COP26 Day 10: Surprising US-China union, automobile deal fails

This Wednesday (10) was the big day of the COP26 Climate Summit, with the launch of the first draft of a comprehensive agreement. Oh The draft is a kind of wish list prepared by the COP President And its final form will be negotiated among national representatives over the next two days.

Depending on who you ask, it may be “ambition” or “complete failure”. The United States and China have pledged to work together to tackle the climate crisis.

Here is what happened on Wednesday:

Sino-American surprise

A few days before the end of the conference, the United States and China announced an agreement on Wednesday (10) to intensify the aspirations of their climate cooperation.

“There is more agreement than disagreement between the United States and China, which creates enormous possibilities for cooperation,” China’s climate ambassador Xie Zenhua told a news conference.

“The release of this joint statement shows once again that cooperation between China and the United States is the only option. By working together, the two countries can achieve many important things that will benefit not only the two countries but the world as a whole.

At a news conference shortly after Xie’s, US Special Climate Ambassador John Kerry said he was “satisfied” with the agreement between the two countries.

There are two ways for the United States and China: they can leave COP26 without working together and “let the world wonder where the future lies, with a clear gap … or, we can get out of here with people working together to increase ambition and get started,” Kerry said. A great path, “Kerry said.” It’s really a choice. “

1.5 Dedication with little support

The draft agreement includes strong language about the need to control global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, which would be a victory for the COP26 presidency because some of the world’s biggest polluters have recently been reluctant to reach the goal.

Although analysts prefer the language, many quickly point out that the rest of the deal is short-lived.

Said Mark Maslin, a climate scientist at University College London CNN The plan was “a little bland”.
“He recognizes that there is a huge need to reduce emissions, to keep the temperature at 1.5 degrees by 2030.

However, later in the document, it asks countries to come up with new types of promises, all of which are targets of keeping temperatures below two degrees. Therefore, the beginning and end of the document do not coincide, ” he said.

Fossil fuel subsidies are mentioned

The draft agreement calls on governments to “expedite the removal of coal and fossil fuel subsidies.” This is an important first time, and so far no COP agreement specifically mentions fossil fuels.

“It’s absurd that we still pay hundreds of billions of dollars a year in taxpayers’ money to promote the production and consumption of fossil fuels,” said Alton Meyer, E3G’s senior associate.

“The first rule with holes is that if you find yourself in a hole, stop digging. And we are digging even deeper by paying people to pollute, produce and use carbon,” Mayer said. “It’s crazy.”

But there is no guarantee that the language surrounding coal and fossil fuel subsidies will survive the next two days of negotiations.

The mayor said he hopes there will be a “little fight” over this before agreeing on the final speech.

“Saudi Arabia and other countries will come and try to remove this passage,” said Jennifer Morgan, managing director of Greenpeace International.

Johnson pleads with delegates

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who stayed in London last week and returned to Glasgow, is trying to clear his party’s latest political scandal from the front pages.

Johnson acknowledged that climate talks were becoming more difficult as the delegations reached a final agreement.

“Now is the time for everyone to come together and show the determination needed to overcome the roadblocks,” Johnson said in a speech at the conference.

“Here in Glasgow, the world is closer than ever to recognizing the beginning of the end of anthropological climate change,” he said, calling on delegates: “Will you help us do this? Are you on the way?”

Saudi Arabia retreats

Saudi Arabia is emerging as a major obstacle on the path to a substantial agreement, and the UK is actively trying to bring in the “kingdom”.

Downing Street said Johnson spoke with Saudi Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Wednesday and “discussed the importance of holding talks in the final days of COP26.”

In a speech, Saudi Arabia’s energy minister urged the world to stop discriminating against or against certain energy forms.

“We need to recognize the diversity of climate solutions and the importance of reducing emissions, as stated in the Paris Agreement,” said Energy Minister Prince Abdul Aziz bin Salman Al Health.

Many experts familiar with the talks last week openly stated that Britain is blocking fossil fuels and language progress at 1.5 degrees. Saudi officials did not respond to a request for comment CNN Comment on issues.

Jennifer Dolman, E3G’s Senior Policy Adviser, said the next 48 hours will be crucial and will “show whether ministers are working together to dramatically increase the ambition in all sectors or give Russia, Saudi Arabia and Brazil victory and miss any opportunity.

The car offer is disappointing

Some great players in the automotive industry poured cold water on the idea that the COP26 combustion engine might be the beginning of the end of the era.

According to a report released Wednesday, governments, manufacturers and investors in the UK COP26 presidency “must pledge to work towards zero emissions of all new car and van sales worldwide by 2040, and not after 2035 in key markets.”

But this proposal has not been signed by many major countries and institutions.

Germany, China, Japan, South Korea and the United States have not signed the declaration. Toyota, Volkswagen, BMW and Nissan also avoided signing.

German Environment Minister Jச்சssen Flasford said on Wednesday that Germany and other states may have “signed” the declaration, citing the fact that the UK president has not placed an “unnecessary ban” on the deal, which does not take into account synthetic fuels.

However, there were some notable signatories. Ford and General Motors, like Jaguar Land Rover, Mercedes Benz and Volvo, agreed. Applicable US cities, states and cities include the UK, Canada, Poland, Kenya, India, the capital region of Australia, Catalonia, Atlanta, San Diego, New York, San Francisco and Seoul.

Financial gap

The gap between the “rich and the poor” is widening and the COP26 draft agreement is not enough to deal with the crisis, Hansjorg Strohmeyer, director of the UN Office for Humanitarian Affairs, said on Wednesday.

“We already have a limited amount of funding for the most vulnerable. We have a humanitarian aid system that is within its range.

The draft agreement underscores some of the strengths of a long-term need to provide $ 100 billion a year in climate funding to developing countries.

“This is confusing and ambiguous. The missed deadline for the $ 100 billion pledge has not been recognized – and this is an important question for vulnerable countries,” said Mohamed Ado, director of Power Shift Africa, a climate think tank.

Vale Aziz and Chris Liagos, yes CNN, In London, contributed to the report.

(Text translated, read in original English Here)