What Agreements Were Made in Cop26

The COP26, or the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference, was held in Glasgow, Scotland from October 31 to November 12, 2021. The meeting brought together world leaders, diplomats, scientists, and experts from different fields to discuss climate change and its effects, and to take action to mitigate them.

Throughout the conference, several agreements were made by participating countries. Here are some of the key agreements that were reached during the COP26:

1. The Paris Agreement: Countries reaffirmed their commitment to the Paris Agreement, which was adopted in 2015 and aims to limit the increase in global temperature to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. The summit called for more ambitious commitments to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

2. Coal phase-out: The leaders agreed to phase out coal power generation in a move to reduce carbon emissions and limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. More than 190 countries agreed to cease funding new coal-fired power plants overseas by the end of 2021 while others made a pledge to fully phase out coal power by 2030.

3. Methane reduction: The participating countries agreed to reduce methane emissions by 30% by 2030. Methane is a greenhouse gas that is more potent than carbon dioxide in terms of its warming potential.

4. Protecting forests: Countries pledged to halt and reverse deforestation by 2030 and agreed on the need to protect and restore forests as natural carbon sinks. Deforestation contributes to greenhouse gas emissions and is a major driver of climate change.

5. Climate finance: Developed countries pledged to provide $100 billion in climate finance each year, with a further $100 billion for adaptation and resilience in developing countries. This funding is essential to help the world transition to a low-carbon economy and to help vulnerable countries adapt to the effects of climate change.

Overall, the agreements made at COP26 represent a significant step forward in the global effort to combat climate change. However, much more needs to be done, and the coming years will be critical in determining whether these agreements can be turned into meaningful action.