News summary — COP26, Day 11

 

The unexpected US-China climate deal created a lot of buzz worldwide today. Few concrete details of the agreement have so far been released, but the climate discussions between the world's two biggest emitters nations are to be continued next week.   Another big discussion is this one: Will COP26 be seen as a success or a failure? Many are worried that the latter will be the legacy of this climate conference. UN Secretary-General António Guterres said this morning: ”One day before the end of CO26, we cannot settle for the lowest common climate action denominator. I appeal to all countries to increase ambition in mitigation, in adaptation and in finance.”   Maybe climate youth activist Vanessa Nakate from Uganda put it best in her powerful speech during the high-level event Racing to a better world at COP26 on Thursday. ”We are drowning in promises. Commitments will not reduce CO2, promises will not stop the suffering of the people, pledges will not stop the planet from warming. Only immediate and drastic action will pull us back from the abyss... I am here right now to ask business and finance leaders: Show us your faithfulness. Show us your trustworthiness. Show us your honesty. I am here to say: Prove us wrong.”   But while leaked reports implied that some nations are lobbying for softer climate deals, more and more countries have now agreed to end oil and gas. The Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance, founded by Costa Rica and Denmark for that purpose, today announced its first new members. The list included France, Ireland, Sweden, Wales, Greenland and Québec.   Read this summary to catch up with all the latest news from Glasgow.   We must also mention the great news that reached us today from Kenya: Patrick Kiarie, Kenya Representative for We Don't Have Time, has been voted Kenya's most influential young person, "for his immense contribution in enlightening the masses on the dangers of climate change". Big congratulations, Patrick! Well deserved.    Meanwhile, great climate solutions continued to be spread and shared on We Don't Have Time. Like these ones: • Innovation of electric engines that could replace engines in existing planes. • Using waste heat from supermarket fridges to heat homes • Low-carbon techniques to effectively cool houses in India • How to make cities more resilient to flooding   Some Climate Warnings were also delivered, like this one, (including a very humourous video), aimed at Australia's government for lack of climate action.

António Guterres, Secretary-General of the UN, said in an important speech today:
”Promises ring hollow when the fossil fuel industry still receives trillions in subsidies, as measured by the IMF.”

 

Mr Guterres was referring to the fact that governments around the world are subsidizing the fossil fuel industry with $11 million in subsidies* — per minute! That means more than $182 billion since the start of the UN Climate Summit in Glasgow. This sum is already 82 percent higher than the annual climate finance that is currently being discussed at the Glasgow summit.

 

Help us change this. Agree to our  climate warning to the G20, and share our partner UNDP:s #DontChooseExtintion campaign.

 

*Source: IMF