Climate change summit COP26
From 31 October to 13 November, world leaders met in Glasgow, UK, at the climate change summit - COP26. But what does COP26 stand for and why were the leaders meeting?
What is COP26 about?
The United Nations Climate Change Conference - COP26 is a major event bringing together leaders from all countries in the world to agree on how to step up global action to solve the climate crisis.
Almost 30 years ago, global leaders came together to collectively address climate change for the first time. The United Nations invited countries to sign a climate convention that would commit each to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Since then, the countries that have signed the convention – formally referred to as 'parties' – have met yearly to discuss progress and challenges (due to the COVID-19 pandemic, no meeting was held in 2020).
COP stands for the ‘conference of the parties’ to the United Nations climate convention (UNFCCC). COP26 is the 26th meeting of the parties to the convention and it was hosted by the United Kingdom in partnership with Italy.
At the meeting, parties reviewed progress on their commitments under the Paris Agreement’s goal of keeping global warming to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and pursue efforts to limit it to 1.5°C.
Why was COP26 important?
Keeping global warming below 1.5°C is the best way to save the planet from the dangerous effects of climate change, according to scientists. Yet the world is currently not on track to do this, with global temperatures on the rise.
According to the latest report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), global warming is causing increased, and in some cases irreversible, changes to rainfall patterns, oceans and winds in all regions of the world. More frequent and intense extreme weather events, such as heatwaves, floods and forest fires are experienced in the EU and worldwide.
It is extremely urgent to take action against climate change. COP26 brought together world leaders to act together to limit temperature rises and climate change.
The main objectives of the COP26 meeting were to:
- commit to more ambitious targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2030
- discuss measures to adapt to the inevitable impacts of climate change
- increase funding for climate action, in particular for developing countries
What was the EU’s message for COP26?
The EU wants to lead by example in spearheading the global fight against climate change. Over the years, it has adopted some of the most advanced environmental legislation in the world and has achieved its past goals on emission reductions. This year, the EU has renewed its climate ambition in line with the Paris Agreement, by committing to cutting emissions by at least 55% by 2030 and making this target a legal obligation through the European climate law.
However, climate change is a global threat and the EU cannot act alone.
At COP26, the EU encouraged others to step up their commitments and actions to cut emissions and increase adaptation efforts to keep the Paris Agreement’s objectives within reach.
As the largest contributor to international climate finance, the EU is living up to its commitment to provide funding for developing countries to help them face the effects of climate change. And it will continue to contribute to achieving the global objective of mobilising USD 100 billion per year until 2025. The EU invites other developed countries to make their own contribution to support developing nations.
Who represented the EU at COP26?
The Council and the European Commission represented the EU at the COP meeting. A group of officials from the Council and Commission made up the EU delegation, led by President of the European Council Charles Michel, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and Prime Minister of Slovenia Janez Janša, as current president of the Council of the EU.
For the Council, Slovenia attended the meeting and took part in the discussions on behalf of the 27 EU member states. The position that the EU as a whole took during the negotiations - which aimed to lead to renewed commitment by countries - was agreed in advance of the meeting during the latest Environment Council.
The Council plays an important role in international agreements both with non-EU countries and with international organisations. Its role is to endorse negotiation directives and approve the conclusion of agreements.
5 facts about the EU's goal of climate neutrality
Fighting climate change is imperative for the future of Europe and of the world. In 2019, EU leaders endorsed the objective of achieving a climate-neutral EU by 2050. This followed the commitments made by the EU and its member states on signing the Paris Agreement in 2015. What does climate neutrality mean and how will the EU achieve this goal while promoting the wellbeing of its citizens?