Negotiators clinch climate deal at COP26

Glasgow Climate Pact is the first ever United Nations climate deal to reduce coal and cut down on greenhouse gases with harmful climate impact

London: Negotiators from nearly  200 countries have accepted a new  climate agreement after the COP26  summit in Glasgow concluded its  extra time plenary on Saturday  with a deal, which recognises India’s intervention for the world to  “phase down” rather than “phase  out” fossil fuels. It means the  Glasgow Climate Pact is the first  ever United Nations climate deal  to plan to reduce coal, responsible  for greenhouse gases with harmful  climate impact. Countries, as part  of the agreement, have also agreed  to meet next year to discuss further  carbon cuts so that the goal to limit  warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius can  be reached.

“It is so decided,” said Alok Sharma, the President of COP26, as he  declared the new pact with a stroke  of his gavel after marathon talks  which began earlier this month.

“I hope we can leave this conference united, having delivered something significant for people and the  planet together as one,” he said.

Several countries criticised the  change on fossil fuels promoted  by India, even as Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav  asked the Glasgow climate summit  how one could expect developing  nations to make promises about  “phasing out” coal and fossil fuel  subsidies when they have still to  deal with their development agendas and poverty eradication.

Earlier, at a stocktaking plenary,  India made an important intervention to express its disappointment  over the draft text of the agreement.  The country expressed unfairness  towards the developing world and  pointed to a “lack of balance” and  urgency around achieving climate  finance targets.

“Mr president (Sharma) thank  you for your continued efforts to  build consensus. I’m afraid, however, the consensus remained elusive.  India stands ready for constructive  debate and equitable and just solution in this forum,” Environment  Minister Yadav said.The minister  pointed to climate friendly lifestyles and climate justice, as enshrined in the Paris Agreement,  as keys to solving the climate crisis caused by “unsustainable lifestyles and wasteful consumption  patterns”.

Fossil fuels and their use have  enabled parts of the world to attain high levels of wealth and wellbeing, and targeting any particular  sector is uncalled for, he said. Every  country will arrive at net-zero as  per its own national circumstances,  strengths and weaknesses, Yadav  stressed.

“Developing countries have a  right to their fair share of the global carbon budget and are entitled to  the responsible use of fossil fuels  within this scope,” he said.

“In such a situation, how can  anyone expect that developing  countries can make promises about  phasing out coal and fossil fuel subsidies (when) developing countries  still have to deal with their development agendas and poverty eradication,” the minister asked.

Speaking on the issue of subsidies, Yadav highlighted that they  provide much-needed social security and support to people. -(PTI)

Five things you need to know about the  Glasgow Climate Pact

London: From phasing out coal  to carbon market loopholes,  here is what you need to know:

1. Progress on cutting  emissions, but nowhere near  enough, The Glasgow Climate  Pact is incremental progress  and not the breakthrough  moment needed to curb the  worst impacts of climate change.

2. The door is ajar for further  cuts in the near future The  final text of the Glasgow Pact  notes that the current national  climate plans, nationally  determined contributions  (NDCs) in the jargon, are far  from what is needed for 1.5 C

3. Rich countries continued  to ignore their historical  responsibilitysea level rise.

4. Loopholes in carbon market  rules could undermine progress  Carbon markets could throw  a potential lifeline to the fossil  fuel industry, allowing them to  claim carbon offsets and carry  on business as usual.

5. Thank climate activists for  the progress their next moves  will be decisive. -AP