THE much talked about and anticipated COP26 has come and gone. However, civil society and grassroots organisations from Africa have described the Climate negotiations in Glasgow as the “most exclusive” COP since the Paris Agreement was signed in 2016.
They insist that the lofty promises and glowing speeches made by world leaders including United States president, Joe Biden, and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, among a host of others, has given way to bewilderment among civil society in Africa that expected concrete commitments that will save the continent from climate-induced extinction. They bemoaned how the rich Global North countries again shunned their responsibility of committing to financing adaptation and mitigation measures for countries in the Global South most affected by climate change, and how false solutions and distractions such as carbon markets net zero took center stage during the negotiations.
COP26 was the 26th annual summit of the ‘Conference of the Parties’ to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). It held from October 31 to November 13, 2021.
The build-up to COP26
In 2015, at COP21, nations agreed to work together to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees and aim for 1.5 degrees, to adapt to the impacts of a changing climate and to make money available to deliver on these aims, giving rise to The Paris Agreement.
The Paris Agreement set out that every five years countries must set out increasingly ambitious climate action. This meant that, by 2020, countries needed to submit or update their plans for reducing emissions, known as nationally determined contributions (NDCs).
This made the run up to this year’s summit in Glasgow (due to take place in 2020, but delayed by a year due to the pandemic) a critical moment in the bid to keep the hope of limiting global temperature rises to 1.5 degrees Celsius alive.
At the end of COP26, on 13 November 2021, countries agreed on the Glasgow Climate Pact to keep 1.5C alive and finalise the outstanding elements of the Paris Agreement.
COP26 President’s remarks
At the end of the talks, COP26 President Alok Sharma said: “We can now say with credibility that we have kept 1.5 degrees alive. But, its pulse is weak and it will only survive if we keep our promises and translate commitments into rapid action. I am grateful to the UNFCCC for working with us to deliver a successful COP26.
“From here, we must now move forward together and deliver on the expectations set out in the Glasgow Climate Pact, and close the vast gap which remains.
“It is up to all of us to sustain our lodestar of keeping 1.5 degrees within reach and to continue our efforts to get finance flowing and boost adaptation.
“After the collective dedication which has delivered the Glasgow Climate Pact, our work here cannot be wasted.”
What activists have said
However, activists are unhappy about the outcome of COP26. They said they expected greater commitment to curb global warming. They said fossil fuel companies had the major influence at the talks leading to statements from the summit which contain what they call ‘meaningless language’.
Aderonke Ige, Associate Director, Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa said: “COP26 turned out as a well-disguised charade, dominated by ‘big boys’ in shiny suits and small rooms, concerned only with protecting their image, profits, and power. Meanwhile, systemic oppression, vaccine apartheid, and private negotiations have excluded the victims of these climate crimes! Without the people’s voices and real solutions, COP is just an elite marketplace for environmental criminals.”
Nnimmo Bassey, Director of Health of Mother Earth Foundation said: “Disappointment is an understatement for the outcomes of COP26. Most disturbing is the fact that while the fossil fuel industry lobby never hid their presence at previous COPs, in Glasgow they were given the red carpet while our people facing existential threats caused by the activities of these Big Polluters were shut out by outrageous travel costs and the vaccine apartheid”.
Younoussa Abossouka of Africa Center for Advocacy said: “Those of us who were not able to make the COP due to restrictive measures by the UK government, noted from afar, the back and forth on financing adaptation and mitigation that countries on the frontlines desperately need to confront a crisis they least contributed to. The negotiations have drifted farther away from commitments to keep temperatures below 1.5 degrees Celsius into the dangerous realm of carbon markets”
In her opinion, Hellen Neima, Africa Climate Director, Corporate Accountability said: “Sugar-coated poison still kills: carbon markets, with or without mention of human rights, will condemn people and the planet and continue to prop up polluters. Governments are using ‘rights’ as bait—we must not get hooked.”
Labram Musah of Vision for Alternative Development said: “The outcomes of COP26 means we still have an enormous challenge ahead of us. Collectively we must rise to that challenge by pressing ahead to Make Big Polluters Pay for their climate crimes. This position is contained in the African Civil Society Position Paper and we will keep advancing it until justice is secured.”
However, Professor Chukwumerije Okereke, a leading scholar on climate governance and international development with expertise in climate justice said, “The fact that COP26 held successfully despite the COVID-pandemic is a testament of the determination of the world leaders and the global community at large to keep the momentum with regards to finding a solution to the climate crisis.
“COP26 was also a success in many other respects. These include the declaration by the World Leaders to end deforestation by 2030, the racheting up of ambition by some countries and the positive if limited discussion on loss and damage. It was great to see a few new additional net zero pledges by countries including Nigeria. These net-zero national pledges, the reference to phase down coal and inefficient fossil fuel subsidies all signify that COP26 has ushered the world into a new and important phase of global climate governance and green transition.
“However, the COP26 was a disappointment in the sense that it did not produce enough concrete financial pledges from rich countries. Although few other countries announced some promises, the total amount pledged still falls short of the 100billion target and the fact that the delivery track indicates that the 100billion mark may not be reached until 2023 is a big source of disappointment and frustration for those that are suffering the greatest impact of climate change.
The professor in Environment and Development at the Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu Alike Ikwo (AEFUNAI), Ebonyi State Nigeria, added that “Going forward it is now important to focus attention on how to translate these pledges into cash that can be spent in climate vulnerable countries in order to support them to transition to the climate resilient development pathways.”
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