COP26 - from good intentions to action to save the planet
During the second week of COP26, negotiations will enter the final stage at the political level as part of the high-level segment. During these negotiations, ministers will seek a consensus on key outstanding issues. Slovenia, as the presiding country, whose delegation is headed by Andrej Vizjak, Minister of the Environment and Spatial Planning, represents the EU in negotiations together with the European Commission.
Andrej Vizjak, Minister of the Environment and Spatial Planning, said, "The COP26 is a decisive step for the future of our planet and the younger generation. This generation watches helplessly how we are deciding on the future of our planet, thus sealing our fate and, above all, their fate." He added: "It is high time we act responsibly and move from good intentions in the past to concrete action to achieve the 1.5 degree Celsius goal. We will succeed if we stand united and all take the action needed - the whole world, all countries and all stakeholders. At the same time, we will ensure that such action does not jeopardise social cohesion and economic development, and that we help developing countries."
Throughout the conference, political campaigns and ministerial-level events on specific topics (finance, energy, transport and nature conservation) have taken place and will continue to take place in parallel to the UNFCCC negotiation process. At the beginning of the high-level segment in negotiations, Minister Vizjak also held meetings with ministers and conducted bilateral negotiations and coordination, both with the Executive Vice-President of the Commission Frans Timmermans i and Slovakian Minister of the Environment Ján Buda.
Achieving the set climate objectives encompasses a comprehensive system of support measures, including the use of revenues from measures to stimulate innovation and mitigate the effects of climate change, in particular for the most vulnerable populations. During the pandemic, the EU has provided a large package of European funds to deal with the crisis and the recovery will be marked by the green and digital transitions.
The EU and its member states provide the largest share of public climate finance to help developing countries at the global level. In 2019, they provided EUR 21.9 billion in funding to developing countries. This funding supports climate change mitigation and adaptation actions in these countries. The conclusions on climate finance adopted by the Council of the EU in October this year reaffirm the commitment of the EU and its member states to climate finance. Unfortunately, the contributions from other developed countries are slightly more modest, so only around 80% of the USD 100 billion pledge per year is met. At this summit, a number of developed countries pledged to increase their financial contributions to developing countries so that the target of USD 100 billion per year is expected to be reached in the coming years. In addition, negotiations on the assistance of developed countries to developing countries to tackle climate change after 2025 were initiated at this summit.
As the EU wants to lead by example, it set itself, within the European Climate Law, an ambitious target to reduce GHG emissions by at least 55% by 2030 compared to 1990. It has also committed itself to achieving climate neutrality by 2050.
During the first week of the COP26, some matters were resolved, while some have remained open and will be negotiated during this week under the leadership of ministers. The main open topics are: Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, Transparency, Adaptation, with the Global Goal on Adaptation, Loss and Damages and Common Time Frames for Nationally Determined Contributions.
According to the programme, the Climate Change Conference is expected to end on 12 November with the adoption of the COP26 report and the conclusions that have been in preparation for some time.
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