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COP 26 :World Unites For Climate Summit in Glasgow

“Clearly, we need to address it. Clearly, we need to support the most vulnerable to cope. To do so successfully, greater ambition is now critical,” she underlined…reports Asian Lite News.

Following a series of reports and studies warning that urgent action is needed to keep the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting global average temperature increases to 1.5C within reach, the Un Climate Change Conference (COP26) opened with the key aims of raising ambition on all fronts and finalising the agreement’s implementation guidelines.

“We are extremely grateful to the government of the UK for hosting this crucially important conference in these unprecedented times and for making every effort to keep all participants safe and healthy,” UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa said on Sunday.

“The devastating loss of lives and livelihoods this year due to extreme weather events clarifies how important it is to convene COP26 despite the impacts of the pandemic still being felt. We are on track for a global temperature rise of 2.7C, while we should be heading for the 1.5C goal. Clearly, we are in a climate emergency.

“Clearly, we need to address it. Clearly, we need to support the most vulnerable to cope. To do so successfully, greater ambition is now critical,” she underlined.

Greater ambition is required to achieve progress on all elements of the climate change agenda, including reducing emissions, moving adaptation to the centre of the agenda, addressing loss and damage from extreme climatic events and increasing the provision of support to developing countries.

A central issue is the provision of support to developing countries, especially in relation to the goal of mobilising $100 billion annually by 2020. Financial support is crucial for all elements of the climate change regime, including mitigation, but also in terms of adaptation, capacity-building, technology transfer and several other elements.

Many parties, especially developing countries, feel that in order to advance towards full implementation of the Paris Agreement, previous commitments should first be honoured.

Finalising the Paris Agreement’s implementation guidelines will enable the full implementation of all provisions, which will unleash more ambitious climate actions by all its parties.

Specifically, the outstanding guidelines relate to the details around the global goal on adaptation, how to report climate action and support transparently, and the use of market-based mechanisms and non-market approaches.

“We have no choice but to make COP26 a success. For that, we need unity of purpose. We need to leave Glasgow with a balanced package of decisions that reflects the positions of all countries. With a willingness to compromise among the many perspectives we can arrive at workable, ambitious solutions that will help us keep the 1.5C goal within reach. We stand ready to work with all parties and to leave no voice behind to reach this important goal,” Espinosa said.

Having been postponed by a year owing to the Covid-19 pandemic and having to address items from COP25 held in 2019, COP26 has a huge agenda beyond the key aims.

Alok Sharma (IANS)

Addressing the conference following his election, COP President Alok Sharma thanked delegates for travelling to Glasgow and outlined the urgent need for action.

“As COP President I am committed to promoting transparency and inclusivity. And I will lead this conference in accordance with the draft rules of procedure, and with the utmost respect for the party-driven nature of our process.

“In that spirit I believe we can resolve the outstanding issues. We can move the negotiations forward. We can launch a decade of ever-increasing ambition and action. Together, we can seize the enormous opportunities for green growth, for good green jobs, for cheaper, cleaner power.

“But we must hit the ground running to develop the solutions we need. And that work starts today. We will succeed, or fail, as one,” he said.

Following a procedural opening on Sunday, to enable work to begin quickly, Monday and Tuesday will be the World Leaders Summit with the presence of Royalty and more than 100 heads of state or government.

The World Leaders Summit provides all heads of state or government with the opportunity to set the stage for COP26.

A number of key ministerial and other events around current climate change efforts will take place during the COP. These include the fourth biennial high-level Ministerial Dialog on climate finance, the first Ministerial Dialog on climate finance under the Paris Agreement, several workshops and events to advance gender-related issues and the annual meeting with the participation of indigenous peoples and traditional knowledge.

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READ MORE-Climate Finance: UK pledges additional 1 bn pounds

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Climate Finance: UK pledges additional 1 bn pounds

The COP26 climate summit comes six years after the Paris Agreement was signed by over 190 countries to limit rising global temperatures to well below 2C with a view of reaching 1.5C…reports Asian Lite News.

The world must move from aspiration to action to limit rising global temperatures, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will tell leaders at UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow, as he commits to increase the UK’s own climate finance by 1 billion pounds by 2025.

In an address at the World Leaders Summit opening ceremony on Monday, the Prime Minister will urge world leaders to take concrete steps on phasing out coal, accelerating the transition to electric vehicles, and halting deforestation as well as supporting developing nations on the frontline of the climate crisis with climate finance.

These actions will make the biggest difference in reducing emissions this decade on the world’s path to net zero and keeping alive the global aim of limiting rising temperatures to 1.5C under the Paris Agreement.

Leading by example, the UK doubled its International Climate Finance commitment to 11.6 billion pounds over five years in 2019, and the Prime Minister’s new announcement would take this to a world-leading 12.6 billion pounds, if the economy grows as forecast.

The UK’s International Climate Finance is drawn from the overseas aid budget, which — as set out in the Spending Review — is forecast to return to 0.7 per cent of GNI in 2024-25. The funding goes to life-changing programmes around the world, shoring up the defences of communities on the frontline of climate change, protecting nature and biodiversity, and supporting the global transition to clean and green energy.

At Monday’s opening ceremony, Johnson is expected to say: “Humanity has long since run down the clock on climate change. It’s one minute to midnight and we need to act now. If we don’t get serious about climate change today, it will be too late for our children to do so tomorrow.”

Later in the day, he will bring round one table some of the world’s biggest economies with the countries most vulnerable to climate change to hear what is at stake for countries if action is not taken now and set the tone for two weeks of negotiations to come.

The COP26 climate summit comes six years after the Paris Agreement was signed by over 190 countries to limit rising global temperatures to well below 2C with a view of reaching 1.5C.

According to the UN, global temperatures are currently set to rise to 2.7C.

Scientists are clear that emissions must halve by 2030 to keep the aims made in Paris within reach.

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READ MORE-COP26: Last Hope To Save Planet?

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-Top News China

China’s Lack of Determination to Step Up Climate Action

Responding to the China’s plan, Greenpeace China Policy Advisor Li Shuo said: “China’s decision casts a shadow on the global climate effort. In light of the domestic economic uncertainties, the country appears hesitant to embrace stronger near term targets, and missed an opportunity to demonstrate ambition”, a report by VISHAL GULATI

Just hours ahead of the world’s climate leaders gathering in Glasgow for the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP26), China has released the new national climate commitments under the Paris Agreement, wherein it pledged to peak emissions before 2030, rather around 2030, and also to reach carbon neutrality before 2060.

Expressing no big surprise, rather disappointing, climate negotiators told IANS the new plan only epitomizes the lack of determination to step up climate action by an emitter that is responsible for 24 per cent of global emissions.

While most of the major economies have submitted an updated climate plans ahead of the key climate talks in Glasgow, India, responsible for seven per cent of global emissions, is yet to announce.

In the plan, China, whose President Xi is expected to give COP26 a miss, announced to increase the share of non-fossil fuels in primary energy consumption to around 25 per cent by 2030, increase the forest stock volume by 6 billion cubic metres from the 2005 level by 2030 and bring total installed capacity of wind and solar power to over 1,200 GW by 2030, a major initiative.

Its enhanced nationally determined contributions (NDCs) comprise lower carbon intensity by over 65 per cent from the 2005 level by 2030, up from 2016 commitments of 60 to 65 per cent by 2030.

The plan follows earlier commitments by China this year to strictly control domestic coal-fired power generation and stop building coal-fired power plants abroad.

Responding to the China’s plan, Greenpeace China Policy Advisor Li Shuo said: “China’s decision casts a shadow on the global climate effort. In light of the domestic economic uncertainties, the country appears hesitant to embrace stronger near term targets, and missed an opportunity to demonstrate ambition.

“The planet can’t afford this being the last word. Beijing needs to come up with stronger implementation plans to ensure an emission peak before 2025.

“Six years after the Paris Agreement, China’s choice epitomizes the lack of determination to step up climate action among some of the major economies. It also reflects Beijing’s mistrust of the United States ability to fulfill its carbon reduction and climate finance targets. There’s real fear that Washington’s empty words will intensify an already unfair global climate order.”

Bernice Lee, Chatham House, an independent policy institute based in London, added that “we can’t sugarcoat it: Beijing’s new climate plan is disappointing and well off where the world’s biggest emitter needs to be”.

The new and updated climate commitments by nations fall far short of what is needed to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement, leaving the world on track for a global temperature rise of at least 2.7 degrees Celsius this century, warned the UN Emissions Gap report launched this week.

It finds that countries’ updated NDCs. and other commitments made for 2030 but not yet submitted in an updated NDC. only take an additional 7.5 per cent off predicted annual greenhouse gas emissions in 2030, compared to the previous round of commitments.

Another report by the UN Development Programme (UNDP) says vulnerable countries are stepping up amidst a slow response from some of the biggest emitters on the climate crisis.

It reveals that while 93 per cent of Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) had submitted enhanced national climate pledges, or plan to do so, the G20 has been dragging its feet on adhering to the core principles of the Paris Agreement to “ratchet up” their climate ambition.

However, the China’s new plan follows earlier commitments by it this year to strictly control domestic coal-fired power generation and stop building coal-fired power plants abroad.

On China’s climate plan, World Resources Institute Vice President (Climate and Economics) Helen Mountford told IANS: “China’s new climate commitment is a modest improvement over the country’s previous plan under the Paris Agreement. For China to get on a pathway to reach its 2060 carbon neutrality goal it is critical for the country to further strengthen its new near-term targets and put in place measures to reach them.

“Our analysis shows that China can step up its efforts to reducing emission while also enjoying economic growth and a more sustainable environment.”

According to Mountford, it was very encouraging that China recently pledged to stop building coal plants abroad, but the country also needs to take more actions domestically to rein in greenhouse gas emissions this decade.

“This includes rapidly shifting its energy mix from coal to wind and solar, starting to shrink its carbon footprint by 2027 or sooner, and peaking its non-CO2 emissions which have the same warming impact as Russia’s total greenhouse emissions.”

“China has stated in the updated NDC that it will stringently curb coal-powered projects, set strict limits on the increase in coal consumption during 2021-2025 and to phase it down during 2026-2030.

“And China emphasized again that it will effectively control non-CO2 GHG emissions. By following through on its a1+N’ policy framework, China can implement a slate of domestic measures to mainstream China’s climate goals across different industries and sectors.”

New analysis by World Resources Institute and Climate Analytics shows that China has the potential to fill 25 per cent of the global gap between countries’ current climate commitments and the emission reductions necessary to keep the Paris Agreement’s 1.5 degrees Celsius temperature limit within reach.



“If the world is going to have any chance of coming to grips with the climate crisis, China, as well as all other major emitters, needs to graduate from taking small steps to giant leaps toward a cleaner and safer future,” Mountford added.

In total, 178 countries representing 79.3 per cent of global GHG emissions, plan to submit enhanced NDCs before the COP26, up from just 75 countries in 2019. Of this group, 160 countries have strengthened their mitigation targets.

Now all eyes are on India’s enhanced climate commitments to be announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Glasgow summit.

ALSO READ: China all set to build military base in Tajikistan

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-Top News UAE News World

Sheikh Abdullah leads UAE delegation ‏to COP26

Abdullah bin Zayed

The UAE’s participation at the event is further highlighted by its offer to host COP28 in 2023…reports Asian Lite Newsdesk

Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan will lead the UAE’s delegation at the pivotal global climate talks in Glasgow, ensuring the nation plays a key role in discussions with world leaders and national negotiators on measures to address climate change.

The meeting – COP26 (the 26th Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)) – represents the latest opportunity for the 197 parties that signed the UNFCCC treaty to discuss and formalise plans to cut global emissions to “net zero” by 2050.

COP26_Logo

The 197 signatory countries’ representatives will convene in Glasgow, the UK, on October 31 to take coordinated action on climate change. Hosted by the UK in partnership with Italy, the summit runs for two weeks until November 12. The UAE’s participation at the event is further highlighted by its offer to host COP28 in 2023.

“We look forward to working with the international community to build the path to a lower carbon economy to safeguard the environment and reduce emissions, as well as create lasting economic opportunity. We remain a committed partner in the world’s efforts to mitigate climate change and find inclusive practical climate solutions that will deliver sustainable economic growth,” said Sheikh Abdullah.

“Should we be confirmed as hosts, our goal will be to make COP 28 as inclusive and action-oriented as possible, a COP that brings together developed and developing countries and unites all sectors – public, private, academic and civil society – around a focus on tangible solutions, he added.

“At a time of rapidly rising climate risk that threatens all countries, we approach this important responsibility with humility and also with determination to support the international community in our pursuit of a practical agenda that is focused on implementation, has ambition, highlights opportunity and drives change,” he noted.

“As we celebrate our Golden Jubilee year, we aim to build strong partnerships that are central to economic progress, environmental action and solving global challenges,” added Sheikh Abdullah.

ASLO READ: UAE, South Korea agree to boost trade ties

Unwavering focus on positive climate action

The UAE is leveraging the path to a lower carbon economy to safeguard the environment, drive down emissions and create lasting economic opportunity.

An unwavering commitment to reducing emissions – bolstered by the recent launch of the UAE Net Zero by 2050 Strategic Initiative – has led to a number of global and regional firsts for the nation. As part of its net-zero strategy, the UAE plans to invest AED600 billion in clean and renewable energy sources by 2050.

“Over the last 15 years, the UAE has invested heavily in clean technologies that help us both mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change while diversifying our economy, developing new industries and generating positive economic impacts for our people, said UAE Special Envoy for Climate Change Dr. Sultan Al Jaber.

“We are focused on accelerating commercially viable clean technologies and cutting-edge solutions to enhance resource management and food and water security. This closely aligns with the UAE Net Zero by 2050 Strategic Initiative, which defines the next phase of our national development, creating new knowledge, new skills and new jobs.”

Highlighting the nation’s offer to host COP 28, he added: “We would leverage our experience as a global convenor focused on global challenges to bring together all stakeholders in order to accelerate climate solutions that make good sense for our environment and also simply make good business sense.”

The UAE was the first country in the GCC region to sign and ratify the Paris Agreement and the first country in MENA to commit to an economy-wide reduction in emissions.

As a result, the nation is now home to three of the largest and lowest-cost solar plants in the world – including Noor Abu Dhabi, the world’s largest stand-alone operational solar power plant, located in Sweihan, Abu Dhabi, featuring 3.2 million solar panels and producing 1.2 gigawatts of electricity.

The UAE also stands as the first Arab nation to deploy zero emission nuclear energy. When the four nuclear power reactors are completed, it is expected that Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant will meet 25 per cent of the country’s electricity needs with zero carbon emissions.

There is a rise in Controlled Environment Agriculture in the UAE, such as automated vertical farms, which enhances food security and contributes to sustainable food systems.

Three-pronged strategy

The UAE’s future energy needs will be met by a three-pronged approach: gas, solar and nuclear power.

“Our nation is also a pioneer in new zero carbon energies such as hydrogen,” said Mariam Almheiri, UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment, noting that the nation has the foundations and competitive advantages in place to become one of the largest and lowest-cost global producers of low-carbon hydrogen.

Set to be launched during COP26, the joint UAE-US initiative AIM for Climate seeks to drive more rapid and transformative climate action in the agricultural sector, empowering agriculture to be part of the solution to address the climate crisis, build resilience to its impacts, and create co-benefits of climate action.

AIM for Climate launches with support from over 30 countries, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organisation. Through the Mission, the UAE aims to attract much-needed investments in agriculture, address global hunger challenges and increase sustainable economic growth. The UAE will also announce other ground-breaking initiatives in November that align with the international community’s climate action plans.

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-Top News India News

Climate change may reduce farm incomes in India by 15%

In specific countries, this could mean heatwaves could last at least 10 times longer in all G20 countries, with heatwaves in Argentina, Brazil and Indonesia lasting over 60 times longer by 2050….reports Asian Lite News

Climate impacts would tear through G20 countries without urgent action to reduce emissions, and in India, it could mean declines in rice and wheat production, causing economic losses of up to 81 billion euros and a loss of 15 per cent of farmers’ incomes by 2050, a new report revealed on Thursday

The first study of its kind, the G20 Climate Impacts Atlas by the Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change (CMCC), the leading Italian research centre on climate change and National Focal Point for the IPCC, collates scientific projections of how climate impacts will play out in the world’s richest countries over the coming years.

It finds that on a high-emissions pathway, climate impacts spiral to cause devastating damage across the G20.

The research shows that rising temperatures and intense heatwaves could cause severe droughts; threatening essential water supplies for agriculture, causing huge loss of human life and increasing the chance of deadly fires.

In specific countries, this could mean heatwaves could last at least 10 times longer in all G20 countries, with heatwaves in Argentina, Brazil and Indonesia lasting over 60 times longer by 2050.

In Australia, bushfires, coastal floods and hurricanes could raise insurance costs and reduce property values by A$611 billion by 2050.

The report finds that without urgent action to reduce carbon emissions, GDP losses due to climate damage in G20 countries increase each year, rising to at least four per cent annually by 2050.

This could reach over eight per cent by 2100, equivalent to twice the bloc’s economic losses from Covid-19. Some countries will be even worse hit, such as Canada, which could see at least 4 per cent knocked off its GDP by 2050 and over 13 per cent — 133 billion euros — by 2100.

Donatella Spano of the CMCC, who coordinated the report, said: “From droughts, heatwaves and sea level rise, to dwindling food supplies and threats to tourism — these findings show how severely climate change will hit the world’s biggest economies, unless we act now.

“As scientists, we know that only rapid action to tackle emissions and adapt to climate change will limit the severe impacts of climate change. At the upcoming summit, we invite G20 governments to listen to the science and put the world on a path to a better, fairer and more stable future.”

From coastal erosion to the spread of tropical diseases, every G20 country is at risk from the impacts of climate change. The research shows in Europe, deaths from extreme heat could rise from 2,700 per year to 90,000 each year by 2100 on a high emissions pathway.

By 2050, potential fish catch could fall by a fifth in Indonesia — uprooting hundreds of thousands of livelihoods.

The sea level rise could wreck coastal infrastructure within 30 years, with Japan set to lose 404 billion euro and South Africa 815 million euro by 2050, on a high emissions pathway.

Conversely, the faster G20 countries adopt low-carbon policies, the less the climate impacts cascade and the more manageable they become. Limiting temperature rise to two degrees Celsius could see the cost of climate impacts in the G20 drop to just 0.1 per cent of its total GDP by 2050 and 1.3 per cent by 2100.

At the Paris Agreement, signed in 2015, countries agreed to limit global heating to acewell below” two degrees –however, current policies and promises put the world on track for about three degrees.

Laurence Tubiana, head of the European Climate Foundation and one of the architects of the Paris Agreement, said: “The window to act is closing fast. As the G20 countries incentivize economic recovery from Covid-19 and prepare climate plans ahead of COP26, they face an urgent choice: to protect the global economy and make a rapid transition to a low-carbon future; or derail the global economy by pursuing polluting policies. It’s time for the G20 to make its economic agenda a climate agenda.”

India, Brazil to protect developing countries’ interests

With barely four days to go for start of the annual climate change conference, COP26, India on Wednesday held a meeting with Brazil wherein the two nations agreed to “protect the interests of developing nations”.

The annual Conference of Parties (COP26) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is to take place from October 31 at the UK’s Glasgow. The rift between rich, developed nations and poor, developing nations becomes prominent at the COP when the countries negotiate actions to reduce emissions to restrict global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius compared to pre-industrial era.

“Critical issues of climate finance and technology transfer were discussed at length and both sides agreed to protect the interests of developing nations at the upcoming COP26,” India’s Environment, Forests, and Climate Change Minister Bhupender Yadav tweeted after the virtual meeting.

The issues related to forestry, biodiversity, and the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework were also discussed.

“Protecting the interest of developing countries” is important in view of the fact that rich nations are demanding enhanced emission cuts from poorer countries but not ready to pay for their historical emissions that are responsible for the temperature rise leading to catastrophic conditions already.

India and Brazil are important partners in the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) and LMDC (Like Minded Developing Countries) that are several of the multilateral pressure groups/negotiating groups that work for the interests of developing countries.

ALSO READ: 80% Indians most vulnerable to climate extremes

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-Top News India News

80% Indians most vulnerable to climate extremes

Overall, 27 Indian states and Union Territories are vulnerable to extreme climate events, which often disrupt the local economy and displace weaker communities….reports Asian Lite News

Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Bihar are most vulnerable to extreme climate events such as floods, droughts, and cyclones in India, according to a first of its kind Climate Vulnerability Index released on Tuesday by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW).

Overall, 27 Indian states and Union Territories are vulnerable to extreme climate events, which often disrupt the local economy and displace weaker communities. A total of 463 out of 640 districts in India – where more than 80 per cent Indians live – are vulnerable to extreme floods, droughts, and cyclones.

More than 45 per cent of these districts have undergone unsustainable landscape and infrastructure changes. Further, 183 hotspot districts are highly vulnerable to more than one extreme climate event, the CEEW study found out and also that more than 60 per cent of Indian districts have medium to low adaptive capacity.

Dhemaji and Nagaon in Assam, Khammam in Telangana, Gajapati in Odisha, Vizianagaram in Andhra Pradesh, Sangli in Maharashtra, and Chennai in Tamil Nadu are among India’s most climate vulnerable districts.

The study is an important documentation in view of the annual climate change conference – COP26 – to be held at the UK’s Glasgow from October 31. Developing countries such as India are expected to demand at the COP that developed countries ramp up and deliver climate finance timely to help the former strengthen adaptation mechanisms against extreme climate events.

Programme Lead, CEEW, and lead author of the study, Abinash Mohanty said: “The frequency and intensity of extreme climate events in India have increased by almost 200 per cent since 2005. Our policymakers, industry leaders and citizens must use the district-level analysis to make effective risk-informed decisions.”

“Climate-proofing of physical and ecosystem infrastructures should also now become a national imperative. With loss and damage rising exponentially due to the climate crisis, India must demand climate finance for adaptation-based climate actions at COP26,” he said.

CEEW CEO, Arunabha Ghosh, said: “Combating the rising frequency and scale of extreme climate events is fiscally draining for developing countries such as India. At COP26, developed countries must regain trust by delivering the USD 100 billion promised in 2009 and commit to stepping up climate finance over the coming decade.”

The CEEW study, supported by the India Climate Collaborative and Edelgive Foundation, also highlighted that the states in India’s northeast are more vulnerable to floods, while the ones in the south and central are most vulnerable to extreme droughts. Further, 59 per cent and 41 per cent of the total districts in the eastern and western states, respectively, are highly vulnerable to extreme cyclones.

The CEEW study also indicated that only 63 per cent of Indian districts have a District Disaster Management Plan (DDMP). While these plans need to be updated every year, only 32 per cent of them had updated plans until 2019. Highly vulnerable, states like Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Karnataka, and Gujarat have improved their respective DDMPs and climate-proofed critical infrastructures in the recent years.

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US climate change envoy Kerry visits London for talks with PM

“Great to discuss how the world can raise global climate ambition ahead of COP26 to ensure we meet the goals of the Paris Agreement,” he wrote on Twitter…reports Asian Lite News.

US President Joe Biden’s climate envoy has arrived in London for talks with Prime Minister Boris Johnson and senior ministers. The visit by former secretary of state John Kerry comes before Biden holds a climate change summit next month.

That will be in preparation for the UN’s crucial COP26 climate change summit in Glasgow in November.

The US embassy in London said Kerry was visiting European capitals to strengthen global ambition to tackle climate change.

The former Democratic presidential candidate was pictured in Downing Street before his meeting with Johnson.

Kerry met the organiser of November’s summit, Alok Sharma, and will meet Chancellor Rishi Sunak, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, and Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng later on Monday.

On Tuesday, he will travel to Paris and Brussels for talks with European leaders.

Sharma said he and Kerry discussed preparations for the COP26 summit.

“Great to discuss how the world can raise global climate ambition ahead of COP26 to ensure we meet the goals of the Paris Agreement,” he wrote on Twitter.

After the meeting, the two said: “We resolved today to work closely together to reduce our own emissions and to rally all countries, and most especially the world’s major economies, to strengthen their climate ambition.”

They said both countries were committed to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

Kerry and Sharma urged all countries to take the steps needed to keep global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.

“We also resolved to work with other countries to help the world’s most vulnerable adapt and respond to climate impacts and to scale up finance and private investment for mitigation and adaptation,” they said.

“We look forward to working with all countries to finalise the Paris Rulebook and successfully advance wider negotiations issues.

“Strong progress on all of these fronts is critical to ensuring the success we need in Glasgow.”

The US has returned to the international Paris Agreement on climate change, which was abandoned by Trump.

In January, Kerry warned that the world had nine years left to halt the most catastrophic effects of climate change.

“Three years ago, scientists gave us a stark warning,” he told a climate adaptation summit hosted by the Netherlands.

“They said we have 12 years to avoid the worst consequences of climate change. We have nine years left and I regret my country has been absent for three of those years.”

ALSO READ-US climate envoy Kerry to visit India

READ MORE-US climate envoy in Brussels

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Asia News News World

Asia’s proposed gas build-out is a risky $379 billion bet

Asia's proposed gas build-out is a risky $379 billion bet

A planned $379 billion expansion of gas infrastructure in Asia risks becoming stranded assets as the world turns away from fossil fuels, a new report by the San Francisco-based Global Energy Monitor (GEM) said on Tuesday…reports Asian Lite News

The gas build-out undermines pledges by several Asian countries to achieve net zero emissions as part of a transition to renewables by mid-century, and it is occurring despite a June 2021 warning by the International Energy Agency that achieving net zero globally depends on halting all future fossil fuel development.

The key findings of the report include the $379 billion in new gas infrastructure in Asia includes $189 billion of gas-fired power plants, $54 billion of gas pipelines, and $136 billion of new liquefied natural gas (LNG) import and export terminals.

Asia’s proposed gas build-out is a risky $379 billion bet

“Asia’s proposed gas build-out is a risky $379 billion bet,” said Robert Rozansky, author of the report.

“If built, this new fleet of gas infrastructure could threaten Asian countries’ efforts to reach net-zero emissions. With continued unaffordable LNG prices and extreme volatility in the market, many of the planned projects in Asia will become unbankable and could shore up heavy costs to the state in decommissioning.”

“Emissions from existing gas projects are already too great for the world to have at least a 50 per cent chance of limiting global warming to 1.5 C,” said Ted Nace, Executive Director of GEM.

“If built, these new Asian gas projects would lock-in emissions for decades, and worsen the long-term effects of climate change.”

GEM’s study finds that public institutions provided $22.4 billion in financing for gas projects in Asia between 2014 and 2018, and there is a risk that this funding could continue.

Recent announcements by the Asian Development Bank, World Bank, and others show that these institutions have not yet committed to withdrawing from gas financing, and remain open to funding midstream infrastructure and power plants.

ALSO READ: Canada and Germany publishes $100bn annual climate finance roadmap

Countries around the world will gather next week for the climate conference COP26, which will include putting forward new targets to keep global warming within 1.5C degrees.

Ahead of the conference, there has been increased focus on gas as one of the primary causes of climate change because of its high methane content.

Methane is up to 86 times more potent than carbon dioxide at warming the climate over a 20-year period.

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EU’s Timmermans discusses climate with Indian ministers

The EU further stated in a tweet that the EU and its member states are “strong” climate donors, contributing USD 25 billion in 2019…reports Asian Lite News.

India’s External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar met European Commission Executive-Vice President (EVP) for the European Green Deal Frans Timmermans in New Delhi on Friday and exchanged views on Afghanistan and climate action challenges.

Taking to Twitter, the EAM informed, “Pleasure as always to meet EVP @TimmermansEU. A good discussion on the expanding India-EU partnership, including on trade and investment, connectivity and Indo-Pacific. Exchange of views covered climate action challenges and Afghanistan.”

Besides, EVP Timmermans also held a meeting with India’s Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday and discussed the economic recovery post-COVID-19 and ways to ensure successful United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26).

Taking to Twitter, the delegation of the European Union to India informed, “Excellent meeting b/w EVP Executive Vice-President for the European Green Deal, Frans Timmermans & Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. Discussions revolved around economic recovery post #COVID19, how to ensure successful #COP26 including financial commitments, commitment to Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, green hydrogen, biodiversity & sustainable finance.”

The EU further stated in a tweet that the EU and its member states are “strong” climate donors, contributing USD 25 billion in 2019.

Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav held a meeting with Frans Timmermans on Thursday to discuss the issues related to COP26, European Union, Indian climate policies and bilateral relations between India and EU, as per the press note released by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

EVP Timmermans concluded his three-day visit to India on Friday. The visit focused on preparations for COP26 and on strengthening EU-India cooperation against climate change and biodiversity loss.

COP26 is scheduled to be held from October 31 to November 12 at Glasgow in Scotland. (ANI)

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-Top News Environment India News

India, Pakistan highly vulnerable to climate change

The countries have been identified as highly vulnerable because of lack of basic facilitations and apparatus in place to tackle climate challenges…reports Hamza Ameer

A latest report by the US Office of Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) has revealed that Pakistan and India are part of 11 countries, singled out and marked as highly vulnerable in capabilities to respond to environmental and societal crisis, triggered due to climate change.

The nations marked as highly vulnerable, marked as “countries of concerns” also include Afghanistan, Myanmar, Iraq, Norh Korea, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua and Colombia.

The countries have been identified as highly vulnerable because of lack of basic facilitations and apparatus in place to tackle such challenges which include heat, drought, water availability and ineffective government.

The report also identifies that Afghanistan remains as a major concern, specifically due to heat, drought and water availability challenges the country faces. Moreover, water disputes are also a key geopolitical flashpoint in India and other parts of South Asia.

The ODNI has predicted and estimated that global warming will increase and intensify the geopolitical tensions and risk to the US national security.

The report also highlights different approaches and disparities around the globe in tackling climate change, highlighting that the countries relying on fossil fuel exports, continue to resist a zero-carbon world in view of the economic, political and geopolitical cost related to it.

The affects of climate change have certainly shown their visible affects in the region as changes in weather and prolonged extreme weathers are being witnessed.

The South Asian region has got major water shortage challenges, which has also affected lives of millions of people, who suffer to not only health deteriorations but also to severity in their financial management due to drying out farmlands.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has been among the leaders in South Asia, who has initiated the million-tree project, planting 10 million saplings across the country, urging all to plant trees and project themselves from the devastations of climate change.

The move by has been widely appreciated by the global community.

Experts have warned that the climate changes are expected to have wide-ranging impacts which include reduced agricultural productivity; increased variability of water availability; increased coastal erosion; sea water incursion; and increased frequency of extreme climatic events

“Climate change will affect it in two ways; heavy rains will destroy major crops like wheat, rice, sugar-cane, maize and cotton on one hand, and due to the changing pattern of annual weather, our farmers will be unable to predict properly annual rainfall, cold and heat”, said Javed Jabbar, former Senator and an environmentalist.

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