What Are COP26 2021 Highlights?

What is COP26? Find out the crux of the conference with a quiz about the highlights of the year’s biggest event below.

What Does cop26 Stand For?

COP26 stands for the 26th Conference of Parties. The conference was usually held annually. During the 2000s, the parties decided to hold it every two years unless otherwise necessary. The first COP was held in Berlin, Germany, in 1995. The Kyoto Protocol was signed by the five regional groups of the UN.

When Is Cop26?

COP26 was initially scheduled to occur in 2020 but it was rescheduled to 1st to 12th November 2021 on 28th May 2020 by the Bureau due to the pandemic. The COP came into effect after several countries signed the  United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) treaty in 1994.

What Is Cop26?

The 26th UN climate change conference was completely based on the issues addressed in the Paris Agreement signed during the last Conference of Parties. Several world leaders had agreed to take up measures to control the CO2 levels and exhaustion of fossil fuels.  The current meeting discussed the measures taken by these countries and decide the future course of action to reduce the ill effects of climate change across the world. 

What is the theme of COP26?

The theme of the Glasgow climate talks 2021 is ‘Science and Innovation’. The Paris Agreement functioned as a major replacement of the Kyoto Protocol and the current event is here to find out the results of the agreement.

‎COP26 Goals

Secure global net-zero by mid-century and keep limit of 1.5C temperature increase within reach, adapt to protect communities and natural habitats, mobilize finance, and collaborate to deliver are the four main goals of the COP26 climate summit.

Highlights of the Climate Summit

Though net zero-emissions by mid-century is the foremost priority of the COP26. There are several factors that can hinder this goal. Thus, there arises a need to discuss such factors to find out a permanent solution. The nine factors that were discussed are:

• The voice of young people should be elevated to demonstrate the critical role of public empowerment

The COP26 stressed the importance of creating awareness amongst young people. It requested the world leaders to pay attention to the ideas, beliefs, and opinions of the younger generation to help in the running industries smoothly.

• Mobilizing public and private finance

The funding received and the expenditure methodology exercised during the pandemic depicted how public and private finances could be used efficiently.

• Accelerating the transition to clean energy

The need to shift to renewable energy sources has become the need of the hour. The exhaustion of fossil fuels and other non-renewable resources is affecting the climate.

• Ensuring sustainable land use

Deforestation, dumping, and other non-sustainable land use should be paid attention to in reducing climate changes.

• Progressing meaningful participation by women and girls

Equality and women’s contribution have always played a crucial in developing the world. The UN requested the nations to make a stand on inequality, discrimination, and other partiality shown towards women.

• Adapting to climate changes and addressing any loss or damage

To arrive at a conclusion, the measures taken to battle climate change should be monitored constantly to find what is working and what is not working. This requires full disclosure from all nations.

• Looking at innovative science

As the theme suggests, it is important to make innovations to come up with efficient policies and means to reduce global warming.

• Promoting environmental action in cities

Every country, state, and the city should take up greener goals to face climate change as a whole.

• Driving towards zero-emission transport

Transportation is one of the primary industries contributing to CO2 emissions and pollution. Thus, it is necessary to come up with better ways to tackle climate change.