A guide to COP26

Since the establishment of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in 1992, world governments have met on an almost annual basis to review their combined efforts in preventing the devastating effects of climate change. 

COP26 was the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties. The summit, was held in Glasgow, and saw 120 world leaders and thousands of ministerial representatives gather to set out a global action plan for ending contributions to climate change in line with the Paris agreement. 

COP26 was seen as the most important climate summit since the Paris agreement in 2015. Under the Paris agreement, nations committed to limiting global temperature rises to below 2 degrees (ideally no more than 1.5 degrees) above preindustrial levels. In order to meet the goals set out in the agreement, countries agreed to individual targets to cut greenhouse gas (of limit their growth in the case of developing countries) by 2030.  

However, the national targets set out in the Paris agreement – known as national determined contributions (NDCs) – even if fulfilled, would result in in 3 degrees or more of warming.  

The Paris Agreement (2015) created a legal framework for countries to submit the actions they will take and for the NDCs of each country to be revisited every five years.  

In 2020, the first of those five-year periods was up. Due to the pandemic, the deadline was extended, and now COP26 marks the first time countries will come together to review their NDCs.  

To stay within the 1.5C threshold, scientists have estimated that by 2030, global emissions must drop by 45% from 2010 levels, becoming net zero by 2050.  

Though 83 countries and the EU27 have revised their NDCs so far, not all have significantly increased their commitment to change effectively. 

COP26 presented an opportunity for countries to revise and update their NDCs. Pledges will be submitted to the UN so that they are visible to everyone, meaning citizens, NGOs and scientists can hold world governments to account.  

The Paris Agreement is a landmark international treaty that was signed by almost all world countries in the world during COP21 in Paris in 2015.  

Under the agreements, countries are legally bound to:  

• Keep the rise in the global average temperature to ‘well below’ 2 degrees (ideally 1.5 degrees) 
• Strengthen the ability to adapt to climate change 
• Build resilience  
• Align all finance flows with a 'pathway towards low greenhouse gas emissions and climate-resilient development’ 

Now, more than ever, businesses need to act on climate change. Companies of all sizes, in all sectors should commit to action and set targets in order to reach carbon net zero by 2050. 

Businesses should look at what they can do now to minimise the impact they have on climate change. 

Some ways to do this are by: 

• Switching to LED lighting 
• Using recycled materials 
• Electrifying fleet vehicles 
• Using sustainable suppliers 
• Offsetting carbon emissions 

The SME Climate Hub has been created by Gov.uk in partnership with Oxford University to support small businesses in reducing their carbon emissions and to provide climate solutions to contribute to climate action in society.  

It is a global initiative that aims to create a tipping point for mainstreaming climate action and building business resilience.   

If offers a range of tools and resources to help SMEs take concrete steps towards climate action across multiple pathways.  

The United Nations outlined the following goals that needed to be achieved at the COP26 summit. They were: 

• Secure global net zero by mid-century and keep 1.5 degrees within reach   

Countries are being asked to come forward with ambitious 2030 emissions reductions targets (NDCs) that align with reaching net zero by the middle of the century. To deliver on these stretching targets, countries will need to accelerate the phaseout of coal, encourage investment in renewables, curtail deforestation and speed up the switch to electric vehicles.  

• Adapt to protect communities and natural habitats  

The climate is already changing, and it will continue to change even as we reduce emissions, with devastating effects. At COP26 countries need to work together to enable and encourage those affected by climate change to protect and restore ecosystems, build defences, put warning systems in place and make infrastructure and agriculture more resilient to avoid loss of homes, livelihoods and lives.  

• Mobilise finance 

To realise the first two goals, developed countries must deliver on their promise to raise at least $100bn in climate finance per year. International financial institutions must play their part and we need to work towards unleashing the trillions in private and public sector finance required to secure global net zero.  

• Work together to deliver  

We can only rise to the challenges of climate change by working together. At COP26 world governments must finalise the Paris Rulebook (the rules needed to implement the Paris Agreement). Turning ambitions into action by accelerating collaboration between governments, businesses and civil society to deliver on our climate goals faster.