Indigenous peoples are the “Guardians of the Forests”. COP26 saw a significant $1.7bn pledge being made towards the recognition of land tenure by Indigenous peoples. Nature-based solutions might threaten rights of Indigenous peoples and their adoption must be urgently regulated.
Climate finance remains an unresolved issue following COP26, little ground was made during negotiations on Loss & Damage and the $100 billion adaptation finance promised by developed countries over a decade ago; Private financiers emerged as a willing funding source for sustainability programmes, with both philanthropists and major companies expressing an interest in addressing gaps in climate finance; The Glasgow Climate Pact recommended a scaling back of fossil fuel subsidies, but many nations have already found loopholes to keep fossil fuels within their energy portfolios.
COP26 failed to ensure substantial participation and representation of young people in decision-making spacesThe Glasgow Climate Pact does include many references to meaningful youth engagement in international climate negotiations, reflecting the Youth4Climate Manifesto and the COY16 Statement.The Youth4Climate event will occur every year before COP, called “Forever Youth4Climate”.
The revenues generated by the EU ETS will be used to help industries and states across the EU reach carbon-neutrality The Innovation Fund is providing financial support for the development of highly innovative technologies that can drive down emissions The Modernisation Fund will support low-income EU Member States in their energy transition
Climate targets are the foundation of climate policy Both 1.5°C and 2°C have been targetted for international climate policy While 2°C was once the dominant goal, the emergent 1.5°C target must be adopted as the climate goal.
Special interest groups pushed against actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions before the COP26 global climate summit. In official environmental assessment reports, wealthy countries wanted to downplay the importance of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The fossil fuel lobby represented the most influential group at the COP 26 negotiations
Under the Vienna Convention, Treaties are considered to be binding agreements. The Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties also governs how treaties are established. The withdrawal process varies depending on the specific terms of each treaty.
Aviation emissions have increased significantly in the EU, despite intra-EEA flights being included in the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) since 2012. The revision proposes several changes such as the end of free allocation and a stronger decline of the ETS cap. CORSIA is an international mechanism to address aviation emissions, but has several flaws that threaten to severely diminish its effectiveness.
The current ETD is based on volume of fuels, rather than their energy content or impact on the environment. By default this favours fossil fuels. Instead, the revised ETD is based on the content of energy products.The revised ETD expands its regulatory scope to include aviation, shipping and fishing.The new proposal taxes polluting fuels more than cleaner fuels.
The most high-profile commitment of the Glasgow Climate Pact was the promise to ‘phasedown’ coal use - rather than to phase it out. However, the pact did mark the first time in the UN climate process that the Parties recognised the need to rapidly reduce coal The Glasgow Climate Pact promised progress on finance, adaptation, Article 6, and employed strong language supporting the scientific consensus on climate change. Loss and damage and nature and biodiversity received far fewer concrete commitments in the final draft.