The Conference of Parties (COP) is an annual summit under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC), the global agreement signed in 1992 between 197 countries (or parties) to prevent dangerous human interference with climate system. COP is the supreme decision-making body of the convention represented by all states that are parties to it. They review implementation of the convention and any other legal instruments that the COP adopts and take decisions that are necessary to promote effective implementation of the convention. One of the key tasks for the COP is to review the national communications and emission inventories submitted by the parties. The information received is used to assess the effects of measures taken by the parties and progress made in achieving ultimate objective of the convention.
About COP26
COP26, held between October 31 and November 12, in Glasgow was considered the most significant conference because countries were expected to dedicate more financial resources for developing and SIDS countries to fight climate change. The event saw 195 nations (parties) come together to accelerate action towards the goals of the Paris Agreement and the UNFCC.
The four-point agenda explained what was needed to achieve at COP26.
Accelerate the phase out of coal, encourage investment in renewables, curtail deforestation, speed up the switch to secure Global Net Zero by 2050 and keep the goal of 1.5 degree Celsius within reach;
Encourage countries affected by climate change to protect, restore ecosystems, build defences, put warning systems in place and make infrastructure and agriculture more resilient;
Commitments by developed countries to double the collective share of adaptation finance to reach $100 billion goal as soon as possible;
To work together and finalise the Paris Rulebook, which will turn ambitions into actions by accelerating collaboration between governments, businesses and civil society.
Funds to help the developing nations cope with climate change, was one of the major issues contested and negotiated during the COP26.
Proceedings of COP26 and India’s net zero pledge
Announcements made during the conference where experts estimated that the world is now on a path to between 1.8 degree Celsius and 2.4 degree Celsius of warming, to which the parties agreed to revisit their commitments, as necessary by the end of 2022. India, being the world’s third largest emitter of carbon dioxide, has emitted 1.9 tonnes of CO2 per head of population in 2019. In purview of the agenda of COP26 and global calling for climate change, India made five significant promises as its net zero pledge. The promises are to generate 50 per cent of its energy from renewable resources by 2030, reduce total projected carbon emissions by one billion tonnes by 2030, cut the emissions to net zero by 2070, achieve carbon intensity reduction of 45 per cent over 2005 levels by 2030, and increase non-fossil energy capacity to 500 GW (GigaWatts) by 2030.
India emphasised the need to take up green credits as a first priority over carbon credits, working on the concept of climate justice on four issues of temperature, mitigation, finance and responsibility by building a counter against the shifting goal post by the developed world. For the first time ever, COP26 also agreed to accelerate efforts towards ‘phase down’ of unabated coal power and phase out inefficient fossil fuel subsidies as suggested by India. COP26 also recognised the need for support towards a fair transition.
The conclusions drawn by end of the 14 days-conference made progress towards three objectives set out at the start of COP26. Firstly, to get commitments to cut emissions and keep within the reach of global warming limit of 1.5 degree Celsius. Second, to reach the target of $100 billion per year of climate change finance for the developing and vulnerable countries. Lastly, to get agreement on the Paris rulebook.
COP 26 and local governments
The conference engaged the local governments to address their unique and crucial role in tackling climate change, and to turn national climate ambitions into joint actions on ground. It is imperative that local governments are supported to reach their local carbon reduction targets by adapting, and mitigating the effects of climate change.
They continue to take action to combat the negative impacts and to help deliver net-zero carbon by 2070.