What is COP26 and what was agreed at Glasgow climate conference?

The UK is hosting the COP26 summit in Glasgow – aimed at bringing climate change under control.
A number of pledges have already been made, which could change our everyday lives.
What is COP26 and why is it happening?
The world is warming because of emissions from fossil fuels used by humans, like coal, oil and gas.
Extreme weather events linked to climate change – including heatwaves, floods and forest fires – are intensifying. The past decade was the warmest on record and governments agree urgent collective action is needed.
For COP26, 200 countries have been asked for their plans to cut emissions by 2030. COP stands for “Conference of the Parties”, and this is the 26th annual summit.
Under the Paris Agreement of 2015, countries were asked to make changes to keep global warming “well below” 2C – and to try to aim for 1.5C – in order to prevent a climate catastrophe.
The goal is to keep cutting emissions until they reach net zero in 2050.
World is getting warmer graphic
What’s been agreed so far at COP26?
A draft COP26 text has now been released, which it’s hoped will form the basis of an agreement at the end of the conference, signed by all the countries attending.
What is the announcement?
The key commitments are to make countries submit more ambitious carbon-cutting plans by the end of 2022, and to increase climate finance “beyond $100bn a year” to help poorer nations cope with climate change. The document also calls for the phasing out of coal and fossil fuels – but provides no firm dates or targets.
Why it matters?
This text should form the basis for an agreement that all countries plan to sign on Friday night. It will set the global agenda on climate change for the next decade.
Details are likely to change between now and Friday. However, it gives us a indication of different countries’ priorities, and where they have agreed – but also where they have not.
Does it go far enough?
There are a number of key topics that are missing from this draft text that we know are being discussed and would expect to see. These include goals on the amount of climate finance for 2025-2030, more support and finance for parts of the world adapting to climate change, and how nations report the progress they’ve already made.
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What else has been agreed in Glasgow?
There has been a flurry of new announcements, including:
A banner of the US and China flags
US-CHINA COOPERATION
What is the announcement?
In a surprise announcement, the US and China pledged to boost climate co-operation over the next decade.
Steps were agreed on a range of issues, including:
methane emissions
the transition to clean energy
de-carbonisation
The joint declaration says both sides will “recall their firm commitment to work together” to achieve the 1.5C temperature goal set out in the 2015 Paris Agreement.
Why it matters?
As the world’s two biggest CO2 emitters, an agreement between the US and China to is seen as critical in keeping the 1.5C temperature rise threshold within reach.
China has previously been reluctant to tackle its domestic coal emissions in the short term – so this statement is seen as recognition of the need for urgent action.
Does it go far enough?
Organisations including Greenpeace International have welcomed the joint declaration. However, its executive director, Jennifer Morgan, also warned that both countries needed to show greater commitment to reaching climate goals.
“Ultimately their statement falls short of the call by the climate vulnerable countries demanding that nations come back to the table every year with greater ambition until the 1.5C gap is closed,” she said.

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Trees banner
TREES
What is the announcement?
Leaders from more than 100 world countries, representing about 85% of the world’s forests, promised to stop deforestation by 2030.
Why it matters?
Trees can absorb vast amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) – one of the key greenhouse gases adding to global warming. So, ending deforestation is seen as a vital way to tackle climate change.
Does it go far enough?
Similar previous initiatives haven’t stopped deforestation, but this one’s better funded. However, it’s unclear how the pledge will be policed or monitored. And Indonesia, one of the main signatories, later said the plan was “unfair”.
Methane banner
METHANE
What is the announcement?
A scheme to cut 30% of current methane emissions by 2030 has been agreed by more than 100 countries.
Why it matters?
Methane is one of the most potent greenhouse gases, and is currently responsible for a third of human-generated warming. The majority comes from a range of activities, such as cattle production and waste disposal.
Does it go far enough?
The big emitters China, Russia and India haven’t joined – but it’s hoped they will later.
Coal banner
COAL
What is the announcement?
More than 40 countries – which include major coal-users including Poland, Vietnam and Chile – agreed to shift away from coal.
Why it matters?
Coal is the single biggest contributor to climate change. Although progress has been made in reducing its use, it still produced about 37% of the world’s electricity in 2019.
Does it go far enough?
Some of the world’s most coal-dependent countries, including Australia, India, China and the US, haven’t signed up. And the agreement doesn’t cover other fossil fuels such as oil or gas
Money banner
MONEY
What is the announcement?
Some 450 financial organisations, who between them control $130tn, agreed to back “clean” technology, such as renewable energy, and direct finance away from fossil fuel-burning industries.
Why it matters?
The initiative is an attempt to involve private companies in meeting net zero targets, and to commit them to providing finance for green technology.
Does it go far enough?
There is no set definition yet as to what net zero targets actually are. Also, some environmental organisations have said that without a greater commitment to ending fossil-fuel finance, this initiative may amount to little more than a PR exercise.
COP26: So far, so good-ish
COP26 in numbers: 25,000 delegates from 200 countries; 10,000 police officers from across the UK; 100,000 expected to protest; 1.5C is the agreed limit for the temperature to avoid a climate catastrophe; nearly 200 countries are being asked to submit new plans to reduce their emissions; $100bn is what wealthy countries are being asked to help poorer nations. Updated 1 Nov.
How will countries be made to meet their pledges?
For the most part, any commitments made at COP will have to be self-policed.
Only a few countries are making their pledges legally binding. However, there’s a hope that as momentum towards net zero accelerates, it will encourage countries to keep up.
It would be possible in theory to impose sanctions on countries that don’t. But it could also be counter-productive, or see nations withdraw from international agreements.
The focus of meetings like COP26 is to try to encourage every country to stay involved.