The UN COP26 summit wrapped up its second week with delegates finalising the deal that would secure emission reduction commitments. The climate talks blew past the Friday deadline as key issues still had to be discussed including the phase-out of fossil fuel subsidies, carbon markets, and financial help for poor countries to fight climate change.
Here are some of the key insights from the COP26 climate change conference's final week.
| Countries / Signatories | Area | Action |
|---|---|---|
| 30 | Emissions | Zero Emission Vehicle Transition Council: Formed in November 2020, governments from the world’s largest and “most progressive” automotive markets aim to accelerate the shift to zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) on a global scale. The following are the council’s key priorities in 2022: charging infrastructure, CO2 or fuel efficiency standards and regulations, pace of the transition and technology choices for zero-emission heavy-duty vehicles, and ensuring global transition to ZEV. |
| 22 | Emissions | Mission Innovation: New “missions” announced at COP26 aim to bolster investments that would facilitate urban transitions to low carbon; eliminate emissions from industry; enable carbon dioxide removal; and produce renewable fuels, chemicals, and materials. The platform gives the public and private sectors an avenue to collaborate on clean technology solutions across industries. |
| 22 | Emissions | Clydebank Declaration: Signatories aim to establish at least six “green shipping corridors” in the current decade. These corridors are zero-emission maritime routes between two or more ports to promote net-zero strategies in harder-to-decarbonise sectors such as shipping and aviation. |
| 8 | Oil | Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance: Denmark, Costa Rica, France, Greenland, Ireland, Sweden, Wales, and the Canadian province of Quebec have pledged to stop the issuance of oil and gas drilling permits in support of the alliance’s larger effort to halt oil and gas production in their territories. |
| Global | Adaptation / Resilience | Adaptation Fund: Launched in 2001 under the Kyoto Protocol, the Adaptation Fund was able to raise a record US$356m in donations at COP26 as part of its mandate to finance climate initiatives in developing countries that are the most vulnerable to global warming. The 2021 pledges came from the European Commission, Germany, US, Spain, UK, Sweden, Switzerland, Norway, Finland, and Canada, among others. |
| Global | Health | COP26 Health Programme: Signatories have pledged to build sustainable, low-carbon health systems designed to be resilient against the impact of climate change. Fourteen countries, in particular, aim to establish net-zero health infrastructure by 2050. |
| Global | Gender | Gender Action: Different countries unveiled their programs for advancing gender equality in their climate response strategies. Bolivia vowed to promote the leadership of women and girls in sustainable development projects. Canada said it would ensure 80% of its $5.3bn climate investments result in gender equality outcomes. Ecuador pledged to increase the decision-making capability of women-led climate groups, while Germany launched “gender-transformative” approaches to its climate initiatives. |
