"It is time to go into emergency mode — or our chance of reaching net-zero will itself be zero."

- Statement from the Secretary General, COP26

For nearly three decades the United Nations has been bringing together almost every country on earth for global climate summits named ‘Conference of the Parties’, giving it the shortened title of 'COP'. The last Major COP was held in Paris in 2015. Results from this year's event were mixed as World Leaders came together to realize that further progress is necessary - and quickly. A sobering statement from the conference: "It is time to go into emergency mode — or our chance of reaching net-zero will itself be zero."

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This year, the COP26 was held in Glasgow, Scotland - 120 World leaders and 197 States were included in the event, including Argentina, Australia, Canada, Colombia, The Democratic Republic of Congo, EU representatives from the 27 member states, France, Ghana, India, Israel, Italy, Nigeria, Scotland, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United States. What the world's leading nations concluded: While progress is being made on the front of achieving net-zero carbon emissions...not enough progress is being made to achieve the overall goal of limited temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celius. The alarming, time-sensitive realization motivated the entire conference to agree to come back next year, and submit more aggressive plans to cut emissions by 2030.

To achieve the goal of limiting temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius, all countries collectively need to cut global emissions in half by the end of this decade. The United Nations has determined that the currently submitted plans put the world on track for 2.5 degrees C of warming by the end of the century, a significant gap from the 1.5 degree objective. The good news: by the end of the conference, over 150 countries submitted new climate plans to cut their emissions by 2030. Plans provided by countries included: dedications to cut methane emissions, reverse deforestation, eliminate internal combustion engines, and acceleration of coal use reductions.

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"Science tells us that the absolute priority must be rapid, deep, and sustained emissions reductions in this decade. Specifically — a 45% cut by 2030 compared to 2010 levels." - Secretary General, COP26

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What caused many impediments lying in the way of COP achieving global emissions reductions is weak participation by key countries, including Australia, China, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, and Russia. These countries do not have reasonable roadmaps to achieve their net-zero targets, nor does it appear they are committed to such a process. To address the lack of participation of these 5 major countries, the balance of the 192 remaining countries must get more aggressive with their 2030 reduction plans.

In summary, COP 26 was a critical conference at a critical time in our global history. Member countries needed to come forward with plans to finally achieve targets that would limit temperature increases to 1.5 C. That didn't happen. In large part, due to a subset of countries that are not carrying their weight. This is the first time in our history that all countries across the globe need to work together to solve an issue that affects us all. If we don't work together, we may pass a point of no return to global health. By not hitting the pre-established targets, it places more pressure on the next COP - so while we kick the can down the street, the end of the street is now getting closer.

We cannot afford any more delays.

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Credited Sources Include:

“Secretary-General's Statement on the Conclusion of the UN Climate Change Conference COP26 | UNFCCC.” Unfccc.int, 13 Nov. 2021, https://unfccc.int/news/secretary-general-s-statement-on-the-conclusion-of-the-un-climate-change-conference-cop26.

United Nations Environment Programme (2021). Emissions Gap Report 2021: The Heat Is On – A World of Climate Promises Not Yet Delivered. Nairobi. https://wedocs.unep.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.11822/36995/EGR21_CH4.pdf