The 26th Conference of Parties (CoP26) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is nearing its end with barely a couple of days left. Here’s a snapshot of what went on at the event November 9, 2021:
- Civil society groups raise alarm over inadequate focus on finance and fossil fuel phaseout at CoP26.
- Finance discussions continued throughout the summit — Developed countries objecting to doubling adaptation finance and also disagreed on the definition of climate finance (Earth Negotiations Bulletin).
- Developed countries are also keen to expand the list of donor countries, possibly including China to provide climate finance.
- The EU’s position behind closed doors is rumoured to be blocking a separate stream for adaptation finance, and evading concrete commitments to define finance, according to sources.
- Several negotiators, including the G-77 / China finance coordinator tested positive for the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and their presence is critical for a meaningful outcome from the summit (Earth Negotiations Bulletin).
- The Climate Action Tracker (CAT) unveiled its latest analysis which finds that “the current 2030 targets (without long-term pledges) put us on track for a 2.4°C temperature increase by the end of the century”. They have also acknowledged that natural gas is “not Paris Agreement compatible”.
- Some 29 countries committed to end international public finance for unabated oil, gas and coal by the end of 2022, according to a press release by Oil Change International.
- In CoP26 negotiations, the nine options presented for Common Timeframes, were brought down to two, through consultations led by the ministers of Rwanda and Switzerland.
- India will not update its NDCs till there is clarity on climate finance, sources suggest.