By Elishya Perera
(CU)_The world must get on track to reach net zero emissions by 2050 in order to maintain global warming below 1.5°C, the president of this year’s UN Climate Summit has said.
For talks in Glasgow in November to be considered a success, governments across the globe must set out plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions over the next decade, including the end to new coal power plants while phasing out the existing the ones, Alok Sharma, the president of the COP26 Summit, said.
The United Kingdom will be hosting this year’s historical Summit which experts say will be one of the last chances to get on track to meet the goals of the Paris Accord to limit temperature rises well below 2°C.
“I want to put the world on a path to reach net zero by the middle of the century, which is essential to keeping 1.5°C within reach,” Sharma told The Guardian. “Today’s global targets for 2030 are nowhere near enough to meet the Paris agreement temperature goal. So the UK is using the COP26 presidency to urge all countries to set 2030 emissions reductions targets that put us on a path to net zero.”
He further noted that coal is “a relic of a bygone age” and should therefore be left “in the past where in belongs”. He also urged countries to make “ambitious commitments” to end the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles.
The British cabinet minister claimed that United Kingdom’s policies on phasing out coal and cars should be an example for other countries. He also referred the post-pandemic economic recovery, calling on countries to ensure a green recovery from COVID-19, instead of pouring money into fossil fuels and high-carbon infrastructure.
According to UN secretary-general, António Guterres, finance would play a key role in the talks in November, as there are concerns regarding the failure to meet the target of granting $100bn a year in climate finance for poorer countries. Although the UK has pledged £11.6bn for climate action over the next five years, Chancellor Rishi Sunak has decided to cut overseas aid from 0.7 per cent of GDP to 0.5 per cent, which would affect many aid programmes.
The British government has also faced criticism over its lack of a detailed plan to meet zero emissions and the country’s own commitment to a green recovery, as the host of COP26, has also been questioned.
