Alok Sharma, President of COP26 that started this Sunday in Glasgow (Scotland) anticipates that this climate summit will be in many respects “more difficult” that the meeting of Paris in 2015. At the opening of the conference, he stated that this quote is the “last great hope“to maintain the goal of keeping global warming in 1,5ºC above pre-industrial levels.
“Our beloved planet is changing for the worse,” admitted Sharma at the beginning of the meeting that will take place until November 12, but at the same time stressed that humanity knows what to do to avoid it. In this sense, he has expressed hope that the negotiations that open today, before 120 world leaders meet tomorrow Monday in Glasgow to give the political impetus to the talks, can solve pending problemss and close with an agreement, reports Efe.
Almost at the same time that the summit was opening in Glasgow, the news came from Rome that the leaders of the G20 have agreed to maintain the ceiling of global warming at 1.5 degrees and take action to do so, which is precisely the big challenge of COP26.
“If we act now and act together, we can protect our beloved planet. So let’s get together these two weeks and let’s make what Paris promised Glasgow achieve, “said the former Conservative Minister of the British Government.
In the same speech, he recalled that the covid-19 pandemic forced the celebration of COP26 to be postponed by one year, “but during that year climate change did not take a vacation. “
Sharma alluded to latest IPCC report, which last August confirmed that climate change is “undoubtedly” caused by human activity and pointed out that the study, signed by 195 governments, has set off alarms and shows that “the window is closing.”
“In each of our countries, we are seeing the devastating impact of climate change “, He pointed out, and exemplified it in the floods, droughts or extreme temperatures registered this year in different parts of the world. And he especially thanked delegates for their “efforts” to reach the UK “despite the pandemic.”
Forget “the ghosts of the past”
Previously, in an interview with the Sky News channel, Sharma said that “the achievement of Paris was fantastic, historic, but it was only a framework agreement. What we have to do since then is to agree on some of the detailed rules. Some of them still pending six years later. This is a real challenge. “The president of the summit also noted that”geopolitical issues are more difficult than in Paris“.
Questioned by notable absences In Glasgow, like that of Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Sharma argued that both countries have announced net zero emissions targets for the middle of this century.
“The meeting of leaders is very important, more than 120 leaders will come from all over the globe. But, in addition, we will have two weeks of detailed negotiations,” in which we will also teams sent by Russia and China participate, stressed. “My message to all leaders is clear: leave the ghosts of the past behind and be united around this issue that affects us all, protect our precious planet,” said Sharma.
In parallel, the British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, has stated during his visit to Rome for the G20 that COP26 is going to be the “moment of truth for the world.”
“What everyone is wondering is whether we will seize this moment or let it slip away,” added Johnson, who urged global leaders to commit to “decisive action” to limit warming.
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All El Periódico articles on the Glasgow Climate Summit
The world has one last chance to avoid climate catastrophe and this is the Glasgow Climate Summit (COP26). Between October 31 and November 12, governments around the world will discuss how to stop the advance of the climate crisis. Here you can find all EL PERIÓDICO’s articles about COP26.
Reference-www.elperiodico.com