9th day of COP26: who will pay for the impacts of the climate crisis enters into discussion

It was the day of innovation in gender and science at COP26 this Tuesday (9), but most of the focus was on countries that disputed the language around the limits of global warming and who will pay for the impacts of the climate crisis.

A picture of countries whose emissions pledges fall short of their achievement – ​​or even their own targets – is beginning to emerge.

Here’s what you should know about the 9th day of the meeting:

Pelosi says USA is back, AOC says not so fast

US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez – known as the AOC – appeared at the COP on Tuesday with very different messages.

Pelosi reaffirmed House Democrats’ plan to pass President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion climate and economic bill next week. “We are very proud of this,” she said.

She also said that the US House delegation came to the summit “equipped” and “ready to face the challenge of facing the moment.”

But as Pelosi tried to say the United States is back in the lead in the climate crisis, Ocasio-Cortez, who is also a Democrat, said there was still some way to go.

“No, we haven’t regained our moral authority. I believe we are taking steps”, said Ocasio-Cortez. “We have to really deliver the action in order to get respect and authority internationally, to get the credit. We have to reduce emissions to get credit for being committed to climate change. It’s really that simple.”

Ocasio-Cortez said he intends to hold his party members accountable for passing the economic and climate law, which contains $555 billion for renewable energy incentives and tax credits. If approved, it would be the largest climate investment in Congress’ history.

Amal the puppet makes a special appearance at the COP

A giant puppet named Little Amal – which is the Arabic word for hope – opened the COP26 plenary event on gender equality, drawing attention to refugee children living on the frontlines of climate change.

Representing a Syrian refugee girl, the three-and-a-half meter puppet was accompanied on stage by Samoa climate activist Brianna Fruean. Amal presented Fruean with a bag of seeds. Fruean gave Amal a flower, representing hope and light.

The Samoan activist called on global leaders to act as “planters of a global future”.

“I hope these seeds that Amal traveled here today can inspire everyone and remind everyone of the importance of their role as planters of a global future,” said Fruean, urging leaders to “plant the hard solutions, goals and boundaries that can help to remedy this broken world.”

“We both embarked on a journey here. We arrived here at the COP from two very different places. But we are connected in that we are living in a broken world that has systematically marginalized women and girls, especially women and girls from vulnerable communities,” said Fruean.

The puppet, operated by puppeteers, traveled more than 8,000 kilometers from Turkey to Glasgow to bring attention to the plight of young refugees.

Let’s move from 1.5 degree

A new analysis shows that even with the flurry of new promises to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the world is on track for 2.4 degrees Celsius of warming above pre-industrial levels – well above the 1.5 threshold. degree that scientists say the planet should remain below.

The Climate Action Tracker (CAT) warned on Tuesday that global greenhouse gas emissions in 2030 will still be nearly double what is needed to stay below the 1.5-degree threshold.

The 40 countries’ net zero targets account for 85% of global emissions cuts, but the group found that only 6% of those emissions were supported by concrete plans, under what are known as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

“It’s all well and good for leaders to say they have a net zero goal, but if they don’t have plans for how to get there and their 2030 goals are as low as many of them, then frankly these net zero goals are just talk. for real climate action,” said Bill Hare, CEO of Climate Analytics, in a statement. “Glasgow has a huge credibility gap.”

Taryn Fransen, international expert on climate change policy at the World Resources Institute, said the targets of Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Australia, Turkey and Russia were out of the way with their own net zero targets. She said the new and updated targets covered about 80% of global emissions, but only about 63% of emissions were addressed by any significant changes to those plans.

Germany, US and China retreat in electric car business

A global electric vehicle deal was expected to be announced on Wednesday, when the theme of COP26 is transport. But the US, China and Germany are resisting the deal, according to various reports, which is being led by the UK COP26 presidency.

A CNN obtained a draft declaration on zero emission vehicles, without signatures, which would commit signatories to “work towards zero emission of all new car and van sales worldwide by 2040, and no later than 2035 in key markets .”

The deal aims to include countries, automakers and financial institutions. A footnote in the statement makes clear that the deal “is not legally binding and is focused on a global level”.

The US and Chinese authorities did not respond to the request of the CNN to comment on the matter.

A German government official told CNN delegates are debating whether to board, with Transport Minister Andreas Scheuer unprepared to sign a deal. Germany is Europe’s largest automaker.

“It is known that the transport minister is not ready to sign,” the source said. Scheuer’s office did not respond to the request for comment from CNN.

Co-founder and CEO of climate think tank E3G, Nick Mabey, said it was “clear neither China nor the US, for various reasons [assinarão a declaração], although both have very aggressive electric vehicle policies and are definitely trying to go into the entire global market.”

He added: “They are not going to adhere to an elimination, although that has been much discussed in those countries.”

Who will pay for the crisis?

The COP26 presidency says it hopes to have a draft text for the Glasgow Agreement by the end of this Tuesday, but there are still considerable gaps in who should pay for the crisis, particularly so that the Global South adapts to its impacts.

Jennifer Tollman, a senior policy adviser at E3G, said the issue was one of the few key issues and that, if not resolved, the entire deal could fall apart “like a domino.”

More money has started to flow in the past two days, with the European Union announcing on Tuesday 100 million euros ($115 million) for the dedicated Adaptation Fund.

This follows a collective pledge of $232 million from 13 national and subnational governments, including new donors from the US and Canada, on Monday, which was marked by the UNFCCC as the largest single mobilization ever for the fund.

“It’s about addressing the effects of the crisis we’re already living in,” said EU Commission Vice President Frans Timmermans in announcing the pledge. “It’s not just about preventing things from getting worse, but we really need to realize that today is a day when we need to act on adaptation as well. Financing the adaptation is fundamental.”

Several developing countries and civil society groups say the majority of climate finance has gone towards mitigation – the reduction of greenhouse gases – but argue that 50% of the funds should be used ​​to help them adapt. to the crisis. This can mean anything from building walls and levees to prevent flooding or upgrading buildings to withstand extreme weather events.

While rich nations have agreed to transfer $100 billion a year to the Global South to help with the energy transition and adaptation, reports have shown that much more money will be needed.

Developed countries must “mobilize and provide at least US$1.3 trillion a year through 2030 based on grants, 50% for mitigation and 50% for adaptation,” said Gabon Environment Minister Lee White , speaking on behalf of the Africa Group.

(Text translated, read original in English here)