(CU)_The landmark UN climate summit (COP26), concluded in Glasgow earlier this month, with some describing the event as both a triumph and disaster. It cannot be denied that the world leaders, policy makers, climate activists and business leaders gathered in the Scottish city managed to secure many critical achievements in their collective effort to tackle the ongoing climate crisis.
For instance, more than 100 countries signed up for the Global Methane Pledge at the summit, under which the governments have committed to reduce their methane emissions 30 per cent from 2020 levels by the end of this decade. Another major achievement was leaders’ declaration on forests and land use, which attracted commitments from over 135 countries to halt and reverse forest loss and land degradation by the end of this decade.
However, in order to accurately assess the outcome of the Conference, it is imperative to understand how the event contributed towards the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C, compared to pre-industrial levels. A useful summary provided by the Climate Action Tracker (CAT) shows that under the current policies and actions, the world is on track for a 2.7°C median increase in temperature, while the targets set out for 2030 alone, will bring this figure to 2.4°C. Even the full implementation of all the binding targets submitted by the countries would only limit global warming to 2.1°C, if they manage to deliver on all announced targets, this would bring us closer to the Paris agreement goal, limiting median increase in temperature to 1.8°C.
Nevertheless, some experts remain sceptical, as many countries have repeatedly failed to make good on their promises. According to CAT, the UK, the EU and Costa Rica are the only parties who have adequately designed net zero targets. Meanwhile, nationally determined contributions that have been announced since September last year are expected to slash carbon emissions by 15-17 per cent by 2030.
However, more than half of these commitments come from the United States, whose future policies continue to remain uncertain. Accordingly, it is quite clear that more needs to happen if we are to get any closer to the 1.5°C goal, which places a significant amount of pressure on the follow-up COP, which will be in Egypt next year.
