Updated: November 12, 2021 / Previous updates / Link & Resources
COP26 in Glasgow comes to an official close today. A first draft of the COP26 agreement text was released on Wednesday, and was criticized for its lack of ambition and urgency.
- COP26 draft deal calls for stronger carbon cutting targets by end of 2022 (The Globe and Mail)
- Draft climate deal puts global fossil fuel subsidies on notice (National Observer)
- Cop26 draft text annotated: what it says and what it means (The Guardian)
- COP26: what the draft agreement says – and why it’s being criticised (The Conversation)
- Current COP26 draft decision text fails to offer support for vulnerable countries on loss and damage, nor keeps 1.5C in sight (Climate Action Network)
The draft text explicitly refers to "fossil fuels" — which has never appeared in the final text of a COP decision document — calling on countries "to accelerate the phasing-out of coal and subsidies for fossil fuels." This language was watered down in the second draft published today.
- Second Cop26 draft text: Coal phaseout remains in but some language softened (The Guardian)
- The changes to the Cop26 draft text and what they mean (The Guardian)
- Fossil Subsidies Gain, ‘Deep Regret’ on Climate Finance in Latest COP 26 Draft (The Energy Mix)
- Climate experts demand Canada push for stronger COP26 decision text (Climate Action Network Canada)
While COP26 officially ends today, negotiations on the final text of the agreement are ongoing. Negotiations at previous COPs have often extended until Saturday or Sunday. Remaining stumbling blocks include increased commitments to international climate financing including support for "loss and damage" financing; calls for revising the NDCs and returning to the negotiating table next year; and the contentious Article 6, the final unresolved item from the Paris Agreement Rulebook that deals with carbon markets and credits.
- As COP26 deadline slips, negotiators to keep working to agree crucial climate deal (UN News)
- COP26 summit extended into weekend as delegates debate reparations, fossil fuel subsidies (The Globe and Mail)
- Negotiations Toughen, Article 6 Fight Looms as COP 26 Approaches ‘Peak of the Battle’ (The Energy Mix)
- Global climate conference struggles to reach deal on trading carbon credits (National Observer)
- Integrity of Paris Agreement at Stake (Indigenous Climate Action)
- Pressure mounts on countries to strike Cop26 deal as talks pass deadline (The Guardian)
Other COP26 Highlights
In addition to the main COP26 agreement, there were many other joint commitments and agreements made by countries at the conference. Some key commitments from Canada included pledges on ending the public financing of fossil fuels projects, phasing out coal-fired electricty and thermal coal exports, and ending deforestation.
Canada pledged to end the public financing of international fossil fuel projects by the end of next year.
- Statement on International Public Support for the Clean Energy Transition (UK COP26)
- Canada joins historic commitment to end international fossil fuel finance by end of 2022 (Environmental Defence et al.)
- Canada’s financing of foreign fossil fuel projects to dry up in 2022 (The National Observer)
While Canada re-iterated its committment to phase out coal-fired electricity and end thermal coal exports by 2030. Many were hoping for an acceleration of the deadline for ending thermal coal exposts.
- Global Coal to Clean Power Transition Statement (UK COP26)
- Canada takes positive action at COP26, but disappointment lingers over slow movement on coal (National Observer)
- National organizations call for an end to thermal coal exports during COP26 (CAPE, Council of Canadians, Ecojustice, Environmental Defence, Keepers of the Water, Leadnow, Stand,Earth)
Canada joined more that 100 countries in pledging to end deforestation by 2030, although some have noted that this commitment is actually less ambitious than previous deforestation targets.
- Glasgow Leaders' Declaration on Forests and Land Use (UK COP26)
- At COP26, Canada joins more than 100 nations in pledge to end deforestation by 2030 (The Globe and Mail)
- Leaders promise to halt ‘chainsaw massacre’ of world’s forests (National Observer)
- COP26 deforestation deal key to slowing climate change, but Canada must tackle issues of carbon accounting and industry (The Conversation)
One commitment Canada didn't make, was joining the newly formed Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance (BOGA). The Alliance's core members — 7 countries and the province of Quebec — have committed to end new oil and gas exploration and production.
- Quebec, Wales, California Join Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance while Canada, U.K., U.S. Stay Out (The Energy Mix)
- Quebec premier envisions a future beyond oil and gas (National Observer)
Previous Updates
October 31, 2021
From October 31 to November 12, 2021 world leaders and national negotiators are meeting in Glasgow, Scotland for COP26 —the 26th Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Over the course of the two-week summit, delegations from countries around the world will engage in negotiations to establish new global climate targets, and make new national climate change commitments
This is the 26th annual summit to be held since the UNFCCC treaty came into force in 1994. Negotiations at previous summits resulted in important agreements under the treaty such as the Kyoto Protocol (COP3), which defined emissions limits for industrialized nations, and the Paris Agreement (COP21), which set a target to limit temperature rise to 1.5°C, and required countries to review their emission reduction commitments every five years.
One of the primary objectives of COP26 is to finalize the Paris Rulebook—the rules needed to implement the Paris Agreement. Countries were also urged to submit updated targets, known as Nationally-Determined Contributions or NDCs as part of the Paris Agreement's five-year review cycle. Prior to COP26, these updated NDCs were compiled into an NDC Synthesis Report whose findings that there is an "urgent need for either a significant increase in the level of ambition of NDCs between now and 2030 or a significant overachievement of the latest NDCs, or a combination of both," serve to highlight the importance of the COP26 negotiations
In addition to the official negotiating sessions and formal events in the "Blue Zone", there are also thousands of side events happening, divided over thematic days, on topics like finance, energy, youth and public empowerment, nature, adaptation, gender, science and innovation, transport, and cities. There is also a public "Green Zone" where NGOs and other civil society groups, academia, artists, businesses from around the world will gather to host events, exhibitions, workshops and lectures.
We've compiled some links and resources for you to learn more about, and follow the events of COP26. Back to top
Links & Resources
Official sites
- UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) at the SEC – Glasgow 2021
- Glasgow Climate Change Conference – October-November 2021 | UNFCCC
Watch
Calendars
Observer Newsletters
- ECO Newsletter at COP26 (Climate Action Network)
- Earth Negotiations Bulletin (IISD)
- WN Glasgow Climate News Update (Third World Network)
COP26 Coverage
- Special Coverage of COP26 (UN News)
- Special Report - COP26: Uniting the World to Tackle Climate Change (Canada's National Observer)
- COP26 (The Globe and Mail)
- COP 26 Conference Coverage (The Energy Mix)
- Cop26: Latest news from the climate crisis conference in Glasgow (The Guardian)
- Indigenous Climate Action at COP26 (Indigenous Climate Action)
- #NetZeroYYC Daily COP26 Coverage (Calgary Climate Hub)
Explainers
- COP26 – what we know so far, and why it matters: Your UN News guide (UN News)
- What is COP26? A guide to the Glasgow climate talks – the world’s most consequential environment conference (Globe and Mail)
- What is COP26 (Canada's National Observer)
- COP26: a four-minute guide by a climate scientist (The Conversation)
- What is COP26? Here’s how global climate negotiations work and what’s expected from the Glasgow summit (The Conversation)
- COP26: SDG or NDC? Our guide to the language you need to know (UN News)