All eyes were on Glasgow for the first two weeks of November. Some 30 000 delegates from around 200 countries descended on Scotland’s second city for 13 days of climate change negotiations at COP26, the UN Climate Change Conference. But what came out of it, and can it be considered a success?

Keeping 1.5 alive

The UK COP presidency made clear its aim for the conference was to cap global warming at 1.5 °C by the end of this century. As it stands, the Earth is already around 1.1 degrees hotter than before the industrial revolution. The hope was that, if enough governments signed up to cut their greenhouse gas emissions further and faster, it would be possible to limit global warming to no more than another 0.4 degrees, and avoid the worst impacts of uncontrolled climate change.

While the momentum of the conference did not succeed in moving the dial quite that far, the good news is that substantial progress was made. In 2015, projected global temperature rise by the end of the century stood at 4 °C. Before COP26, the best estimates put the figure at 2.7 °C. Now, with the commitments made by governments and other major actors in Glasgow, we have edged closer to 2 degrees.

On climate finance, developed countries have not yet delivered the USD 100 billion per year promised to support climate action in developing countries. At Glasgow these ‘donor countries’ provided reassurances of their commitment to deliver on the goal up until 2025, and agreed to at least double the money they provide to help developing countries become more resilient to the damaging effects of climate change by 2025. The EU currently provides its fair share, around USD 27 billion in 2020. In addition, President von der Leyen recently announced an additional EUR 4 billion (USD 5 bn) by 2027 to support low-income and climate-vulnerable countries, and at Glasgow Executive Vice-President Timmermans announced a donation of EUR 100 m (USD 114.4 m) to the UN’s Adaptation Fund, making the EU the biggest contributor to the record total of EUR 351.6 m.

What else?

• Coal phase-down
  Despite pushback from China and India, COP26 did, for the first time, agree to ‘phase down’ the use of polluting coal for power generation and to stop subsidising inefficient fossil fuels. COP26 also recognised the need to support a just transition, leaving no one behind.
• Completing the Paris Agreement
  Six years after the Paris Agreement, COP26 completed the so-called Paris Rulebook, with all parties agreeing on how to report their progress on emission reductions and the rules for running international carbon markets.
• Climate solidarity
  The climate crisis disproportionately impacts small island states and some of the world’s least developed countries. Many of these countries don’t have the means to adapt to more frequent and intense extreme weather, as well as sea-level rise and drought. These impacts can have huge costs, damaging infrastructure, jeopardising food security, and putting lives at risk. In Glasgow, countries agreed to strengthen the Santiago Network of agencies around the world that provide financial and technical assistance to countries already experiencing these impacts. The COP also agreed to begin discussions on how to meet the financial needs of those countries most affected by the by the climate crisis.

What’s next?

The ultimate test of Glasgow will be how quickly and effectively the new commitments can be translated from words into action. But one big difference compared to previous COPs is that most countries now support the goal of limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees. It will be vital to maintain the momentum created in Glasgow to make these promises a reality.

What is the EU doing?

With the European Climate Law, the EU has written into law its commitment to reach climate neutrality (net-zero emissions) by 2050 and deliver at least -55 % net greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. Ambitious Green Deal proposals on climate and energy reforms, tabled by the Commission last July, translate this vision into a plan.

But with the EU responsible for only 8 % of global emissions, others must act too. The EU is calling on all major emitters to follow through on their promises, go further, and deliver the highest possible level of ambition by the end of next year to lock in the goal of limiting temperature rise to 1.5 °C. The EU will continue its efforts to bring more of its international partners on board to secure a safer, greener and prosperous future for us all.