2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference

2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference was the 26th Conference of the Parties (COP26) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). It was held at the SEC Centre in Glasgow, Scotland, under the presidency of British MP Alok Sharma. The conference aimed to finalize the rules for implementing the Paris Agreement and secure enhanced national commitments to mitigate climate change.

Background

The conference was originally scheduled for 2020 but was postponed due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. It followed the landmark 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference that produced the Paris Agreement, which aimed to limit global warming to well below 2°C, preferably to 1.5°C, compared to pre-industrial levels. Key preparatory meetings included the Pre-COP summit in Milan and the G20 summit in Rome just prior to the event. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) had released its stark Sixth Assessment Report in August 2021, underscoring the urgency for action.

Negotiations and outcomes

The principal outcome was the Glasgow Climate Pact, which marked the first time a COP agreement explicitly mentioned reducing coal use and phasing down fossil fuel subsidies. Parties were urged to strengthen their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) by the end of 2022. The pact also finalized the Article 6 rulebook for international carbon markets. Separate side agreements included the Global Methane Pledge, led by the United States and the European Union, and the Glasgow Leaders' Declaration on Forests and Land Use. Over 100 countries also agreed to the Global Coal to Clean Power Transition Statement.

Participation and protests

The conference was attended by over 120 world leaders, including U.S. President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Notable absences included Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Activist Greta Thunberg and groups like Extinction Rebellion and Fridays for Future organized large protests in Glasgow Green and across the city, criticizing the perceived inadequacy of the outcomes. Indigenous groups, such as the Indigenous Environmental Network, were also prominent in advocating for climate justice.

Reception and analysis

Reactions were mixed; UN Secretary-General António Guterres stated the pact reflected the interests of the present geopolitical landscape but urged faster action. Organizations like the World Resources Institute acknowledged progress on rules and finance but highlighted gaps in ambition. Critics, including the Climate Action Network, decried the weakened language on coal and insufficient commitments to the Green Climate Fund. Media outlets like The Guardian and BBC News extensively covered the last-minute negotiations over coal phrasing led by India and China.

Legacy and follow-up

The conference set the stage for the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27) in Sharm El Sheikh, where the focus shifted to loss and damage financing. The requirement for updated NDCs in 2022 increased pressure on major emitters like Australia and Brazil. The established Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero (GFANZ) mobilized significant private sector capital. The conference also reinforced the role of non-state actors through the High-Level Champions and the Race to Zero campaign.

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