World leaders must come together for our planet and deliver in
Glasgow on the promise made at COP21 in Paris, COP26
President-Designate will say today (Tuesday 12th
October) in a major speech at the UNESCO World Heritage Centre in
the French capital.
The landmark Paris Agreement was reached at COP in 2015, which
committed countries to avoid the worst effects of climate change
by limiting global temperature rises well below 2C, aiming for
1.5C.
Mr Sharma will point to progress made since the Paris Agreement
and outline the importance of leaders taking ambitious action at
COP26 in the UK later this month. The Summit will open in Glasgow
on 31st October.
The COP26 President will highlight four elements for COP26 to
deliver the level of ambition required: 1) climate action plans
to significantly reduce emissions by 2030 and reach net zero by
mid-century, and to support adaptation to tackle climate threats
2) concrete action to deliver these plans, including agreements
on reducing coal, electric cars, protecting trees and reducing
methane emissions 3) to honour the $100bn dollar pledge and 4) a
negotiated outcome that paves the way for a decade of
ever-increasing ambition.
Mr Sharma will echo the call from the countries most vulnerable
to climate change for all G20 countries and major emitters of
greenhouse gases to come forward with enhanced, ambitious 2030
climate action plans, known as Nationally Determined
Contributions. The leaders of the G20 countries will meet in Rome
at the end of this month.
He will also urge world leaders to take the lead from those
climate vulnerable countries which are taking action in the most
difficult circumstances to protect the planet and its people.
COP26 President-Designate Mr Sharma is expected to warn leaders:
COP26 is not a photo op or a talking shop. It must be the forum
where we put the world on track to deliver on climate. And that
is down to leaders. It is leaders who made a promise to the world
in this great city six years ago. And it is leaders that must
honour it.
Responsibility rests with each and every country. And we must all
play our part. Because on climate, the world will succeed, or
fail as one.
will be clear that we must see
new commitments on public and private finance to support the
countries most vulnerable to climate change and progress on
adaptation to the effects of our changing climate, accounting for
the loss and damage that it can cause.
He will also speak about the work done ahead of COP26 to make it
the most inclusive COP to date, despite the unprecedented
challenges the world faces in hosting an event during the
COVID-19 pandemic. He will set out the measures in place to make
the Summit safe, including the vaccine offer to developing
countries, daily testing regime and social distancing in the
venue.
On this, Alok Shama is expected to say:
It will be an extraordinary COP in extraordinary times. But
collectively, we must pull together to make it work. Forging
unity from the unfamiliar. Because we have no choice but to
deliver. Each country must step-up. And as COP26 President I will
ensure that every voice is heard. That the smallest nations are
sitting face to face with the world’s great powers. As equal
parties to the process.
