COP26: In some ways Greta Thunberg is wrong to call the summit a ‘failure’ and ‘PR event’ | Climate News

Exterior the huge metal cordon across the COP26 summit, Greta Thunberg slammed it as a “failure” and a “PR Occasion.”

In some methods she’s proper.

One of many key guarantees of COP26 was to finalise the movement of $100bn in money from polluting nations to poorer ones and agree the principles by which nations ought to pretty cut back their carbon footprints. And on each these measures it has not, thus far, delivered.

The money will come not this yr, however subsequent. Shut, however for poor nations, a damaged promise.

There’s PR too. A press launch on phasing out coal instructed new ambition from Poland, considered one of Europe’s most coal-dependent nations. It seems Poland hasn’t improved on its plans to part out coal in 2049 – far too late to show down the worldwide thermostat.

There was an identical announcement about ending deforestation by 2030 signed by Indonesia. Important, from a rustic the place the orangutan is being pushed to extinction by chainsaws for palm oil plantations. Solely the next day, Indonesia clarified its inclusion on the press launch, saying it could not put jeopardise its financial improvement for commitments made at COP26.

However Greta can also be incorrect.

Going into COP26, the world was on target for two.7 levels of warming.

Now that determine might be as little as 2 levels. Not the 1.5 the world wants, however progress nonetheless.

International locations, together with main polluters like India, have elevated their commitments to chop carbon. Offers to scale back methane emissions, make companies extra accountable for his or her emissions and improve flows of personal inexperienced finance have been struck. And partnerships made, like one during which wealthy nations together with the US and the UK can pay South Africa – the continents greatest polluter – to retire its coal-fired energy stations.

When COP26 started, expectations weren’t excessive. Chinese language and Russian leaders had been absent, political ambition was low, concern was excessive that COVID had stifled nations’ capacity to barter.

However the sense of optimism at this convention is bigger than many anticipated. Whereas a number of the bulletins put out by the UK presidency felt hyped, they’ve helped ship hope – which is a part of what retains talks like these transferring ahead.

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There’s nonetheless an extended technique to go earlier than this assembly may be declared successful nevertheless.

For some nations, discovering extra inexperienced financing is a crimson line. For practically all events, extra motion is required from China which thus far can’t be coerced into committing to larger carbon cuts. Nor can it’s bullied.

However negotiating groups inform me that progress is being made on agreeing the technical guidelines by which the Paris settlement ought to be run.

That would assist cement belief in a number of the extra fragile political guarantees like phasing out coal and mobilising non-public finance.

It won’t conclude with an answer to the local weather disaster we so urgently want. However with every week to go, it seems like Glasgow is pointing us in that route.