COP26: a decisive summit to keep the 1.5 degree goal alive

This November, the United Kingdom will host in Glasgow the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP26. This summit, which takes over from COP25 in Madrid, will be key for countries to address the enormous threat of climate change, and work to build a cleaner and more prosperous future.

The goals for addressing the climate crisis are clear. In 2015, world leaders signed the Paris Agreement, pledging to limit global temperature increases to well below 2 degrees Celsius, specifically to 1.5 degrees, because science tells us that this would avoid the worst effects of climate change.

Why is it so important to reach this figure? Every fraction of a degree makes a big difference. An average global temperature increase of 2 degrees would cause hundreds of millions more people to be affected, and twice as many plants and three times as many insect species to lose large tracts of their habitat.

The independent scientific analysis of the Climate Action Tracker estimates that if countries maintain their current emission reduction targets, we will be around an average temperature increase on the planet of 2.4 degrees. It’s a step up from last year’s estimates at this time, but much remains to be done: to limit warming to 1.5 degrees, we must cut global emissions in half by 2030. So this is the decisive decade.

As President-designate of COP26, I am convinced that this must be the moment when all countries and all sectors of society assume their responsibility to protect our planet and keep the 1.5-degree target alive. And we have a clear plan to achieve this:

First, the world must move towards reducing emissions, until net emissions neutrality is reached by mid-century. The way to achieve this is for countries to present clear and credible emission reduction targets and trajectories and, in this regard, I welcome the climate change law recently approved in Spain, which enshrines that goal for 2050.

We also need to see action in the most polluting sectors. If we want to take the 1.5-degree target seriously, Glasgow must be the COP where coal power goes down in history, deforestation is tackled and polluting vehicles are brought to an end. Spain has shown great leadership in implementing a phase-out of coal, with a record 90% drop in coal-fired power generation in two years and through a law that will end the sale of new combustion engine vehicles by 2040.

Our second goal is to protect people and nature from the worst effects of climate change. The way to achieve this is to have flood defenses, warning systems and other vital efforts to minimize, avoid and address the losses and damage caused by the climate crisis.

Without funding, the task ahead is almost impossible. Therefore, it is key that developed countries give the 100,000 million dollars a year that they promised to support developing countries. In this sense, the United Kingdom has already committed more than 13,000 million euros between 2021 and 2025. All developed countries must step forward, it is a matter of trust.

There will be no way to achieve these goals except through collaboration and consensus among governments. During my recent visit to Madrid, Spanish Prime Minister Teresa Ribera and I reaffirmed our determination to cooperate closely and be an example, as well as to encourage greater climate action, especially from the world’s major economies. I also met with business and civil society, who will be crucial in promoting international collaboration and boosting ambition in critical sectors.

The recovery from COVID-19 must be an opportunity to rethink our economies and build a better future, with green jobs and cleaner air.

I therefore call on all countries to redouble their efforts because COP26 is our last hope of keeping the decisive target of 1.5 degrees alive.

This is the time. There are no second chances. Let’s take advantage of it together.

Source: El Diario