President of COP26 assures that an agreement on climate change will be difficult

In August, the UN intergovernmental panel on climate change issued a warning of an “irreversible” climate disaster.

Reaching an agreement on climate change in Glasgow will be more difficult than it was to sign the Paris agreement in 2015, said Alok Sharma, appointed by the United Kingdom as president of COP26, scheduled in Scotland from October 31.

Sharma explained that nearly 200 countries will need to be persuaded to implement severe cuts in their greenhouse gas emissions, in line with keeping global temperatures from rising, at a time when global coal production continues to rise.

“We will try to do it here in Glasgow, it is really difficult. What we did in Paris was fantastic, but it was a framework agreement and there were many rules to discuss,” said Sharma, who is the British Minister for the Economy and Power.

“It’s like we’ve come to the end of the exam homework and are left with the more difficult questions, while time is running out,” he commented, adding, “The report, while very alarming, was very helpful in helping us focus on the targets. The question is whether countries will be willing to work in Glasgow to keep the target of staying below 1.5C alive.”

Another obstacle, compared to Paris, is the worsening of relations between the United States and China, the minister noted.

Chinese President Xi Jinping is most likely not going to Glasgow. And Beijing could increase coal production in response to high energy prices, according to the specialized press.

More than 100 world leaders, as well as thousands of diplomats and business leaders, are set to converge in Glasgow.

It is an annual meeting, but this year’s meeting is seen as crucial as climate scientists warn time is running out to secure greenhouse gas emission cuts.

As host of the meeting, the UK is seeking to secure enough new emission reduction commitments to keep the target contained in the 2015 Paris Agreement of limiting global warming above pre-industrial levels by 2100 viable.

The positions of the five key countries cast doubt on the possibilities of agreements.

For one thing, China – the world’s biggest emitter of greenhouse gases – is in the midst of a deepening energy crisis, which has helped slow economic growth.

Likewise, the United States, although the Joe Biden administration, through John Kerry, the climate envoy, has spent months stimulating new climate pledges from other countries, shows up at the summit without legislation enacted by Congress, raising doubts .

Additionally, India is affected by rising energy prices and dependence on coal; while Russia, despite arriving at COP26 with its president Vladimir Putin and being in favor of some change, has not given concrete signs to stop contamination.

Source: Scope