A draft climate summit agreement was presented to the 26th session of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP26) in Glasgow on Wednesday, which international environmental organizations say is a far cry from pushing the world toward the climate goals enshrined in the 2015 Paris Agreement.
One of the main findings of the six-page draft text, which still has to be discussed by nearly two hundred delegates at COP26 on Friday, and which expires ten days ago, is that by the end of the current decade, global carbon dioxide emissions should be 45% by 2010 compared to 2010 levels. By 2100 the rate of global warming should not exceed 1.5 degrees.
The resolution’s proposal also calls on states party to COP26 to stop producing coal-fired energy and stop subsidizing fossil fuel extraction.
Although the document, published early Wednesday morning, contains specific reference to coal and fossil fuels for the first time since the United Nations launched its operation to combat climate change, critics of the text say no substantive improvement is expected.
It calls on emitting countries to meet the targets without setting deadlines and naming the biggest emitters in the document.
Thus, although countries have agreed to reduce emissions, it is highly doubtful whether this will be reflected in tangible steps. He cited a portal called Climate Change News in this subject Helen Mountford, vice president for climate and economics at the World Resources Institute, said at a press conference that major fossil fuel-producing countries would be a strong impediment to achieving the document’s goal. Serious resistance is expected, for example, from countries interested in coal, oil and gas extraction, such as Australia and Saudi Arabia.
The phase-out phase was introduced after more than 40 countries signed up to the Glasgow Climate Summit. statment, which promises to phase out coal power generation in large economies by 2030 and in developing countries by 2040. However, a large proportion of signatories report that their coal consumption is minimal, while large miners and consumers such as Australia, China, Japan and India have not They join the ad from the start. Two signatories, Poland and South Korea, soon withdrew from the pace of transition stipulated in the declaration.
However, according to the latest edition of the Climate Action Tracker, a series of analyzes based on model calculations, prepared and constantly updated by several independent climate research institutes on Wednesday,
The world is heading towards an average temperature rise of at least 2.4 degrees, despite the commitments made so far at COP26.
According to the analysis, global emissions of greenhouse gases will be two times higher than the target of reducing warming by 1.5 degrees by 2030, based on current trends.
The Climate Action Tracker also expressed concern that while the text goes a long way toward reducing emissions, the financial support for adaptation to countries at the forefront of the climate crisis is far less.
Jennifer Morgan, chief executive of Greenpeace, said of the draft that the call to phase out fossil fuels was too slim per se. The expert expects this paragraph to raise a lot of controversy and the invitation “will fail.” According to him, “drafting a 1.5°C target without linking it directly to fossil fuels” cannot be described as an outcome, a lack of draft that must be filled in in the coming days.
Greenpeace not only has a fossil fuel division, But he is not satisfied with the draft agreement as a whole: “This draft agreement is not a plan to tackle the climate crisis, but an agreement in which we all hope for the best. It’s a polite request that countries do a little more each year. Well, that’s not good enough, and the negotiating parties shouldn’t even consider leaving Glasgow until they agree.” A solution to the real problems,” summarizes environmentalists.
The draft also states that achieving the 1.5°C target will also require the world to become carbon neutral by mid-century.
In this regard, an international environmental organization called Friends of the Earth International Criticize: The goal of “net zero emissions” by mid-century is “far and too dangerous”.
“Instead of concrete plans for the fair and rapid extraction of fossil fuels and new forms of public financing for a just energy transition, we got the business as usual that breaks the climate in Glasgow. Rich nations and companies will be allowed to pollute for decades to come to offset their emissions with fines and technology gimmicks.”
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Also on Wednesday, in connection with Cop26, the Hungarian branch of an international organization of climate activists called Extinction Rebellion in Budapest demonstrated against the ineffectiveness of the climate summit with Molino on the banks of the Danube. In their opinion, the current conference was nothing but empty promises and greenwashing.
“In addition, the principles of fairness did not apply to the organization of the event. The communities most affected by the effects of the climate crisis were not able to be represented in decision-making because it did not create equal opportunities for them to participate. Again, only the rich decide the fate of the most vulnerable.” .
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(Climate Change News, MTI, Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace.org)
