Climate Change

CoP26 Diary (Nov 10): Cover decision draft mentions ‘coal’, ‘fossil fuels’ for first time

Guinea, speaking on behalf of G77, commented that developed country partners showed “no appetite to discuss the definition of climate finance”

Avantika Goswami

The 26th Conference of Parties (CoP26) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change ends November 12, 2021. Here’s a snapshot of what went on at the event November 10:

  1. November 10 was recognised as Transport Day at CoP 26
  2. A new draft of the cover decision was issued, which mentioned “coal” and “fossil fuels” for the first time in a CoP document
  3. At the stocktaking plenary, President for CoP26, Alok Sharma, asked the previously identified pairs of ministers to report on their consultations
    1. Article 6 discussions still deliberated on issues like share of proceeds for adaptation and carryover of Kyoto credits
    2. The common timeframes discussion narrowed nine options to two and most parties agreed that the five-year cycle works best and is most conducive to ambition
    3. On adaptation, a decision was made to establish a two-year work programme to further proceedings for the Global Goal on Adaptation
    4. Long-term finance remained an issue of disagreement
  4. Guinea, speaking on behalf of the G77, commented that developed country partners showed “no appetite to discuss the definition of climate finance”— a key issue that would foster greater accountability of finance
  5. The European Union stated that “major emitters have a major responsibility”, and “the rhetoric in this room must be followed by concrete and immediate action”
  6. The United States and China issued a joint statement presenting a cooperative front as negotiations reach a fever pitch. It was a reiteration of a statement they published in April 2021, but the significance of the new statement was interpreted as an effort to present a combined front so that an overall Glasgow deal comes together faster.
  7. The countries of the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF) released a statement asking for an Emergency Pact for climate justice at Glasgow
  8. The BASIC countries issued a statement committing their full support to the UK CoP26 Presidency, but highlighting that developed countries must enhance their ambition
  9. Developed countries have continued to put up resistance on climate finance behind closed doors, thereby stalling progress