World Takes Action
WHY IS COP26 IMPORTANT?
FROM -25C temperatures in Spain to a record-equalling 54.4C in California’s Death Valley, 2021 has been a year of climate extremes.
Weather disasters are happening around the world, with heatwaves becoming more frequent and intense, and events such as heavy rainfall and wildfires more commonplace.
Just this summer, hundreds of sudden deaths in Canada were linked to a record heatwave, more than 200 people died in floods across Europe and more than 300 deaths were recorded because of flash flooding in China.
Global heating is dangerously close to being out of control with humans “unequivocally” to blame, the world’s leading climate scientists warn.
From flash floods to forest fires this is a reality which is already at our doorstep here in the UK and around the world.
This is why a breakthrough agreement at COP26 is crucial to us all.
The world leaders have left Glasgow but the conference still has days to run.
So what happens now?
In some ways this week is more important than the headline-grabbing announcements of last week but the process is a complex one.
The negotiating teams from the 190 countries represented must try to forge an agreement which builds on the achievements of the Paris climate change conference of 2015.
This is critical in making sure that the world remains on track to reduce emissions and, as Boris Johnson puts it, “keeping 1.5 degrees alive”.
COP26 is due to end on Friday but it is unlikely that we will see a published version of the final agreement until later.
It will then be possible to judge how rigorous the system will be to ensure that the commitments made so far are actually delivered.