UN Climate Conference: Uniting the World to Tackle Climate Change

Thousands of leaders from around the world are in Glasgow for the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26).

What comes out of the conference will be game-changing in the work to secure a livable planet in the face of the climate crisis. Scientific consensus tells us that countries have less than 10 years to reduce emissions enough to keep the planet below 1.5 degree C of warming, which means all countries need to dramatically cut emissions, and fast. COP26 presents a unique opportunity to spur these commitments at the global, national, and even local levels.

Goal of COP26

1. Secure global net zero by mid-century and keep 1.5 degrees within reach

Countries are being asked to come forward with ambitious 2030 emissions reductions targets that align with reaching net zero by the middle of the century.

To deliver on these stretching targets, countries will need to:

• accelerate the phase-out of coal
• curtail deforestation
• speed up the switch to electric vehicles
• encourage investment in renewables.

2. Adapt to protect communities and natural habitats

The climate is already changing and it will continue to change even as we reduce emissions, with devastating effects.

At COP26 we need to work together to enable and encourage countries affected by climate change to:

• protect and restore ecosystems
• build defences, warning systems and resilient infrastructure and agriculture to avoid loss of homes, livelihoods and even lives

3. Mobilise finance

To deliver on our first two goals, developed countries must make good on their promise to mobilise at least $100bn in climate finance per year by 2020. 

International financial institutions must play their part and we need work towards unleashing the trillions in private and public sector finance required to secure global net zero.

4. Work together to deliver

We can only rise to the challenges of the climate crisis by working together.

At COP26 we must:

• finalize the Paris Rulebook (the detailed rules that make the Paris Agreement operational)
• accelerate action to tackle the climate crisis through collaboration between governments, businesses and civil society.