Where Do We Stand on COP26 Climate Promises? A Progress Report

Leaders left the climate summit in Glasgow (COP26) in November 2021 riding high on a wave of new commitments from governments, businesses and others to tackle the climate crisis. This included pledges to set new national emission-reductions targets, double adaptation finance, curb methane emissions, halt forest loss, accelerate the phase-out of coal, and end international financing for fossil fuels, just to name a few.

In the months since, things are less rosy. Russia’s war on Ukraine and rapid inflation have caused global energy and food prices to soar, distracting leaders from climate action. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and tensions between China and the United States over Taiwan haven’t helped. “Climate action is being put on the back burner — despite overwhelming public support around the world,” stated UN Secretary-General António Guterres on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meetings in September 2022.

As the world prepares for the next UN climate summit in November 2022 (COP27), where do we stand on the flurry of climate commitments made just one year ago?

Here, we track the progress:

National Climate Commitments

What was promised?

At COP26, countries agreed to revisit and strengthen their 2030 emissions-reduction targets “as necessary” to align with the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting warming to 1.5 degrees C (2.7 degrees F). Sticking to this level of temperature rise is essential for averting some of the worst impacts of climate change.

Where we stand
Since Glasgow, 24 of 194 countries that are party to the Paris Agreement have come forward with new or updated emissions-reduction targets (known as “nationally determined contributions,” or NDCs).

The good news: Under a new administration, Australia bumped its pledge into credible territory after its woefully inadequate 2015 target to slash emissions 26-28% below 2005 levels by 2030. The country now aims to cut emissions by 43% by 2030. Vanuatu submitted a particularly inspiring plan that aims to phase out fossil fuels, invest in electric vehicles, and undertake a number of detailed measures to address loss and damage. Ahead of COP26, the United Kingdom put forward an ambitious target to cut emissions 68% below 2010 levels by 2030. The U.K.’s latest revision offers greater clarity on the policies to get there, such as investing in clean energy and ending the sale of petrol and diesel vehicles by 2030. However, in September 2022, the UK government had a change of leadership and some of its climate policies are currently under review.

Indonesia slightly improved its top-line goal to cut emissions from 29%- to 31.89% by 2030 compared to business as usual. The nation will increase this target to 43.2% on the condition it receives enough financial assistance. India’s plan includes a target to reduce the emissions intensity of its GDP by 45% and achieve 50% renewable energy capacity by 2030; it also reiterated the country’s pledge to reach net-zero emissions by 2070.

Most disappointingly, Brazil’s revised plan failed to strengthen its emissions cuts compared to what it put forward in 2016.

Chile, Mexico, Turkey and Vietnam are expected to submit stronger plans ahead of COP27. European Union officials hope to strengthen its emissions-reduction target, too, but not in time for COP27. The United States hasn’t indicated whether it will put forward an updated plan ahead of COP27, but recently passed the historic Inflation Reduction Act, which contains major climate and clean energy provisions that will put its 2030 emission-reductions target within reach.

China, the world’s largest source of greenhouse gas emissions, hasn’t hinted whether it will strengthen its targets.…Read More…

Source : wri