COP26 outcomes

Nations took a range of decisions in the collective effort to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees. Björn-Ola Linnér, Mistra Geopolitics Programme Director and Professor at Linköping University, joined the climate negotiations and summarizes the outcomes here.

• Having the 2030 targets assessed yearly and emphasizing that countries have targets to work towards is one of the great successes to emerge from COP26. The timeline for action has been aiming for 2030, to make sure that countries communicate how they are on track to keep the temperature rise below 1.5 degrees. It has now been agreed that this is what we are aiming for.
• It is extremely important to get rid of subsidies for fossil fuels. Subsidies and coal are now mentioned in the Glasgow Climate Pact and while this accord does not lower emissions by itself, it clearly shows that there is a new way of addressing root causes when implementing the Paris Agreement.
• India was creating a positive momentum in the climate change negotiations by charting out a path toward decarbonization. This put pressure on China. Geopolitically, it was notable that the two rivals, China and the USA launched a joint platform to spur mitigation efforts.

Vulnerable countries and loss and damage

However, the discussions on funding to compensate for loss and damage were a huge disappointment. The promise made in 2009 that 100 billion USD per year would be made available from 2020 has not been fulfilled and approximately 70 billion USD has been put on the table so far. Coupled with the slow process toward a global goal on adaptation, it risks creating a raft for the coming years. Professor Björn-Ola Linnér emphasized that:

“Starting a sound process around climate financing would be very important for credibility, so that the poor, vulnerable countries feel that we rich countries are serious in our commitment to decarbonization globally.”

The goal of the Stockholm+50 conference
It is 50 years since the first UN Conference on the Human Environment in 1972. To mark the anniversary, the UN is now convening Stockholm+50, “A healthy planet for the prosperity of all – our responsibility, our opportunity”, in Stockholm in June 2022.

Stockholm+50 will focus on action for a healthy planet and prosperity for all, a green recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic, and accelerated action on the environmental dimension of sustainable development. The Government of Sweden sees Stockholm+50 as a stocktake between the COP26 and COP27 climate meetings. All parties involved in the conference have agreed to emphasize biodiversity issues as part of the UN’s defined decade of climate action, as these are clearly connected with the goal of Stockholm+50.

Hosted by Sweden, with support from Kenya, the meeting will gather high-level delegates and participants from many countries, representing government, civil society, business, academia and youth. In collaboration with the Council on Energy, Environment and Water, SEI will publish a report, commissioned by the Government of Sweden, which will provide a scientific basis for the meeting. Mistra Geopolitics will contribute research expertise to chapters in this report.

“Particularly now, when challenges to international cooperation are mounting, we need the trust building efforts to continue,” Professor Björn-Ola Linnér concluded.