COP26: Weaker references to coal and fossil fuels in new draft agreement? |

London, Thanassis Gavos

Intensive negotiations between the 196 countries (plus the EU) on the agreement could, however, continue over the weekend, amid growing concerns that the commitments made in the final declaration will not be enough to keep the a great goal set by scientists, namely to contain the increase in global temperature to one and a half degrees Celsius.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the target was “mechanically supported” and COP26 President Alok Sarma said the challenge remained “monumental” as time went on.

A second draft agreement was unveiled in Glasgow early Friday morning, with a different wording from the first draft on the need to phase out coal use and finance fossil fuel projects.

The first text called on countries to “accelerate the phasing out of coal and fossil fuel financing”, while the newer text called on all governments to “speed up the phasing out of coal energy without capturing pollutants and inefficiently financing fossil fuels”.

The new wording is already being criticized as less possible, as it is an attempt at compromise between countries. However, if it is maintained in the final text of the agreement, it will be the first time that there will be explicit references to the need to eliminate the use of fossil fuels at a corresponding United Nations conference.

Countries such as Saudi Arabia, China, India and Russia, as well as a coalition of developing countries, have reportedly tried to remove from the final text the full reference to the phasing out of coal and fossil fuel financing, as well as the reference to the need for new commitments by the end of 2022 to reduce emissions within the decade.

Reactions from developing countries are also strong, demanding a tougher reference to the obligation of developed countries to increase funding for actions and the transition to green technologies to tackle climate change.