COP26 Begins
Cop26 has begun, and today’s World Leaders Summit kicks off two full weeks of negotiations and events. This daily brief will help highlight some of the most important events, key takeaways and interesting insights of the COP.
Starting with a moment of silence
“Before I start speaking, I ask for a minute of silence for all the species we have lost… it happened under our watch,” said Guinea’s envoy in their opening address to delegates late last night. As a national statement, this intervention stood out – perhaps signalling a new level of awareness among diplomats at the start of COP26?
Calls to end fossil fuel subsidies
One insight from last night’s opening session: The 40-strong Small Islands group wants COP26 to finalise an agreement on cutting out fossil fuel subsidies in all major economies by 2023. The IMF values them at $6 trillion a year. They also called for the UN to assess who needs to do what on 1.5C. Lots of developing country groupings pointed out the “failure” on the $100bn [more on that here] and called for a new post 2025 finance target to be set. As expected, finance is already shaping up to be a key issue for the talks.
Different nations, different agendas
- G77 + China: Finance promises on $100bn to be met, loss & damage/adaptation funding focus
- EU: National plans in line with 1.5C, robust carbon market rules, no double counting & transparency
- EIG (Swiss, Mex, Sth Kor): Tough carbon markets & transparency rules, new post-2025 finance goal
- Umbrella (US, Aus, Can, Jap): Tougher 2020 targets to hit 1.5C, transparency, tough market rules
- Africa Group: Rich countries to raise GHG cuts, deliver more finance, markets to fund adaptation
- LMDC (Bolivia & oil nations): Equity, finance for poorer nations, net zero for all not OK, no CBAMs
- AOSIS (small islands): Deal to deliver cuts that align with 1.5C, meet $100bn & loss + damage costs
- BASIC (Ind, Chi, Bra, SA): Developed countries must lead, agree rulebook, $100bn & 2025 goal
- Arab Group: Package to help major fossil fuel producers transition
- Least Developed Countries: Deliver cuts that align with 1.5C, meet $100bn & loss + damage costs
**Watch all 3 hours here**
Reflections from G7 in Rome
World leaders will be travelling to Glasgow from early today – some fresh from two days of talks at the Rome G20. Secretary-General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres’ take on the Summit was icy: “While I welcome the G20’s recommitment to global solutions, I leave Rome with my hopes unfulfilled — but at least they are not buried.” Jennifer Morgan, head of Greenpeace International, added: “If the G20 was a dress rehearsal for COP26, then world leaders fluffed their lines.”
Highlights from Rome
Talks in Rome scored some wins. The G20 reaffirmed 1.5C as a common goal, locked in a ban on funding of overseas coal while Italy announced it was hiking climate finance. However, “barely half of us have submitted improved plans,” lamented UK Prime Minister Johnson post meet, while France’s Macron claimed he had wanted to push 1.5C harder only for others (Australia, Saudi Arabia, India and China) to push back. Meanwhile, the squabbling pair look set to bring their dispute over fishing rights to Glasgow.
Trillion Trees returns
Despite the Bolsonaro/Trump-endorsed Trillion Trees plan winning few fans throughout 2020, with many viewing it as a greenwash, it’s back in the G20 text. This is in part because of efforts by Saudi Arabia. It comes in contrast to the COP26 Presidency deal on forests expected at COP, which rather than focusing on planting new forests is expected to emphasize stopping deforestation.
World Leaders Summit
Ten leaders who were at the G20 summit are slated to speak today at the World Leaders Summit, among them Biden, Macron, Merkel and Indonesia’s Widodo. Xi Jinping will send a written statement, the UN has confirmed. Macron will be worth watching, given his anger at the G20 conclusion, as will Widodo, who is being cornered by Johnson into a 2040 coal phase-out date. Biden is expected to file the US long term strategy – part of a new crop of 2050 plans coming in – with Colombia mooted to submit too.
Statements to watch from the World Leaders Summit
Word is that leaders of Jamaica, Fiji and Antigua have strong statements that will be worth watching – as will former AC Milan and PSG great George Weah, now President of Liberia. Keep an ear out for Vietnam’s premier, who is also being badgered by the UK to quit coal.
Participants face travel delays
Journalists from around the UK have been having a hard time getting to Glasgow after a fallen tree blocked the mainline from London to Scotland yesterday. Paul Waugh from the iPaper reports on the mood.
Deals on the horizon
UK PM Boris Johnson has always claimed this COP is about cars, cash, coal and trees, and the first few days of COP will put that to the test. Rumour is that trees and cars deals are the ones with momentum, but could an overnight bilateral trade deal on green steel and aluminium between the EU and US see the emergence of a Glasgow Breakthrough agenda, a kind of meta pact on steel, hydrogen, cars and power? The Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance, which asks signatories to end fossil fuel exploration and new leases in their territories, is our pick for leadership material.
Efforts to save 1.5C
One of the key wins from Glasgow may be a deal for big emitters to resubmit climate plans by 2023. The UK asked Denmark & Grenada to cook up a way forward – and they have just reported back. “In the short term, many also suggested a need to return to 2030 ambition by annually reviewing NDCs [climate plans],” reads the report. That could be the win but it’s not clear here how many countries support this – and gaining consensus will be vital in the next week. It’s also worth emphasising that negotiations will crack on during the WLS, with Alok Sharma demanding progress by Friday.
**Curious about climate policies of different countries? Check the Climate Diplomacy Snapshots**
Social Media around the COP
The US Embassy social media team have been busy. “Smells like bubblegum,” is the Irn Bru verdict from the US ambassador to the UK, taking part in a series of Scottish food tasting sessions. “I think it’s got several packs of sugar,” remarks his colleague.
Perspectives
- Connie Hedegaard: Where’s the much-vaunted European grand strategy
- Mohamed Adow: What do developing countries want at COP26?
- Pilita Clark: The year green politics went mainstream
- Kate MacKenzie: Can we reform the global finance system?
Emergency appeal gains steam
Nearly a million people have signed an emergency appeal for climate action by Greta Thunberg and other leading youth activists asking world leaders at COP to deliver immediate emissions cuts and phase out fossil-fuel finance and exploration. At the opening ceremony on Monday, Kenyan youth activist Elizabeth Wathuti is expected to speak. Greta Thunberg told the BBC she has not yet received an official speaking invite.
Sir David Attenborough as People’s Advocate
People’s Advocate Sir David Attenborough will address world leaders at the opening of COP26. In a live speech to be delivered during the opening of the World Leaders Summit at noon GMT, Attenborough will highlight the importance of the COP and the urgent need to protect the natural world.
Demands from the public
No matter how big it gets, COP is still for the few. Today at 1pm, members of the public will launch their ‘Declaration for the Sustainable Future of Planet Earth’- live stream here. The Global Assembly’s recommendations include calls for the implementation of the Paris Agreement, the human right to ‘a clean environment’ and for developed countries to assist developing countries.
