As the world collectively faces climate change disasters, this year’s United Nations Climate Change Conference, also called COP26, couldn’t come at a better time. COP means Conference of the Parties. With world leaders from 197 countries attending the pivotal meet in Glasgow, Scotland, in less than six weeks, they seek to significantly help avert climate change calamity, now more than ever.
A UN report published in August highlighted a ‘code red’ signal for the world becoming warmer faster than ever owing to human-driven activities. The report suggested how curbing greenhouse gas emissions is the need of the decade to avoid a catastrophe. While the Cop26 President Alok Sharma said this report is a wake-up call, UN Secretary-General António Guterres, raising concern over floods and deadly wildfires, appealed to the leaders of the world to stay unified to fight climate change.
World Leaders And Big Names In Attendance :
The COP26 summit will have signatories of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). About thirty thousand people will be attending the summit, including leaders, journalists, businesses and protestors. Pope Francis, Britain’s Queen and activist Greta Thunberg will be in attendance too.
COP26 Goals:
COP26 focuses on elevating solutions and credibly evaluating and delivering COP21 goals, called the Paris Agreement. The conference will move climate change processes forward and help deliver the 2015 Paris Agreement goals. In COP21, leaders signed treaties stating they would keep warming under 1.5ºC by cutting down emissions by 2025 or 2030. COP26 also aims to mobilise finance and protect natural habitats and communities across the globe.
