglected topic in the sustainability debate. While agriculture has been discussed (and dismissed) for years in the context of its impacts and emissions, little to no light has been shed on the climate action possibilities that might come as a result of sustainable agriculture. 

“There will not be a solution to climate change unless we fundamentally transform the way we eat, the way we produce our food, the way we transact our food, and the way we waste our food,” said key speaker Dr Juergen Voegele, VP for Sustainable Development at the World Bank and chair of the CGIAR System Council Board.

Dr Voegele highlighted some sobering statistics on food waste. If food waste were a country, it would be the third-highest emitter in the world. Nearly 8% of all emissions worldwide are created by food waste – not food production – alone.

The energy and transport sectors have seen huge investment over the last two decades, which has led to the emergence of new developments and technologies that are paving the way for transition. Agriculture has seen only a fraction of this.

Governments worldwide spend almost £700bn a year on agricultural subsidies and, while most of these directly support small, medium and large-scale farmers, they are not necessarily linked to any “public good” outcome such as reduced emissions or environmental output.

Infrastructure and equity challenges must also be addressed if sustainable agriculture is to be upscaled. Few farmers have finance, innovation and new technology at their fingertips, and a sustainable approach cannot exist in a vacuum. To paraphrase the concluding remarks of Ishmael Sunga, CEO of the Southern African Confederation of Agricultural Unions, “let’s grow big”.

By Alison Hetherington on 6 November at 13:40

This morning saw COP26 discuss the FACT Roadmap, a collaborative plan to utilise sustainable global trade in agricultural commodities to reduce deforestation and support responsible agriculture. The key action areas on the FACT Roadmap are trade and markets, traceability and transparency, research development and innovation, and support for smallholders.
 
FACT – which stands for Forest Agriculture Commodity Trade – brings together producer and consumer countries to support sustainable trade and disincentivise behaviours which are harmful to the environment. The countries participating in FACT account for over 90% of global exports of palm oil, 80% of global exports of cocoa, and 85% of soya. Through the FACT Dialogue, they have been in direct discussion with the nations which are the major consumer markets for these commodities.
 
Issue that were highlighted today include:

• The necessity for international discussions and negotiations to reflect the needs of producing companies, including small producers and small value chains. 
• The need for governments and civil society to support businesses in ensuring ‘farm to fork’ sustainability.
• The need to recognise indigenous peoples and local populations as the guardians of forests and to include them in discussions, as the forests form both their livelihood and a central part of their identity.
• The importance of continuing dialogue between consumer and producer countries.
• The need to agree on a method of measurement to track FACT progress. 

Many of today’s participants have signed up to the Agriculture Commodity Corporate Statement of Purpose. This hopes to replicate the success of the Tropical Forest Alliance, which reduced annual commodity-driven deforestation by some 60% in Indonesia and Malaysia, with an estimated 6.4m hectares of forest saved from oil palm development since 2016. The Agriculture Commodity Corporate Statement of Purpose will set out a sectoral roadmap for the wider industry to follow and which should be in place by COP27. Soya and cocoa will be two of the main crops covered by this international dialogue.
 
Today’s discussion follows the Glasgow Leaders’ Declaration on Forests and Land Use, endorsed earlier in the week by 134 countries. A commitment of $12bn was made by 12 nations towards achieving the goal of reversing forest loss by 2030 (along with at least $7.2bn of newly-mobilised private sector funding). The UK announced its commitment of £500m of funding to investment in forest and sustainable land use programmes and to support the implementation of the FACT Roadmap.
 
Some major food retailers have also committed to a sustainability and forests agenda, with Tesco, Sainsburys, the Co-op, M&S, and Waitrose all pledging to reduce their impact on deforestation and climate change and to ‘halve the impact in shopping baskets’ by 2030. FMCG companies are acting too, with Unilever announcing its goal of having a completely deforestation-free supply chain by 2023, and its plans to help producers, farmers, and smallholders to stop deforestation.

By Joanna Waddell on 6 November at 11.00

We are halfway through COP26, and today is all about nature and land use. The focus is on forests, land use change and agriculture, with consideration given to the use of land for agriculture to food production and distribution, to preserving the forest resources we still have and protecting biodiversity. If you think that this sounds like a lot to cover, then you would be right!

Biodiversity was the subject of a United Nations report in May 2019. The work of over 450 expert and contributing authors, it warned that one million plant and animal species are on the verge of extinction and that this has dangerous implications for human survival. It urged the world’s governments to assess human related climate change and the global decline of biodiversity.

According to the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change around 23% of global greenhouse gas emissions come from land use including agriculture and forestry. Commitments have already been made this week in relation to halting deforestation, due not only to the resultant carbon emissions but also to its devastating implications for biodiversity. Trees are one of the main carbon sinks on Earth, but deforestation releases that carbon back into the atmosphere, contributing to global warming. Previous commitments on deforestation have failed and so the pressure is on to ensure that this time deforestation is halted and restoration of our forests initiated.

No review of agriculture will be complete without a detailed review of the food produced and what we eat. This may encourage reflection from us as individuals of what we eat, where it actually comes from and how we can reduce our own impacts.

By Kathryn Nolin on 6 November 2021 at 10.25

Today’s theme at COP26 is nature and land use, a topic that straddles the importance of promoting biodiversity and preserving natural habitats with the need to use land effectively and efficiently to feed the ever-increasing population. 
 
The food industry and agriculture is responsible for more than a quarter of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions but it has an even larger impact on biodiversity and natural damage, with the industry responsible for almost 60% of this damage worldwide.
 
We’ve already seen major global commitments to end deforestation by 2030 (and we’re expecting more developments on sustainable agriculture later today), but the private sector has also shown its willingness to commit to change, with five of the UK’s biggest supermarkets promising to halve their environmental impacts by 2030.
 
Consumers are increasingly demanding climate action and, in the context of their weekly food shop, are expecting retailers to put their money where their mouth is. The UK retailers have partnered with the WWF to hold them accountable, but we can expect shoppers to do so as well as they push for a sustainable farm to shelf to table supply chain.

By Clare O’Toole on 5 November 2021 at 19.15

The COP26 Joint Event of Education and Environment Ministers Summit – Together for Tomorrow: Education and Climate Action focused on the need to include climate change issues in education. 
 
Nadhim Zahawi, the UK education secretary, offered a pledge to make schools net zero, and to have them teach about climate change, equipping pupils with the skills necessary for a net zero economy – highlighting the government’s strategy to train, retrain and upskill for greener jobs. His words were echoed by trade secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan, who stressed the need for a workforce with green economy skills, emphasising the need for a collaborative effort between government and the private sector to drive investment in skills and the growth of the workforce. 
 
Mr Zahawi also announced the introduction of a Climate Award, to recognise young people’s climate work in their local communities, and a commitment to involve young people in climate action by creating a youth panel that could inform the government’s climate actions.
 
Ministers from a number of other countries also announced pledges to include environment and climate change in their education systems. Several of them echoed themes from other COP26 sessions earlier today, including the role gender has to play in climate change education.
 
Away from the official COP26 venue, speakers at the large Fridays for Future rally in George Square included young activists from nations as diverse as Argentina, Indonesia, Uganda and Pakistan. But inevitably it was Greta Thunberg who most enthused the crowd, expressing the feeling of many young climate action advocates that “the COP has turned into a PR event” and that “we need immediate drastic annual emission cuts unlike anything the world has ever seen.”
 
A similar view was expressed by former US vice-president and veteran climate action campaigner Al Gore, who told a summit of global legislators at the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh that the world has reached a “long-awaited political tipping point” on fighting climate change, but that much faster action is needed, backed by more political will. Addressing the COP26 conference, he also praised young activists like those on the streets of Glasgow. In his words: “Young people all around the world are telling us now is the time … This is a massive demand by the young people of the world and don’t tell them it’s impossible. It is possible. We have the tools and we have the ability to this.” 

By Kirsty Mitchell on 5 November 2021 at 16.15

At its press conference today the COP Presidency focused on youth collaboration but also answered questions on the progress of the continuing COP26 negotiations. 

COP26 President Alok Sharma spoke of the need to elevate youth voices and demonstrate the role of public empowerment and education in keeping the 1.5 degree target alive. More than 20 countries are expected to make national climate education pledges at today’s Education and Environment Ministers Summit, encompassing the decarbonisation of schools as well as putting climate at the heart of national curriculums.

Roberto Cingolani, the Italian Minister for Ecological Transition, agreed that young people should be able to participate in determining “a future that belongs more to them than to us” and expressed the Italian government’s support for the proposal to make the Youth4Climate conference a yearly summit.  

On the negotiations, Mr Sharma stated that work continues in the plenaries, having urged the negotiators to clear as many agenda items as possible before the High-level Segment next week when the “rubber will hit the road”.

Queried on the most contentious outstanding issues, Mr Sharma said that the text of many negotiation items is currently being iterated, and that more political areas – such as finalising the Paris Rulebook, which details the rules needed to implement the Paris Agreement – will probably move into the High-level Segment.

Emphasising that issues with the Paris Rulebook have been outstanding for six years and that the days to come will be challenging, he reminded negotiators to engage in a collaborative spirit and appeared hopeful that, in light of the crisis we face, the remaining issues will be resolved at this COP.

By Clare O’Toole on 5 November 2021 at 12.40

In the headline event Unifying for Change: The Global Youth Voice at COP26, YOUNGO, the official children’s and youth constituency of the UNFCCC, presented the Global Youth Statement from their local, virtual and global Conferences of Youth. The statement sets out young people’s demands for action, including the demand for youth inclusion in policy negotiations.

The session included speeches from youth activists who were involved in drafting the statement as well as videos made by them. Numerous leaders then spoke, including Patricia Espinosa, UN climate change chair; COP26 President Alok Sharma; and Nicola Sturgeon, First Minister of Scotland. The Global Youth Statement was handed to the leaders, with a plea to bring these demands to the negotiating table.

The session can be viewed on demand here.

By Clare O’Toole on 5 November 2021 at 11.50

The first sessions of the day focused on community and youth led solutions in climate action.

• In the Faith in Action: Community-led and gender inclusive adaption for climate justice event, faith leaders emphasised that religious teachings mean we are stewards of the world, not owners. They also highlighted the need for gender equality as part of taking climate action. The focus of the session was on using locally-led solutions to help deal with climate change. There were also discussions on indigenous communities, and on blending traditional and new methods to help communities live with the consequences of climate change.
• Another event, Polar Zero, was an interactive event with young people, which aimed to challenge them to think about the part they could play in creating a low carbon future. World-leading experts in developing sustainable solutions shared their work with young people. Its key message to young people was ‘you can help ensure a greener, more resilient future for us all’.
• The Culture: The missing link event, focused on how artists are using art in climate action. They discussed using art and science together to inspire communities and young people to participate in climate action.

All these sessions can be viewed on the UN COP26 YouTube channel.

Away from the official COP26 events, a Fridays for Future march  from Kelvingrove Park in Glasgow’s West End to George Square in the city centre has attracted thousands of young people. Greta Thunberg, founder of Fridays for Future, will be speaking at the march, as will Vanessa Nakate, a Ugandan activist who has been a leader in the campaign to save the Congo Basin rainforest.

By Emily Catterwell and Kirsty Mitchell on 5 November 2021 at 10.30

Today is Youth and Public Empowerment Day at COP26. Over the last few years, the youth climate movement has led the way in demanding climate action. Young people are increasingly aware of the impact that the climate crisis will have on their future and have repeatedly called on world leaders to act with the required urgency. 

COP26 has already heard from speakers who have highlighted the importance of amplifying young people’s voices and concerns in the climate debate. Notably, Sir David Attenborough emphasised that “the people most affected by climate change are no longer some imagined future generations, but young people alive today”. Kenyan youth activist Elizabeth Wathuti amplified a key message that resonates across the youth climate movement: “children cannot live on words and empty promises, they are waiting for you to act… please open your hearts, and then act”. 

YOUNGO is the official youth constituency of the UNFCCC. It’s an umbrella organisation for various youth-led organisations and individuals working in climate-change related fields. It is representing youth voices at COP26, and in the three days leading up to COP26 it delivered the UN Climate Change Conference of Youth.

Now in its 16th year, the Conference of Youth brought together thousands of young delegates from around the world for capacity building, policy training and cultural exchange. Its Global Youth Statement, putting forward policy demands from young people for the UN climate negotiations, will be presented to COP leaders at the headline presidential event today.

Themes in the statement range from finance and energy to climate justice and inclusion, with the unifying demand that youth should be actively and meaningfully included in all decision-making processes concerning climate change governance and implementation.

In September, the Youth4Climate 2021: Driving Ambition summit (Y4C) was held in Milan, where almost 400 young people met to address priorities for climate action. Y4C produced a youth manifesto, which will be also  discussed today by youth representatives, COP26 President Alok Sharma, and the Italian Minister of Ecological Transition, Roberto Cingolani. The manifesto’s key messages focus on the engagement and participation of young people, a sustainable recovery, the engagement of non-state actors, and a climate-conscious society. 

Today’s focus on youth and public empowerment provides an opportunity for decision-makers to listen to the demands of young people and to incorporate their concerns into the COP26 negotiations. 

By Erin Crawley on 4 November 2021 at 17.10

The Powering Past Coal Alliance (PPCA) has hosted a COP26 Presidency main stage event to showcase global commitments to consign coal to history and put the global transition to clean energy at the top of the UK’s Presidency agenda.

Hosted by co-chairs, Greg Hands and Steven Guilbeault, the UK Energy and Climate Change Minister and the Canadian Minister of Environment and Climate Change respectively, the event emphasised the commitment of PPCA members to introducing clean power technology, ending investment in new coal power generation, phasing out coal power and supporting a just transition to renewable energy. 

The global pipeline of proposed coal power plants has decreased by 76% since 2015. But analysis from the International Energy Agency’s World Energy Outlook Report indicates that currently announced pledges will lead to only a 40% reduction in CO2 output by 2050. Greg Hands said that more needs to be done, and that globally two large coal-fired power stations a week need to be shut down to meet the 2040 target contained in today’s Global Coal to Clean Power Transition Statement. He indicated that the PPCA will be instrumental in supporting both developed and developing countries in the transition.  

PPCA members include countries, cities, regions and organisations. It welcomed 28 new members today, including seven new nation members: Chile, Ukraine, Estonia, Slovenia, Azerbaijan, Mauritius and Singapore. These countries have committed to ending the export of coal and phasing out thermal coal and conventional coal fired electricity. However, these commitments must be coupled with an effective transition to clean energy (as well as support for coal workers and their communities), particularly in countries such as Chile and Ukraine, where coal accounts for 40% and 30% of energy use respectively, and coal plants have played a key role in economic development. Policy expertise as well as green finance will be necessary to help coal-reliant countries develop effective clean energy plans and end coal power emissions.

By Edgar Thornton on 4 November 2021 at 16.25

The chair of the UK’s Climate Change Committee, Lord Deben, this morning said he sees a significant role for Scotland in the energy transition. In his view the traditional producers are ‘part of the solution’ and have a ‘really important role to play’ in reducing the UK’s carbon emissions.
 
In the context of clean energy initiatives such as BP’s recent proposals to make Aberdeen a ‘world class hydrogen hub’ he said “the world in which we live and the place at which we found ourselves is really exciting – you in Aberdeen have an important role to play. If you play it properly we’ll build a better world, while conquering the damage that we have done to the world that gives us life.” 
 
Lord Deben quoted a recent study describing the energy transition as “perhaps a bigger and longer term economic opportunity for the Aberdeen city region than when oil was discovered in the North Sea in the 60s”. His was a call for optimism. While acknowledging that COP26 is perhaps our ‘last, best chance’ he stressed that the transition was both a ‘very exciting time for humanity’ and a significant opportunity for economic growth and new green jobs.
 
He also called on the government to ensure that the most vulnerable do not suffer from the transition: “We have to create a society in which it’s easier to be good, cheaper to be good and more difficult to be bad. That’s a very simple concept because being good is going to make the world a better place. We’ve got to help people who can’t make those choices, and that’s going to be a very big issue for government.”

By Erin Crawley and Kathryn Nolin on 4 November 2021 at 13.00

The UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has launched the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism at COP26.

The declaration aims to raise the climate ambition of tourism stakeholders to support the global commitment to halve carbon emissions by 2030 and reach net zero as soon as possible before 2050.

According to UNWTO, emissions across the tourism industry grew by at least 60% between 2005 and 2016. They could rise by a further 25% by 2030 if action is not taken.

The declaration commits signatories to a decade of climate action and seeks to drive collaborative action that will have a positive impact on the environment across five key pathways: Measure, Decarbonise, Regenerate, Collaborate, and Finance.

Signatories agree to deliver climate action plans (aligned with the five pathways) within 12 months of signing, and to begin implementation immediately, with annual reports on their progress against both interim and long-term targets.

The declaration envisages a transition from delivering carbon-intensive and material-intensive visitor and tourism experiences to prioritising community and ecosystem wellbeing. This is crucial for the sector’s own sustainability, resilience and competitiveness: it is highly vulnerable to climate change effects such as rising sea levels, flooding, droughts, fires and other extreme weather events.

“Big impact, small footprint” is the motto of Norway’s National Tourism Strategy, heralded at the declaration’s launch as an example of how signatories can deliver memorable experiences and climate commitment simultaneously. 

Nearly 400 companies and tourist destinations have already signed the Glasgow Declaration, but many more will be needed to ensure a consistent sector-wide approach.

By Edgar Thornton on 4 November 2021 at 12.00

This morning the conference hosted an Energy Transition Discussion with particular reference to the Just Energy Transition Partnership agreed with South Africa earlier in the week. The $8.5bn deal will help South Africa, the continent’s biggest emitter, transition away from fossil fuels, particularly coal.

The funding is to be provided by France, Germany, the EU, the UK and the US, and the discussion suggested it could be a template for similar deals with other high emitters, such as Russia, Brazil or Indonesia. The conference floor heard that the Partnership will mobilise an initial commitment of $8.5 billion for the first phase of financing (lasting 3-5 years), through various mechanisms including grants, concessional loans and investments and risk sharing instruments, helping to mobilise the private sector. It is expected to prevent up to 1-1.5 gigatonnes of emissions over the next 20 years, as it helps South Africa to move away from coal and to accelerate its transition to a low-emission, climate-resilient economy.

The initial commitment will target the electricity system, where the bulk of South Africa’s updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) emissions goals are focused, with future commitments addressing sectors such as transport. Eksom (the state energy utility) will be given direct access to the funds, helping it to repurpose coal-fired power stations that need to be decommissioned if South Africa is to meet its updated NDCs.

However, the conference also heard that, even with this new funding, South Africa’s climate targets and policies remain “insufficient” if the Paris 1.5 degree temperature limit is to be achieved. 

By Erin Crawley on 4 November 2021 at 10.45

Energy Day has launched in Glasgow with the Global Coal to Clean Power Transition Statement. The statement commits a coalition of 190 countries and organisations to phase out coal power globally. Morocco, Poland, Egypt, Chile, and Vietnam are among 18 countries which have announced clear end-dates for coal power and financing for the first time. This is further to previous commitments from China, Japan and Korea (the three largest public financers of coal) to end overseas coal financing by the end of 2021. 

The signatories have pledged to end all investment in new coal power generation both domestically and internationally, to accelerate the phasing out of coal power generation and rapidly scale up deployment of clean, green power generation. The statement sets targets for coal to be phased out by 2030 for major economies, and to have closed all coal fired power stations globally by 2040. The UK government says these commitments are "a milestone moment in the global energy transition".

By Claire Miller on 3 November 2021 at 14.30

There is a recognised need for information on sustainability to be produced with same rigour and quality as financial information. The financial markets have to be able to understand how companies are responding to climate change (and ESG factors more generally): both the risks they are facing and opportunities arising for them. 

The IFRS Foundation has today announced several key steps towards a global baseline for sustainability disclosures, to support investors by informing their decisions on the allocation of capital.

• The formation of an International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB), with the purpose of developing, in the public interest, a comprehensive global base line of high-quality sustainability disclosures standards for financial markets to meet investor needs.
• A commitment to consolidate into the ISSB two investor-focused international sustainability standard setting organisations: the Value Reporting Foundation and the Climate Disclosures Standard Board.
• The publication of protypes for climate disclosure and general sustainability disclosure requirements. The prototypes will be the outcome of work from a group of organisations and will aim to consolidate key aspects of each organisation’s content into an enhanced and unified recommendations for consideration by the ISSB.

These initiatives are intended to provide a global baseline for company sustainability disclosures. Countries will be free to build them into their own requirements, which can go further than that baseline. 

By Marcin Krzemien on 3 November 2021 at 12.45

The goal of green transition – one of the most important topics at COP26 – is being supported not only by governments and corporations but also by philanthropic organisations. 

On Tuesday the Rockefeller Foundation and the Ikea Foundation announced the creation of the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet, whose aim is the financing of transformational programmes that will accelerate and scale the green energy transition in developing and emerging economies worldwide.

The initiative – which is also backed by the Bezos Earth Fund and international developmental institutions including the European Investment Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the IFC and the World Bank – has an initial $10bn of committed funding and aims to mobilise 10 times as much over the next decade.

By Claire Miller on 3 November 2021 at 12.30

During the World Leaders Summit we heard repeatedly from speakers about the importance of the private sector and private finance when it comes to tackling climate change. Finance is one of the four key COP26 goals, and the COP26 Finance goal summary says that: “To achieve our climate goals, every company, every financial firm, every bank, insurer and investor will need to change.”

Today sees COP26 focus on finance and the first Presidency Event of the day, Financing our Future, repeated this message. As well as pledges of public funding, the importance of private finance was a focus and we are already seeing private finance commitments being made.

The Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero this morning announced that they now have the scale required to deliver the transition to limit global warming to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels, with over $130 trillion of capital committed to net zero from 450 firms across 45 countries.

This announcement comes alongside the commitment, announced by the chancellor Rishi Sunak, that the UK will become first net zero aligned financial centre. While the full details will follow, we can expect increased disclosure and reporting requirements to help achieve this goal. A taskforce will be set up by the UK government to develop a ‘gold standard’ for transition plans and associated cutting edge metrics.

By Alan Nelson on 3 November 2021 at 12.00

Being at COP26 is like being a needle in a haystack – there are dozens of sessions going on at any one time, I’m surrounded by thousands of people speaking different languages (but with a common goal), and it is difficult to find a space to make a quiet call. Generally, there is a sense of cautious optimism that commitments are being made (although not by all nations) but concerns remain on how commitments are policed. What happens if countries don’t comply?

What seems to be different from previous COPs is business is now on board. It is fully committed to sustainability and tackling the climate crisis. Science and business have the ingenuity to innovate and make great strides through the development on new technology to support the climate change fight. Work being done by the company Planet jumped out to me. Planet has launched hundreds of satellites to map the entire earth every single day. It allows us to better monitor de-forestation and other changes caused to our plant by climate change.  That type of data is invaluable when it comes to seeing how solutions and plans drive positive change.

By Marcin Krzemien on 3 November 2021 at 11.30

One of the key topics of the third and following days of COP26 is the mobilisation of funding for green transition of developing countries. 

In 2010, parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) pledged to mobilise $100bn of annual climate financing from developed countries to developing countries by 2020.

Despite an upwards trend, this goal is still $20bn short of being met, according to a recent OECD report. 

New reliable pledges of funding and actual commitments from developed countries should be one of the key determinants of COP26’s success. So far, for example, the prime minister of Japan, Fumio Kishida, has promised an additional $10bn in new financing, over five years, to help countries in Asia slash their emissions of greenhouse gases.

By Alan Nelson on 3 November 2021 at 10.50

Big announcements from politicians are one thing but action happens at a local level. One of the highlights of being at COP26 has been hearing case studies from many different cities and countries on steps they are taking to de-carbonise. Whether that be in Cali, Colombia, where 2,000 tonnes of rubble a day is being recycled to create new building materials or a small town in Japan where boilers in buildings now run off waste wood shavings from a local timber plant  - very much showing the circular economy in action. 

Yesterday, we heard The Global Methane Pledge, in which over 100 nations agreed the aim of cutting global methane emissions by 30% by 2030. There has been a real focus on the link between farming, food and de-forestation and it will be interesting to see how governments communicate this to their populations. Whilst pressure groups are pushing for much stronger communications from governments on the links between meat eating and climate change, this kind of directive messaging will not sit well with many.

By Laura Sefton on 3 November 2021 at 09.00

The World Leaders Summit at COP26 ended yesterday. Over 100 leaders, from nations large and small, came to the summit and set out their views on the climate crisis, as well as their plans for tackling it. 

Among the major emitters, the summit saw speeches from President Biden of the US, President Michel of the European Council, President von der Leyen of the European Commission, and Prime Minister Modi of India. Neither President Putin of Russia nor President Xi of China attended, though President Xi made a written statement.

Many of these leaders focused on national interests or achievements. President Biden discussed the social and economic benefits of climate change action, explaining that “when I talk to the American people about climate change, I tell them it’s about jobs.” President Xi called for “realistic targets” and a recognition of different “national conditions” that affect the ability to deliver climate action. Prime Minister Modi described India as the “only big economy who has delivered in letter and spirit the Paris commitments” – although his pledge to reach net zero by 2070 overshoots the Paris goal of 2050 by two decades.

In contrast the EU leaders called for the strengthening of targets and robust rules. They want the EU to be seen as a world leader in climate action, with ambitious carbon reduction targets and a strong commitment to climate finance. 

In even greater contrast were statements from nations at the other end of the emissions scale. Tuvalu, Palau and São Tomé and Príncipe, for example, have some of the lowest emissions in the world. They are also among those most at risk from climate change. 

Prime Minister Kausea Natano of Tuvalu and President Surangel S. Whipps Jr of Palau both called for urgent completion of the Paris Rulebook and for larger climate finance commitments. Prime Minister Natano proposed greater demands for NDCs, including requirements for realistic timeframes and bolder ambitions. President Whipps said that the most devasted island nations “demand that your commitments of $100 billion annually be increased to meet the $4 trillion the World Bank reports is needed.”

Graphically illustrating the effects of climate change, President Carlos Vila Nova of São Tomé and Príncipe said that Príncipe has already lost 4% of its land to rising sea levels. He added that vulnerable nations and small island developing states have become increasingly frustrated as their appeals for cooperation have gone unheeded.

President Whipps summed up this frustration: “We see the scorching sun is giving us intolerable heat, the warming sea is invading us and the winds are blowing us every which way. Our resources are disappearing before our eyes and our future is being robbed from us. Frankly speaking, there is no dignity to a slow and painful death – you might as well bomb our islands instead of making us suffer, only to witness our slow and painful demise. Leaders of the G20, we are drowning and our only hope is the life-ring you are holding. You must act now. We must act together.”

By Lukas Reichmann on 2 November 2021 at 17.00

Over 40 world leaders have signed up to the new ‘Breakthrough Agenda’ at COP26. They include leaders from the US, India, EU, China, developing economies and some of the countries most vulnerable to climate change – representing more than 70% of the world economy.

The Breakthrough Agenda will see countries and businesses coordinate and strengthen their climate action each year, to dramatically increase and speed up the development and deployment of clean technologies and to drive down costs.

The aim is to make clean technologies the most affordable, accessible and attractive choice globally in the world’s most polluting sectors by 2030, particularly in supporting the developing world to access the innovation and tools needed to transition to net zero. 

Boris Johnson set out the first five goals (termed the ‘Glasgow Breakthroughs’) at COP26 today. Together they cover more than 50% of global emissions.

• Power: Clean power to be the most affordable and reliable option for all countries to meet their power needs efficiently by 2030.
• Road transport: Zero emission vehicles to be the new normal and accessible, affordable, and sustainable in all regions by 2030.
• Steel: Near-zero emission steel to be the preferred choice in global markets, with efficient use and near-zero emission production established and growing in every region by 2030.
• Hydrogen: Affordable renewable and low-carbon hydrogen to be globally available by 2030.
• Agriculture: Climate-resilient, sustainable agriculture to be the most attractive and widely adopted option for farmers everywhere by 2030. 

Meeting these goals could create 20 million new jobs globally and add over $16 trillion across both emerging and advanced economies. 

By Lukas Reichmann on 2 November 2021 at 16.10

South Africa is Africa’s biggest emitter of greenhouse gases thanks to its reliance on coal power. A new partnership that will help it move away from coal and accelerate its transition to a low emission economy could prevent up to 1.5 gigatonnes of emissions over the next 20 years.

Introduced at COP26 by President Biden, the partnership is an agreement by the US, the EU, the UK, France and Germany to help South Africa close coal plants more quickly than currently scheduled while “supporting an equitable, inclusive transition” towards green energy.

The partnership will mobilise an initial commitment of $8.5bn for the first phase of financing, through mechanisms including grants, concessional loans and investments, and risk sharing instruments to incentivise the private sector.

President Ramaphosa of South Africa welcomed the agreement, saying it could “serve as an appropriate model of support for climate action from developed to developing countries, recognising the importance of a just transition to a low carbon, climate resilient society that promotes employment and livelihoods.”

By Lukas Reichmann on 2 November 2021 at 15.42

The US and EU are leading an effort to slash methane emissions by 30% before the end of the decade.

So far 105 countries have signed up to the Global Methane Pledge. The group includes half of the top 30 methane emitters, accounting for two-thirds of the global economy.

Among the signatories announced at COP26 today is Brazil, one of the five biggest emitters of methane. However, three others – China, Russia and India – have not signed up yet, while Australia has said it will not back the pledge.

Methane is the main greenhouse gas after carbon dioxide. It has a higher heat-trapping potential than CO2 but breaks down faster in the atmosphere – meaning that cutting methane emissions can have a rapid impact on the rate of climate change.

US and EU leaders say tackling methane is crucial to keeping global warming limited to 1.5°C. President Biden, addressing the conference, thanked everyone who has signed this "game-changing commitment". 

By Megan Hancock on 2 November 2021 at 15.00

The UK Space Agency and its French counterpart CNES signed an implementation arrangement for the MicroCarb mission at COP26 today.

MicroCarb, which is due to launch in early 2023, will be the first European satellite dedicated to measuring atmospheric CO2 around the world. Its data will contribute to global efforts to measure how much CO2 is emitted by natural processes and how much by human activity, in order to inform climate change decision making and to track progress in limiting global warming.

The precision with which MicroCarb will be able to monitor Earth’s atmosphere will enable it to detect changes associated with surface emissions and uptake across the world from cities, forests and oceans. Its special city-scanning observing mode will facilitate the mapping of CO2 across cities to help identify those responsible for the greatest emissions.

MicroCarb’s small size and relatively low cost may make it the precursor to similar future missions to gather better data that will aid the transition to net zero.

By Megan Hancock on 2 November 2021 at 12.50

The US has rejoined the High Ambition Coalition, a group of developed and developing nations formed in the run-up to the Paris Agreement by the chief negotiator for the Marshall Islands, Tony de Brum. It initially joined the coalition at COP21, but its membership lapsed when the Trump Administration left the Paris Agreement in 2020.

The coalition ensured that the goal of limiting the rise in global temperatures to 1.5C was included in the Paris Agreement. While the 1.5C limit is much more difficult to achieve than 2C, it is widely regarded as the only way to avoid catastrophic and irreversible climate change impacts on smaller island nations, such as the Marshall Islands.

It is expected that the High Ambition Coalition will today: 

• Call on governments to boost efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the phasing out of coal. 
• Call on rich nations to double the amount of climate finance available to poor countries to adapt to the impacts of the climate crisis.
• Bring an end to subsidies for fossil fuels.

As the world's largest economy (and the world's second largest carbon emitter), the US is a major player. Its renewed participation will undoubtedly boost the coalition’s influence.

By Lucie Halloova on 2 November 2021 at 11.10

Wednesday will see COP26 turn to a finance theme, with the Presidency Programme looking at the mobilisation of public and private finance flows at scale for climate mitigation and adaptation.

But private finance has already been trailed as one of the summit’s key topics. A recurring theme in Monday’s opening speeches was the importance of the private sector and private finance in tackling the climate change. 

Opening the World Leaders Summit, UK prime minister Boris Johnson set the tone by asserting that “we cannot and will not succeed by government spending alone” and added that it will be necessary to work with banks to de-risk the climate finance environment so that the private sector can come in. 

Following him, UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres argued that “the private sector is waking up” and that “multilateral development banks must work much more seriously at mobilising greater investment through blended and private finance.”

Prince Charles said the world needs “a vast military-style campaign to marshal the strength of the global private sector. With trillions at its disposal – far beyond global GDP and … beyond even the governments of the world’s leaders – it offers the only real prospect of achieving fundamental economic transition.”   

Referring to his own discussions with CEOs, Prince Charles went on to say that “we need to bring together global industries to map out, in very practical terms, what it will take to make the transition. We know from the pandemic that the private sector can speed up timelines dramatically when everyone agrees on the urgency and the direction. So each sector needs a clear strategy to speed up the process of getting innovations to market.”

He also spoke of the need for “a pipeline of many more sustainable and ‘bankable’ projects” and “clear market signals, agreed globally, so that [CEOs and institutional investors] have the confidence to invest, without the goalposts suddenly moving.”

The Italian prime minister Mario Draghi (a former governor of the Bank of Italy and president of the European Central Bank) added that “we need, first and foremost, all multilateral development banks, and especially the World Bank, to co-share with the private sector the risks that the private sector alone cannot bear. We need country-based platforms where the World Bank and other multilateral development banks can actually co-share and make all this money useable for a good cause.”

Between them, Monday’s keynote speakers discussed various roles for the private sector, including the development of new technology and the preparation of a common strategy sector by sector, for the transition to net zero. But above all they emphasised that state finance alone will not be enough to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement and that private finance must align behind green strategies. Private and public sector will need to come together in new ways to facilitate climate finance.

By Megan Hancock on 2 November 2021 at 11.05

The prime minister will today convene an event at COP26 at which leaders representing over 85% of the world's forests will sign a landmark agreement to halt and reverse forest loss and land degradation. The commitment will be supported by a pledge to provide £8.75bn of public finance from 12 countries, including the UK, from 2021-2025. The funds are intended to support forest projects in developing countries such as tackling wildfires and restoring degraded land. In addition:

• at least £5.3bn of private sector funding from more than 30 financial institutions will be mobilised to eliminate investment in activities linked to deforestation. 
• the UK and 11 other donors will contribute to a £1.1bn fund to protect the Congo Basin.
• governments involved in the global trade of commodities that contribute to forest loss, such as palm oil, cocoa and soya, will sign a Forests, Agriculture and Commodity Trade Statement aiming to reduce pressure on forests. 

Forests play a huge role in protecting us from the effects of climate change, absorbing around one third of the global CO2 released from burning fossil fuels. The package of commitments intend to halt forest loss – currently, it is estimated that an area of forest the size of 27 football pitches is lost every minute. Changes will be afoot for the way financial institutions conduct their business, and those in the consumer products sector who use forest risk commodities can expect alterations to their supply chain in order to facilitate the changes committed to. 

By Laura Sefton on 2 November 2021 at 10.50

The warmest reception for a speaker in yesterday’s opening ceremony was probably that received by Sir David Attenborough, the 95 year old broadcaster and natural historian.

Sir David told the tale of temperature levels over the history of our planet – where they have been, where they are and where they could be (whether increasing with devasting consequences or being stabilised due to collective international efforts). He posed the question of whether our story will be a tale of the smartest species doomed by failure to see the bigger picture in pursuit of short-term goals. 

He also highlighted the inequality which is at the heart of the issue of climate change: those who have done the least to cause the problem are the hardest hit by it, and those who are most likely to be affected are those who are as yet too young to determine the solutions. He spoke about sustainable development, a key theme running through the UNFCCC, and repositioned state development as sustainability-based, rather than economy-based – no nation has yet completed development because no nation is yet sustainable. COP26 should be an opportunity to create a more equal world with a good standard of living for all.  

Many other speakers at the conference have speculated about how climate change will affect unborn generations, who will judge the achievements of the world leaders in Glasgow. Sir David had a different view – the people who will be affected are not some imagined future generation, but young people alive today. They will look at COP26 and consider one thing: did the number reflecting the parts per million of carbon in the atmosphere stop rising because of the commitments made at COP26? Sir David believes the answer can – and should – be yes.

By Laura Sefton on 2 November 2021 at 10.30

Boris Johnson’s opening address maintained the urgent tone of his statement at the G20 in Rome (even when he compared the predicament of the planet to that of James Bond “strapped to a doomsday device desperately trying to work out which coloured wire to pull to turn it off while a red digital clock ticks down remorselessly to a detonation that will end human life as we know it”). As well as calling for a green industrial revolution, he highlighted the duty of developed nations to find an annual $100bn in climate finance for developing countries. He said, too, that state finance alone cannot meet Paris Agreement goals, and that governments must work with markets to access the “hundreds of trillions” of dollars needed for decarbonisation.

Mr Johnson was followed by Antonio Guterres, UN secretary-general, whose opening words were blunt: "The six years since the Paris Climate Agreement have been the six hottest years on record. Our addiction to fossil fuels is pushing humanity to the brink. We face a stark choice:  either we stop it – or it stops us. " Noting that current National Determined Contributions (NDCs) condemn the world to a calamitous 2.7 degree temperature rise, he proposed that, if NDC commitments fall short by the end of COP26, members should revise and resubmit their NDCs annually, until coal is phased out and there is a price on carbon. He also proposed establishing standard reporting commitments for NDCs.

Prince Charles focused on how international regulation can create the best environment to enable every industry to take the decarbonisation action required. In his judgment, the reality of global supply chains will mean that industry transition will affect every country and producer in the world. He called for every sector to prepare a decarbonisation strategy; for private investment to align behind industry strategies and for the development of a pipeline of bankable projects. 

Mia Mottley, the prime minister of Barbados, identified three gaps which COP26 must address: in climate pledges; in finance for climate change mitigation and adaption; and in adaption finance. She noted that failure to provide critical finance will be measured by loss of life and livelihoods in small island and developing states, and proposed that the central banks of wealthier countries should respond to climate change as they did to Covid-19, suggesting an annual increase in special drawing rights of $500bn for 20 years. 

Mario Draghi, the Italian prime minister, reported on the G20 and the earlier Youth4Climate Summit. He highlighted the G20’s climate commitments, and called on delegates not only to strengthen climate finance efforts but also to find an intelligent and quick way to spend the funds raised. Mr Draghi also thanked  young people for bringing climate change to the front of the political debate. He called on delegates to put them at the centre of the fight against climate change and to learn from them. He proposed that a youth event should be part of all future COPs. 

By the CMS COP26 web team on 1 November at 16.51

COP26 has been experiencing what the UN calls a “high level of attendance” – as witnessed by the many pictures on social media of queues for access. But record amounts of the COP are also happening online. Organisers have been encouraging participants to use the COP26 Platform wherever possible. Many events are being officially streamed. And there are a number of virtual pavilions, including the Built Environment Virtual Pavilion developed by the UK Green Building Council, of which CMS is delighted to be a commercial partner.

By Alan Nelson on 1 November 2021 at 16.32

CMS Glasgow Managing Partner Alan Nelson is our man on the ground today at COP26. We’re looking forward to his observations from the conference over the next few days. “Having cleared airport style security and having had to show more paperwork than I can shake a stick at, delighted to be back at the SEC as a delegate at #COP26. In amongst the politicians, I can’t wait to hear what charities, businesses and various countries are doing in the fight against climate change.”

By Laura Sefton on 1 November 2021 at 14.00 

COP26  was opened by Carolina Schmidt, Minister of the Environment for Chile and President of COP25.
Her speech set out three areas of focus for COP26: ambition, finance and rules. A need to tackle the great gap in our ambitions by enforcing, abiding by and fulfilling the aims of the Paris Agreement.  A need to close the gap on the $100bn of finance already committed to combat climate change. And a need to establish a set of clear rules for the international community to follow, particularly with regards to transparency under the Paris Agreement. 

Alok Sharma, the President of COP26, spoke about the most recent IPCC report, which makes clear that the window to keep global temperatures below a 1.5 degree rise is closing fast. He called on the COP to protect people and nature from climate change, to limit the global temperature rise to well below 2 degrees and to pursue a limit of 1.5 degrees, and to mobilise finance flows. He designated the Glasgow conference as the “last best hope to keep 1.5 alive”. And he closed with a call to action: Paris promised, Glasgow delivers.  

Patricia Espinosa, Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC, called for more adaption to the current effects of climate change, and a recognition that ‘business as usual’ is not working. She reflected that the Paris Agreement has everything we need to achieve our climate goals, and  called for the parties to finalise outstanding work under the agreement as a matter of urgency. 

Hoesung Lee, Chair of the IPCC, set the scientific context for the conference. Like Alok Sharma, he noted that the IPCC’s Sixth Assessment Report concludes that the effects of climate change are widespread, rapid, more intense and affecting every part of the world, and that it is unequivocal that human activity is causing climate change, making extreme events more frequent and severe. He described the report as a sobering read, reflecting the magnitude of the challenge faced by the world.

He was followed on the podium by India Logan-Riley, a young climate activist from New Zealand whose speech represented the interests of both indigenous peoples and global youth. The same age as the COP negotiations themselves, she reflected on how her life has progressed while COPs have taken place and emissions have continued to rise. She called for rights frameworks to be entrenched in the Paris Agreement Rulebook, for finance to be redistributed to address climate change loss and damage in a just transition, and for rich countries to commit to steep emission reductions in this decade. She closed by inviting the COP to listen to the stories of indigenous peoples, to honour their knowledge, and to align with their goals.
Between them the speakers summed up what may be key themes of COP26: that climate change knows no borders, that we have the tools to address it, and that – above all – urgent action must be taken. 

By Laura Sefton on 1 November 2021 at 12:17

Today will begin with the World Leaders Summit, which will see statements from heads of state, governments and high-ranking UN officials setting out their positions and ambitions for tackling climate change. These statements will set the scene for progress at COP26. 

Following the World Leaders Summit, negotiations will shift to a variety of plenary sessions, organised events and workshops. There are many different types of sessions, including:

• Formal plenary sessions which are open to all delegates, and which form a basis for adopting agendas, procedures and decisions;
• Informal consultations which are arranged to facilitate further discussion, with outcomes being forwarded to the corresponding plenary session; and
• Closed bilateral meetings which may take place between delegations or country groupings where the parties seek to clarify their collective position and interests.

To aid negotiation, parties work in groups to present common interests and agendas. Some of the key negotiating groups include:

• G77 –the G77 now has over 133 members and functions throughout the UN system. China is not an official member of the G77, but supports and financially contributes to it.
• African Group of Negotiations – is an alliance of African states and, in line with members interests, is particularly active in supporting measures under the UNFCCC relating to mitigation and adaption to climate change.
• SIDS or the Small Island Development States – is a coalition of 40 low-lying islands who are particularly vulnerable to sea levels rises caused by climate change. 
• The Umbrella Group – includes Australia, Belarus, Canada, Iceland, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, Kazakhstan, Norway, the Russian Federation, Ukraine and the United States.
• OPEC – includes 15 petroleum exporting countries such as Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Algeria, Congo and Venezuela. 
  BASIC Group - Brazil, South Africa, China India)

Each day of the conference has a designated negotiation topic. For example, the first day of detailed negotiations, Wednesday 3rd November, is dedicated to Finance, primarily to mobilising public and private finance to climate change mitigation and adaption measures. Other daily topics include energy, transport, science and innovation, youth and public empowerment and nature. 

Read more about how COP26 will work in our frequently asked questions: Understanding COP26 - frequently asked questions - CMS UK

By Laura Sefton on 1 November 2021 at 12:00

Today we begin our dedicated blog on COP26. The ‘COP’ is an annual global summit on climate change held by the parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. This year’s meeting will be the 26th annual summit and nearly all of the countries in the world are party to the UNFCCC and will attend COP26.

As the host nation, the UK will play a pivotal role by chairing much of the negotiations. Alok Sharma, the UK’s former international development secretary, is the president of COP26 and will be responsible for presiding over negotiations. 
This year’s COP has been described as the last best hope for taking meaningful international action on climate change, being described by Prince Charles as the ‘last chance saloon’ and by Boris Johnson as ‘one minute to midnight’. 

You can read more about the Road to COP26 here: The Road to COP26: Our 101 on COP26 (cms-lawnow.com)