Reflections on Glasgow and COP26

Reflections on Glasgow and COP26

Francisco Xavier Salazar, Non-Resident Fellow

As with previous meetings, now that COP26 is over we have mixed feelings. Certainly, there were positive results and progress in some areas, but the commitments fall short of what needs to be done to limit the 1.5 °C increase in temperature. Also, as it is normal, we have changes in the positions of several countries. Of course, one of the best things is that the US is back. Unfortunately, some countries that used to be on the forefront of the battle against climate change, like Mexico, are now

implementing policies that will not reduce emissions but, on the contrary, increase them. This is the result of changes in governments whose leaders may or may not be really committed in fighting the problem. As these changes will continue to happen, the challenge for the people and particularly the young, will be to raise their voice to assure that independently of their political parties the new elected leaders pledge to make this issue one of their priorities if not the first one. Chris Sladen, Non-Resident Fellow Many countries have not yet reached peak coal, let alone peak oil, or peak natural gas consumption. The best thing was that nobody was disputing that we have a big climate problem, what the sources of that problem are, and the kinds of actions needed; the road-map is clearer. But 2050 is now less than 1,500 weeks away. We should start reporting week-by-week, not annually. This will help focus on turning the COP26 agreements and pledges into action. We have to deliver because what has been achieved to date is nowhere near enough. Many countries in Latin America will continue to rely on fossil fuel income. The challenge remains immense. Roger Tissot, Non-Resident Fellow diplomatic tensions between global powers and their failure to respond early, fairly and globally to the risk of the Covid-19 pandemic were sufficient reasons to doubt there was any political capital left to address the challenges of a warming planet. While technology, science and innovation is expected to be a key component of the solution, significant uncertainty remains in terms of adaptation. At the most fundamental level, COP26 exposes the deep inequalities between the global north and the global south. It questions traditional views of economic development centered on economic growth while many countries of the global south are supposed to capture a demographic dividend - with large young population entering the work force. Although many pundits and experts show optimistic forecasts of "green jobs," too much remains to be done to ensure the global south can capture those jobs. Failure to employ a growing young population in the global south could become one of the major barriers to the lofty goals signed in Glasgow. The common headlines from Glasgow COP 26 suggest a sense of relief - a deal was signed - but also frustration because the modesty of the goals agreed. The fact that there was an agreement in the first place should be seen as a victory, if not for the environment, at least for the ability of world's leaders to reach consensus on fundamental issues. The emergence of political populism, nationalism, and growing