It is hard to give a verdict upon COP26. Many nations accepted the terms. Many nations have addressed their dissent.
After years of summits on climate change and global warming, the world nations have finally reached a common opinion on the issue since the Paris summit.
In this summit held in Glasgow, the 197 nations have accepted the terms, but that doesn’t mean everyone is happy.
The derailment came from India and China when specifics of coals and petrol phase-out was planned.
The British MP, the conference president Alok Sharma wept when he apologized to other ministers for watering down the clauses on coal and petrol for the dissident nations.
That has happened where both minerals have been specified directly for the first time in the summit.
Countries that have agreed to the terms of the 2015 Paris climate change accord decided to embrace it steadfastly. Which is to limit the global temperature rise to the pre-industrial level of 2C-1.5C, from the present hike of 1.1C.
Another term was funding for countries to help fight climate change, called climate finance.
At the final hours when the draft was about to be approved, India and China objected to the phrase “phase out” of coal and petroleum usage. After a quick meeting between the US, EU and China, it changed to phase down.
Many vulnerable islands objected to the change. They fear such a lapse, even in a phrase, would endanger their future because of the resultant increased emissions and global warming.
The envoys of Marshall Island and Switzerland declared their dissent with this change. They added on how they are accepting the term half-heartedly, only for the sake of the summit. They said that it will make the road harder for a change.
Alok Sharma said that he is deeply sorry for how matters have turned around and asked the countries to approve it before it unravels. This was met with applause from the participants, who then proceeded with the change.
US climate envoy John Kerry has defended the change and said that coal has to be phased out before it can be ended.
The Chinese have released a statement declaring their support for the summit but called for a system where each country can decide its contribution.
The COP26 summit finalized the rules in the Paris climate accord, which includes transparency on emission reporting. While the active presence of the USA is a sign of hope, the aloofness of China, a primer polluter, is creating tensions.
The guidelines for the global carbon market was laid down. That will allow the trade of carbon offset credits.
But many developing countries, including India, are disappointed, as it does not talk about the compensation (climate finance) for climate change catastrophes caused by emissions by the developed states.
The cooperation of nations including Saudi Arabia has surprised the negotiators.
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