Leaders from more than 120 nations gathered in Glasgow on Monday under pressure to “save mankind”In the face of the challenge of climate change, in the words of the UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres.
The Glasgow summit precedes the decisive negotiations at COP26, the climate conference of the HIM-HER-IT. An appointment that cannot be allowed to fail, declared dramatically the British prime minister and host, Boris Johnson.
“It is time to say enough”Guterres launched at the beginning of the meeting. “Enough of mistreating biodiversity. Enough treating nature like a toilet. No more burning, drilling and mining deeper. We are digging our own grave”, He warned.
“All those promises will be nothing but blah blah blah” and “the world’s anger and impatience will be unstoppable unless we make this COP26 the time we get serious about climate change“, He said for his part Johnson.
The COP26 from Glasgow comes after being canceled last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Its objective is to develop the Paris Agreement of six years ago, which set the main objective of limiting global warming to +1.5 ºC.
Security measures are important in light of the prospect of large demonstrations, scheduled for the end of the week.
The American Joe Biden, who proclaims the return of his country to the negotiations on the climate, is the main protagonist of a two-day summit with great absentees, such as the Chinese Xi Jinping, president of the largest emitting country of polluting gases, the Russian Vladimir Putin and the Turkish Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who canceled at the last minute.
The American Special Envoy for Climate, John Kerry, reaffirmed the determination to act to “to leave Glasgow having increased global ambition very significantly ”.
Despite not attending, the Chinese Xi Jinping will transmit a written message to the attendees.
Prince Charles intervened in person, replacing the 95-year-old Queen Elizabeth II, who is “resting” for medical advice.
The prince called on companies to join the global effort. “We need a broad military-type campaign to rally the strength of the global private sector” that “has billions” of dollars.
“Unknown territory”
Neither the Mexican president, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, nor the Brazilian, attended from Latin America. Jair Bolsonaro, despite the fact that the latter was present at the G20 summit, which culminated in Rome on Sunday.
Other countries, such as Ecuador, Colombia or Costa Rica, have planned environmental announcements or carry the banner of claims of the region, in long negotiations, lasting twelve days, which are usually tough and complex.
The COP26 It must develop the main points of the historic Paris Agreement of 2015, such as increasing the commitments of each country to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, financing the fight against climate change, or the rules of transparency and mutual control .
A total of 196 parties signed the Paris Agreement with the aim of limiting the increase in the planet’s temperature to +1.5 ºC.
But the reality is that the Earth is heading for an increase of 2.7 ºC, and with those figures, its climate, its ecosystems, enter “unknown territory”According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
Fifty gigatons
The world emits more than 50 gigatons of greenhouse gases annually, according to calculations by the HIM-HER-IT. One gigaton represents 1 billion tons.
“Our studies indicate that there will be an increase in emissions of 16% in 2030, when we should register a reduction of 45%”, Summarized the executive secretary of the organ of the HIM-HER-IT for climate change, the Mexican Patricia Espinosa.
And although there is public awareness that this situation must change, big questions remain about the alternative energy model.
Global growth forecasts raise a huge question mark, experts acknowledge.
Consequences “terrifying”
Poor countries ask for help to mitigate or adapt to the consequences of climate change. Rich countries pledged $ 100 billion annually, a figure they should have delivered by 2020.
However, $ 20 billion is missing. The main economic powers ensure that the issue will be resolved in a couple of years.
Meanwhile, countries like the Alliance of Small Island States denounce the consequences “terrifying“That could arrive in a few years if the sea level continues to rise, as scientists say.
“Some seem to be fearless, or worse, indifferent”Stated his Glasgow negotiator, Lia Nicholson.
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