In just four days the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference, also known as COP26, will be held in Glasgow. This will be the 26th United Nations Climate Change conference to take place in which leaders from all around the world meet to discuss the climate crisis and actionable steps to halt the damage being done to our planet. So what exactly will the outcome be of this summit? Will there be tangible changes, or will this just be another symbolic meeting? Here are some of the things we can expect to see:
1. In a continuation of the Paris Climate Accord, it is expected that many countries will announce their hope to continue moving away from using coal for energy, as well as trying to slow their methane emissions. However, these changes will not occur over night. It is likely they will have long lead-in times, especially for historically marginalized countries.
2. An emphasis will be placed on the "global goal on adaptation." Previously, climate aid given by richer countries has been focused on cutting carbon emissions and not on the ability of at-risk nations to cope with the impacts of climate change through developing better weather-warning systems and solutions. However, with the reality of our changing climate setting in there has been an argument made by the UN for climate finance to be split 50-50 between adaptation and cutting carbon. This will allow for areas being hit harder to prepare for weather events that can be dangerous to them.
Here are some articles to read for more information on COP26: