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Leaders make unprecedented commitments at Glasgow

Together, they support 85 per cent of the world’s forests, an area of more than 13 million square miles which,sil fuels each year…reports Asian Lite News.

World leaders were in the UK for day three of the UN Climate Change Conference or COP26 on Tuesday where a wide range of announcements focused on signalling a clear shift from ambition to immediate action.

Countries made unprecedented commitments to protect forests, reduce methane emissions and accelerate green technology.

Amid powerful pleas heard in Glasgow on Monday, world leaders, young people and campaigners all stressed the urgency of taking tangible action to keep the prospect of holding back global temperature rises to 1.5 degree Celsius and building resilience to climate impacts.

A total of 114 leaders took a landmark step forward at a convening of world leaders on forests by committing to halt and reverse forest loss and land degradation by 2030. The pledge is backed by $12bn in public and $7.2bn in private funding.

Countries from Canada to Russia to Brazil — which also increased its Nationally determined contributions (NDC) on Monday — China, Colombia, Indonesia and Congo all endorsed the Glasgow Leaders’ Declaration on Forest and Land Use.

Together, they support 85 per cent of the world’s forests, an area of more than 13 million square miles which absorbs around one-third of global CO2 released from burning fossil fuels each year.

This announcement was bolstered with a commitment by CEOs from more than 30 financial institutions with more than $8.7 trillion of global assets, including Aviva, Schroders and Axa, committing to eliminate investment in activities linked to deforestation.

Tuesday is also the first time a COP in recent history has hosted a major event on methane, with 105 countries, including 15 major emitters, including Brazil, Nigeria and Canada, signing up to the global methane pledge.

This historic commitment, led by the US and EU alongside the UK COP26 presidency, equates up to 40 per cent of global methane emissions and 60 per cent of global GDP.

More than 35 world leaders have also backed and signed up to the new Glasgow Breakthrough Agenda that will see countries and businesses work together to dramatically scale and speed up the development and deployment of clean technologies and drive down costs this decade.

Signatories include the US, India, EU, developing economies and some of those most vulnerable to climate change — collectively representing more than 50 per cent of the world’s economy and every region.

The aim is to make clean technologies the most affordable, accessible and attractive choice for all globally in the most polluting sectors by 2030, particularly supporting the developing world to access the innovation and tools needed for a just transition to net zero.

Work will focus on five key sectors — power, road transport, hydrogen, steel and agriculture — which together represent more than half of total global emissions and further demonstrates how countries are moving from commitments to tangible action.

Leaders signed up to the Glasgow Breakthroughs also committed to discussing global progress every year in each sector starting in 2022 — supported by annual reports led by the International Energy Agency in collaboration with International Renewable Energy Agency and UN High Level Champions — and annual discussions of ministers across government convened around the Mission Innovation and Clean Energy Ministerials.

The Prime Minister Boris Johnson attends day two of the COP26 World Leaders Summit. Picture by Andrew Parsons / No 10 Downing Street

This ‘Global Checkpoint Process’ will seek to sustain and continually strengthen international cooperation across the agenda throughout this decade.

Leaders from South Africa, the UK, the US, France, Germany and the European Union have announced a ground-breaking partnership to support South Africa with an accelerated just energy transition.

As a first step, the international partnership has announced that $8.5billion can be made available over the next three-five years to support South Africa — the world’s most carbon-intensive electricity producer — to achieve the most ambitious target within South Africa’s upgraded and ambitious NDC.

A package of support, bringing together private sector finance and public sector expertise to scale-up African climate adaptation projects, providing life-saving support in the face of climate shocks protect the most vulnerable.

Leaders raised the importance of adaptation to the impacts of climate change as a matter of survival. New countries came forward with adaptation communications, bringing the number of people covered by them and national adaptation plans to 2.3 billion.

COP26 President Alok Sharma said: “Forests are one of our best defences against catastrophic climate change, and essential to keeping 1.5C alive. This historic commitment will help end the devastating effects of deforestation and support the developing countries and indigenous communities who are the guardians of so much of the world’s forests.”

“The Glasgow Breakthroughs will help move us towards a global tipping point, where the clean, green technologies we need to reach net zero and keep 1.5C alive are more affordable, accessible and attractive for all than the polluting practices we are leaving behind.”

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World leaders pledge to end deforestation by 2030

The pledge to halt and reverse forest loss and land degradation is backed by almost £14 billion ($19.2 billion) in public and private funding, reports Asian Lite Newsdesk

In the biggest step forward in protecting the world’s forests in a generation, more than 100 leaders will commit to halt and reverse forest loss and land degradation by 2030 at an event convened by the Prime Minister Boris Johnson at COP26 Climate Change Conference today.

The pledge is backed by almost £14 billion ($19.2 billion) in public and private funding.

Countries spanning from the northern forests of Canada and Russia to the tropical rainforests of Brazil, Colombia, Indonesia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo will endorse the Glasgow Leaders’ Declaration on Forest and Land Use. Together, they contain 85% of the world’s forests, an area of over 13 million square miles.

Forests are absorbing around one-third of the global CO2 released from burning fossil fuels every year, but the world is losing them at an alarming rate. An area of forest the size of 27 football pitches is lost every minute.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to say at the Forest & Land Use event at COP26: “Today, at COP26, leaders have signed a landmark agreement to protect and restore the earth’s forests.”

“These great teeming ecosystems – these cathedrals of nature – are the lungs of our planet. Forests support communities, livelihoods and food supply, and absorb the carbon we pump into the atmosphere. They are essential to our very survival,”

“With today’s unprecedented pledges, we will have a chance to end humanity’s long history as nature’s conqueror, and instead become its custodian,” Johnson will say.

The commitment will be supported by a pledge to provide £8.75bn ($12bn) of public finance from 12 countries, including the UK, from 2021 – 2025. This will support activities in developing countries, including restoring degraded land, tackling wildfires and supporting the rights of indigenous communities.

This will go alongside at least £5.3 billion ($7.2 billion) of newly-mobilised private sector funding. CEOs from more than 30 financial institutions with over $8.7 trillion of global assets – including Aviva, Schroders and Axa – will also commit to eliminate investment in activities linked to deforestation.

President of Colombia Iván Duque said: “Colombia is proud to endorse the Glasgow Leaders’ Declaration on Forests and Land Use. The Declaration is a landmark commitment from countries to work together to end deforestation and all land degradation within the next decade.”

“Never before have so many leaders, from all regions, representing all types of forests, joined forces in this way and Colombia is committed to playing its part. We will enshrine in law a commitment to net-zero deforestation by 2030 – one of the most ambitious commitments in Latin America – and to protecting 30% of our land and ocean resources by 2030.”

“Now we must all work in partnership with businesses, the finance sector, smallholder farmers, Indigenous Peoples and local communities to create the conditions for forest-positive economies to grow and thrive,” he added.

President of Indonesia, Joko Widodo said: “Indonesia is blessed as the most carbon rich country in the world on vast rainforests, mangroves, oceans and peatlands. We are committed to protecting these critical carbon sinks and our natural capital for future generations.”

Prime Minister Boris Johnson returns to his seat next to David Attenborough after giving the opening statement at the COP26 summit. Picture by Simon Dawson / No 10 Downing Street

“We call on all countries to support sustainable development paths that strengthen the livelihoods of communities – especially indigenous, women and smallholders,” he added.

The UK will commit £1.5bn over five years to support the forests pledge, including £350m for tropical forests in Indonesia, and £200m for the LEAF Coalition.

The UK will also contribute £200m, alongside 11 other donors, as part of a new £1.1 billion ($1.5bn) fund to protect the Congo Basin. The area is home to the second-largest tropical rainforest in the world which is threatened by industrial logging, mining and agriculture.

Governments representing 75% of global trade in key commodities that can threaten forests – such as palm oil, cocoa and soya – will also sign up to a new Forests, Agriculture and Commodity Trade (FACT) Statement. The 28 governments are committing to a common set of actions to deliver sustainable trade and reduce pressure on forests, including support for smallholder farmers and improving the transparency of supply chains.

Currently almost a quarter (23%) of global emissions come from land use activity, such as logging, deforestation and farming. Protecting forests and ending damaging land use is one of the most important things the world can do to limit catastrophic global warming, while also protecting the lives and futures of the 1.6 billion people worldwide – nearly 25% of the world’s population – who rely on forests for their livelihoods.

Prime Minister of Norway Jonas Gahr Store said Norway will continue and further develop its International Climate and Forest Initiative at high levels until 2030.

The Prince of Wales, Duchess of Cornwall the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge watch HM The Queen video message to the COP26 World leaders as they join the Prime Minister Boris Johnson at an evening Royal Reception at Kelvingrove Museum as part of the COP26 World Leaders Summit Day in Glasgow. Picture by Andrew Parsons / No 10 Downing Street

“We’re excited to be part of a growing coalition of donors and companies mobilising to reduce deforestation and enable a just rural transition. I am particularly pleased that we are joining forces to secure Indigenous Peoples’ rights and increase the recognition of their role as forest guardians,” he added.

Among those speaking alongside the Prime Minister Boris Johnson are Prince Charles, President Joko Widodo of Indonesia, Columbian President Ivan Duque, US President Joe Biden, Congo President Felix Tshisekedi and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

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READ MORE-Alok Sharma, the Indian-Origin Chief of UN Climate Summit

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Alok Sharma, the Indian-Origin Chief of UN Climate Summit

COP26 President Alok Sharma

Since Alok Sharma was appointed President for COP26, he has been on his toes, travelling across the globe to set the agenda for the summit, a report by VISHAL GULATI

The man behind bringing nearly all 200 nations into a common cause — to adapt to the effects of climate change and limit the rise in average global temperature to 1.5 C as required by the 2015 Paris Agreement — is an Indian-origin UK minister.

Born to Hindu parents in Agra and moving to the UK in 1972, Alok Sharma was appointed President for COP26, the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference, on January 8.

Since then Sharma has been on his toes, travelling across the globe to set the agenda for the summit.

This year COP is being held under the presidency of the UK and is being hosted in Glasgow from October 31 to November 12. This is the largest event of its type that the UK has ever hosted. The climate talks bring together heads of state, climate experts and campaigners to agree to coordinated action to tackle climate change.

At the climate summit, which began amidst 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 1.5 C within reach, Britain will be leading the formal negotiations and will have oversight of the overall COP package and vision, including political declarations.

Climate negotiators told IANS it would have been a big task for Sharma, who has been working closely with the backing of the Prime Minister to get countries to commit to new pledges to tackle the climate crisis, to enable the developing countries that require technological and financial support so they can leapfrog the dirty development path and increase their resilience to climate impacts.

Prior to entering Parliament, Sharma qualified as a chartered accountant with Coopers & Lybrand Deloitte, and then worked for 16 years in banking.

Sharma was in New Delhi in August for discussions with ministers and leaders from industry and civil society on collaboration on climate action.

At that time, Sharma, who holds the post of minister of state at the UK Cabinet Office, said India had a vital role to demonstrate renewed action under the Paris Agreement.

“India’s leadership, including through the International Solar Alliance (ISA) and Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), is hugely important as we look to build global resilience ahead of COP26 and beyond,” he had said.

In the last climate talks in Spain in 2019, India, China, Brazil and some developing countries had failed to convince the world to evolve rules for trading internationally carbon credits which help them decarbonise economies at lower cost.

The countries failed to agree unanimously on Article 6 of the crucial Paris Agreement rulebook concerning the carbon markets system as the two-week lengthy negotiations concluded two days past the official deadline.

Article 6 of the Paris Agreement provides guidelines on how international climate markets will work, as a key component of the world’s economic toolbox for addressing climate change.

It allows emission reductions to be implemented in one country and the credit to be transferred to another and be counted towards its commitments (known as nationally determined contributions or NDC).

In COP25, the developed world took the stand of not allowing the ‘junk’ carbon market, which allows buying and selling of carbon emissions, and emerged under the Kyoto Protocol adopted in December 1997 to continue in the exiting mechanism under the Paris Agreement.

Several countries like India had been demanding to carry forward the old carbon credits earned also by companies to meet new climate targets. The carbon credits allow companies to compensate for their greenhouse gas emissions.

Climate experts told IANS that it would be high time for Britain, especially Indian-origin COP President Sharma, to convince the developed nations not to completely reject the carbon trade mechanism, a key component for the full operationalisation of the Paris Climate Change Agreement.

In India, 1,686 projects have been successfully registered under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) under the Kyoto Protocol, millions of certified emission reductions (CERs) credits, better known as carbon credits, remain unsold with collapsing of the CDM market.

One CER equals one tonne of carbon dioxide. The CERs help companies earn billions of dollars by trading them. Currently, there is a market but no political platform.

In a new Reflections Note just ahead of the onset of COP26, Sharma said, “I very much want to support Parties to deliver on the matters you have told me are key political components of a Glasgow outcome. These include mobilising finance, keeping 1.5 alive, scaling up adaptation, addressing loss and damage, and finalising the Paris Rulebook — Article 6, the enhanced transparency framework and common time frames”.

“In addition, there are a number of other important decisions to be taken, including on Action for Climate Empowerment and the review of the Least Developed Countries Expert Group for example.”

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G20 wraps up, Climate talks kick off in Glasgow

According to Mountford, for the first time, G20 leaders collectively recognized the importance of reaching net-zero emissions by or around mid-century…reports Asian Lite News.

G20 leaders have committed to revisit and further enhance their 2030 emission reduction targets. This must now paint the way for negotiators at the ongoing UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) that opened in Glasgow with the key aims of raising ambition on all fronts, experts said on Monday.

However, some believe G20 made a mild pledge on climate change that is now an existential threat to humanity.

The G20 Summit wrapped on Sunday in Rome as the two-week long COP26 climate talks kicked off in Glasgow.

The G20 communique includes several signals calling for bold climate action. G20 leaders noted the importance of strengthening national climate action this decade and reach net-zero emissions by or around mid-century and for the first time committed to halt international financing for building unabated coal-fired power plants abroad.

Responding to the G20 announcement to scale up support for clean power, World Resources Institute Vice President (Climate and Economics) Helen Mountford told IANS: “G20 leaders made some progress heading into the COP26 summit in Glasgow, calling for accelerated climate action this decade, phasing out international coal financing, and recognizing the importance of reaching net-zero emissions by mid-century.

“It is noteworthy that G20 leaders committed to revisit and further enhance their 2030 emission reduction targets where necessary. This must now paint the way for negotiators at COP26 to agree that major emitters will come back in the next couple of years to further strengthen their 2030 targets to align with avoiding the 1.5 degrees C temperature threshold.

“While the latest national climate plans have shifted us to a much better trajectory than the one before the Paris Agreement was struck, they do not achieve the deep emission reductions necessary to avoid the most dangerous levels of warming.”

According to Mountford, for the first time, G20 leaders collectively recognized the importance of reaching net-zero emissions by or around mid-century.

“It is impressive that 90 per cent of G20 countries have now indicated some intention to reach net-zero, which would have been unfathomable just a few years ago.

“G20 countries deserve credit for sending an unequivocal message that they will stop financing unabated coal power abroad, yet they failed to make the obvious leap to stop building coal-fired plants at home as well. At COP26, countries can continue to sound the death knell for the world’s dirtiest fossil fuel. Shifting investments to clean energy is just common sense given it is cheaper almost everywhere.”

Seeing the G20 statement extremely disappointing, Namrata Chowdhary, Chief of Public Engagement at 350.org said: “Heads of state from the world’s richest — and therefore most powerful — countries had the opportunity to radically reset multilateral politics and generate the commitments necessary to keep global heating below 1.5 degrees Celsius, to protect workers, communities, the environment and future generations.

“Instead, they’ve made a contradictory and empty statement on climate: they’ve restated their commitment to keeping global heating below 1.5 degrees Celsius, but failed to commit to any action themselves, not even agreeing that their national climate plans must be improved.

“Right now, they have us on a path to nearly 3 degrees of heating. These so-called leaders need to do better. They have another shot at this: starting tomorrow (Monday).”

Representatives from the most impacted people and areas, along with thousands of campaigners for climate justice from around the world, are heading to Glasgow to hold them accountable at COP26.

On finance, the G20 leaders agreed to use recovery plans for climate, mobilise more from development banks (World Bank etc.) and new commitment to mobilise public and private for green development.

Ulka Kelkar, Climate Policy Director, WRI India, said: “The G20 leaders’ call to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius is very significant. COP26 now needs to back it up with measures to cut emissions rapidly in this decade and urgently scale up climate finance.”

Climate change think tank E3G’s Senior Associate Alden Meyer said: “The acknowledgement by G20 leaders that akeeping 1.5 degrees Celsius within reach will require meaningful and effective actions and commitment by all countries,’ together with their pledge to aaccelerate our actions across mitigation, adaptation and finance’ and ato take further action this decade’ is an important signal.

“But much hard work — especially on issues of climate finance — remains ahead if COP26 is to reach agreement on concrete ways to address the huge gap in ambition between what countries have currently committed to under the Paris Agreement and what is needed to keep 1.5 degrees C alive and help vulnerable countries and communities cope with the mounting impacts of climate change.

“Leaders must instruct their ministers and negotiators to turn this rhetoric into reality over the next two weeks if Glasgow is to truly represent a turning point in our common endeavour of confronting the climate emergency.”

In the backdrop of 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, COP26 opened on Sunday with the key aims of raising ambition on all fronts and finalising the agreement’s implementation guidelines.

UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa

“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.

“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.”

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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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British envoy hails India’s climate actions

British High Commissioner Alex Ellis said India has already proved that it has the innovation and political will to follow a sustainable development path, reports VISHAL GULATI

Just ahead of nations descending on Glasgow for the UN Climate Change Conference, COP26, with the UK presidency’s key objective as keeping the goal of limiting temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius within reach, British High Commissioner Alex Ellis said India, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is already taking impressive climate action — quadrupling wind and solar capacity in the last decade.

India has already proved that it has the innovation and political will to follow a sustainable development path. Also India has a huge opportunity to use new tech to pioneer a clean development path, he said.

In an exclusive interview with IANS in New Delhi just hours before the official start of COP26 with calls for concrete climate action in Glasgow coming from all sectors, the High Commissioner to India said: “We have a packed agenda given that there hasn’t been a COP for two years. Our expectations and aims are driven by science.”

“The international scientific consensus is that the world is running out of time to avert great harm to ourselves and our planet, through climate change. The COP26 summit in Glasgow is our last best chance to avert this, by putting the world on the path to limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees.

“That means that globally we need to reach net zero emissions by 2050 — with countries getting there at different speeds according to their stage of development. So as hosts of COP26, we are asking all countries to work together to keep the path to 1.5 degrees alive.”

Laying out what success in Glasgow would look like, he replied: “We are asking all countries to enhance their Nationally Determined Contributions (short-term targets) and to make long-term targets in line with the 2050 goal. For this COP, we also need to flesh out some of the detail of the Paris Agreement on issues such as how carbon markets will operate in the future.”

Believing the developed nations should meet climate finance pledge of $100 billion a year, Ellis, who remembers his time fondly while trekking in the Himalayas and taking in the night sky in the desert near Jaisalmer, said Britain also wants to ensure that countries are supported in adapting to climate change and that developed countries deliver the climate finance and technology flows to support green economic transformation in developing countries.

On the world expectation from India, the diplomat told IANS that India under Modi is already taking impressive climate action — quadrupling wind and solar capacity in the last decade and now setting the 450GW target as well as launching the National Hydrogen Mission.

“Climate action must support development. India has already proved that it has the innovation and political will to follow a sustainable development path. India has already reduced the emissions intensity of its economy by 20 per cent compared to 2005 levels.

“So along with all countries, we are asking India to enhance their greenhouse gas target until 2030 and to set out a long-term strategy in line with the 1.5 degree goal.”

On calls to the developed nations to reduce their emissions, he was categorical in saying, “The developed countries need to set out ambitious targets on climate action, and as the COP Presidency, we are pressing them to do so.”

“India has a huge opportunity — to use new tech to pioneer a clean development path. Climate action must support growth. Most of the infrastructure for energy and other needs that India will need by 2040 is yet to be built.

“India can leapfrog ahead using clean tech to develop, rather than locking into more polluting and ultimately more expensive high carbon systems.”

At the same time, Ellis believes India is already on this path.

Prime Minister Modi’s commitment to install 450GW of renewable energy by 2030 is hugely impressive. “We realise that developed countries too have their role to play and that’s why the UK is pushing for COP26 to deliver the right flows of finance and technology to meet the needs of countries like India.”

To mark a show of leadership, US President Joe Biden will be travelling to Glasgow on November 1 to attend the UN climate summit — a pivotal moment on the road towards a more secure and sustainable future since the signing of the Paris Agreement in 2015.

Also, Modi will be attending the climate talks that is expected to bring more than 120 world leaders together to discuss the best ways of tackling the climate crisis that the UN chief has called for a “massive mobilization” of political will that requires trust among the world’s biggest economies — the G20 — and between developed and developing countries, including emerging economies.

On expectation from the nations to come forward with national plans on cutting greenhouse gas emissions, an optimistic envoy replied: “We have already seen countries like the US and Japan pledging to halve their greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.

“The next decade will set a path for the net-zero future vision. The UK last week published its own detailed strategy for how we will meet our net zero by 2050 goal.”

Prime Minister Johnson’s 10-point plan for a green industrial revolution reinstates the UK’s commitment to build back better, support green jobs and accelerate the path to net-zero, he added.

The COP26 is the annual UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties.

This year COP, after missing 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, is being held under the presidency of the UK in Glasgow, Scotland’s biggest city home to nearly 6,00,000 people, from October 31 to November 12.

The climate talks will bring together heads of state, climate experts and campaigners to agree coordinated action to tackle climate change.

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COP26: How Big India Will Go?

COP 26 (Picture by Number 10/ Twitter)

India has been under pressure to declare either enhanced ambition or to declare net zero goals in the run-up to the annual climate change talks, the COP26, but it has so far maintained top secrecy, a report by Nivedita Khandekar

Just as it was the International Solar Alliance (ISA) at the time of Paris COP in 2015, there is a strong possibility that India would go big about “green” hydrogen at this COP that starts on Sunday at the UK’s Glasgow.

India has been under pressure to declare either enhanced ambition or to declare net zero goals in the run-up to the annual climate change talks, the COP26, but it has so far maintained top secrecy, saying whatever is the country’s stance, it would be announced “at an appropriate time and appropriate place.”

The COP26, the Conference of Parties to the United Nations Convention Framework on Climate Change (UNFCCC), is to take place from October 31 till November 12 at the Scottish city of Glasgow where the world leaders and negotiators will deliberate actions to reduce carbon emissions to restrict the global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is going to attend the High-Level segment on November 1 and 2 and so are the Ministers of Environment and Power on other days. Going beyond its committed 175 GW of renewable energy, India has already announced that it will pursue 450 GW of installed capacity of renewable energy by 2030.

The government has not, however, announced any break-up of this 450 GW target. There have been big ticket solar power plants across states, some already functional, some under-construction, so solar is a big part of this renewable energy basket. But it is now also certain that green hydrogen will occupy a pride of place in it.

“Modi is going to own up solar plants and green hydrogen in a big way,” a source, who has been involved in the energy sector, told IANS.

Another source from the development sector concurred.

“We are going to say something big about green hydrogen. We are trying to get some other countries on board – on the lines of the International Solar Alliance – for some kind of global consensus for an alliance on hydrogen. It is a technologically attractive option,” the source said.

India has already declared a National Hydrogen Mission in August this year. With this, it is looking at a great opportunity to cut down on fossil fuel-based chemicals, which are used to produce hydrogen.

“Today, hydrogen is made in all refineries, all fertiliser plants using natural gas. It is a fossil fuel, which means, sending out a lot of CO2 emission. Green hydrogen will help us cut that down,” the energy sector source said.

The government is planning to go phase-wise, for example, this Hydrogen mission is likely to give a mandate to progressively start giving 1 per cent dose in year one, then three per cent dose in year two and so on so forth, and then at the end of 2025 or 2030, whichever is decided, the target would be 10 per cent.

“That (10 per cent) is how a huge quantity of fossil fuel replaced. Green means the entire carbon footprint should be zero and hydrogen will help achieve that to a large extent,” the source said.

There are various ways to make green hydrogen without adding any carbon. If solar energy is used for the hydrogen making process, then the entire cycle becomes carbon free.

Earlier in September, stating that India has the potential to step in to meet not just India’s but global demand for green hydrogen, Union Earth Sciences and Science and Technology Minister Dr Jitendra Singh had declared the aspirational goal of ‘Hydrogen 2-1-2’ wherein “2 means green hydrogen that would costs for less than $2 per kg; 1 means hydrogen storage plus distribution plus refueling cost less than $1 per kg, and the last 2 is for replacement of incumbent end-use technology with green hydrogen technology with ROI of less than 2 years”.

“Various options have been given to the PMO, all of them are under consideration. Some of these endorsements will find a way to this forum (COP),” said another source in the Environment Ministry.

In this decade, the whole economy of the world is to rest on hydrogen, and the “H2 economy” will bring in a paradigm change.

It is a continuously available material and totally renewable. One cannot store energy anywhere else except in hydrogen and batteries.

“This development – of announcing big on green hydrogen – would be greatly helpful in reducing import bills from batteries needed for storage in case of solar energy,” a consultant from the energy field said.

All eyes are now set to what Prime Minister Modi announces during the High-Level segment.

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Europe’s Largest Ultra-Low Emission Zone in Action

Europe’s biggest ultra-low emission zone, spanning about 380 square km of London, has come into operation.

Around 3.8 million people live within the zone which extends to the north and south circular roads around the British capital, reports Xinhua news agnecy.

London City Hall expects around 110,000 vehicles are likely to pay a 12.50 pounds ($17.22) charge for driving within the new zone.

Drivers who don’t pay face a penalty charge of 160 pounds, reduced to half if paid within 14 days.

The enlarged zone is an extension of what was the world’s first Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) covering mainly central London.

A City Hall spokesperson said: “The new zone covers one quarter of London and is the largest zone of its kind in Europe. It will bring the health benefits of cleaner air to millions more Londoners. The scheme will operate 24 hours a day, every day of the year except Christmas Day.”

The ULEZ is also a crucial step towards London’s ambitions to tackle the climate emergency and put the city on the path to be a net zero carbon city by 2030.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: “This is a landmark day for our city. Expanding the Ultra Low Emission Zone today will clean up London’s toxic air pollution and help tackle the global climate emergency by reducing emissions.

“In central London, the ULEZ has already helped cut toxic roadside nitrogen dioxide pollution by nearly half and led to reductions that are five times greater than the national average. But pollution isn’t just a central London problem, which is why expanding the ULEZ today will benefit Londoners across the whole of the city and is a crucial step in London’s green recovery from this pandemic.”

According to Khan, pollution leads to 4,000 London residents dying early each year and children in the capital growing up with stunted lungs.

Khan has provided 61 million pounds in funding for grants for small businesses, charities operating minibuses, and low-income and disabled Londoners to scrap older, more polluting vehicles.

Sarah Woolnough, CEO of the charities Asthma UK and the British Lung Foundation welcomed the move.

“Whilst this is a huge step in the right direction, we mustn’t be complacent against this invisible threat. The fact of the matter remains that the majority of people living in London, are still living in areas where pollution levels are dangerously high.”

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Amid calls to postpone, UK promises Covid-secure COP26

The conference is set to take place in early November in Glasgow after a year of postponement owing to the pandemic…reports Asian Lite News.

The Climate Action Network (CAN), a global network of more than 1,500 civil society organisations in over 130 countries working together to fight the climate emergency, on Tuesday called for the UN climate talks — COP26 — to be postponed in view of the Covid challenges.

The UK government, which is hosting the summit, rejected calls for postponement, saying it is funding quarantine hotels for accredited delegates from “red list” countries.

The conference is set to take place in early November in Glasgow after a year of postponement owing to the pandemic.

Responding to CAN’s concerns, COP26 President-Designate Alok Sharma said climate change has not taken time off, which is why COP26 must go ahead in-person in November.

“The UK is funding quarantine hotels for accredited delegates from red list countries. This is in addition to our vaccines offer to ensure an inclusive, accessible and Covid-secure summit,” he said in a tweet.

With just two months to go, it is evident that a safe, inclusive and just global climate conference is impossible given the failure to support the access to vaccines to millions of people in poor countries, the rising costs of travel and accommodation, and the uncertainty in the course of the Covid-19 pandemic, the CAN said in a statement.

An in-person COP in early November would de facto exclude many government delegates, civil society campaigners and journalists, particularly from Global South countries, many of which are on the UK’s Covid-19 ‘red list’, it said.

This exclusion poses serious and long-lasting implications for issues that will be under deliberation at this COP and that are extremely important to developing countries, including on climate finance, loss and damage and carbon market rules, among others. The full and meaningful representation of those on the frontlines of the climate emergency is critical to produce a credible political outcome from COP26.

“Our concern is that those countries most deeply affected by the climate crisis and those countries suffering from the lack of support by rich nations in providing vaccines will be left out of the talks and be conspicuous by their absence at COP26. There has always been an inherent power imbalance within the UN climate talks, between rich and poor nations, and this is now compounded by the health crisis. Looking at the current timeline for COP26, it is difficult to imagine there can be fair participation from the Global South under safe conditions and it should therefore be postponed,” said CAN Executive Director Tasneem Essop.

The UK government, on its official Twitter handle, clarified: “Ensuring the voices of those most affected by climate change are heard is a priority for the COP26 Presidency.”

“Doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine are now being transported to delegates who registered to be vaccinated ahead of COP26. The UK is committed to hosting a safe, inclusive and in-person summit. To tackle climate change we need everyone at the same table in Glasgow,” it added.

CAN argued that it has advocated for vaccine equity and a TRIPS waiver on Covid-19 vaccines since the start of this year and called out the UK for failing to support a patent waiver at the G7 Summit back in June.

“Today, 57 per cent of Europe is fully vaccinated while just about three per cent of Africa is. Our fight for climate justice and our efforts to hold those in power accountable cannot be delinked from the root causes that continue to perpetuate such inequality and injustice. The climate talks are important but against the current context of vaccine apartheid they simply cannot proceed by locking out the voices of those who especially need to be heard at this time,” added Essop.

While the UK COP26 Presidency promised to fast-track vaccines to delegates in need of them, those who applied for this are yet to receive their first jabs as of today. “We note that the UK COP Presidency has now announced that delegates will be vaccinated this week,” the CAN said.

Repeated requests to the UK Presidency for clarity around support for logistics and quarantine costs have also not been forthcoming or made public, it said.

“The UK has been too slow in delivering its vaccines support to delegates in vulnerable countries and their quarantine requirements come with some eye-watering hotel costs. Some delegates are finding they cannot transit because some of the major travel hubs are closed and the alternative travel costs are beyond the reach of poorer governments and smaller civil society organisations.

“If COP26 goes ahead as currently planned, I fear it is only the rich countries and NGOs from those countries that would be able to attend. This flies in the face of the principles of the UN process and opens the door for rich nations stitch-up of the talks. A climate summit without the voices of those most affected by climate change is not fit for purpose,” said Mohamed Adow, long-time observer of the talks and Director of the Nairobi-based think tank Power Shift Africa.

CAN acknowledges the difficulties in holding a COP during a pandemic. This call to postpone COP26 does not in any way imply a postponement of urgent climate action or a boycott of the climate talks, it said.

As accredited observers to the UN climate negotiations, CAN has been a key player in every COP since 1995, advocating for the strongest response from governments to the climate emergency.

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