COP26: 22-nation group calls for mitigation section removed from agreement

A group of 22 nations known as Developing Countries with Like Minds (LMDC), which includes China and India, called for the entire section on climate change mitigation to be removed from the draft text of COP26, the 26th Conference of United Nations on Climate Change.

This would be a sign of the huge gaps that still exist in the agreement – ​​there is still a day to go before the negotiations in Glasgow, Scotland, are closed.

Bolivia’s chief negotiator, Diego Pacheco, who represents the LMDC group, said on Thursday (11) that countries feel that the developed world is trying to transfer its responsibilities for the climate crisis to the developing world.

“We request that the presidency completely remove the section on mitigation,” Pacheco said at a news conference in Glasgow.

A CNN is in contact with Chinese and Indian authorities for comment.

Pacheco pointed to the historic role of developed countries in the climate crisis, accusing rich nations of trying to “shift responsibilities” to developing nations, but urging them to meet the same emissions-reduction deadlines as the developed world.

“Story is important and history is very important to understand and contextualize the ambition discussion,” he said.

He added that it would be impossible for many countries in the group to reach Net Zero by mid-century, as many countries signed.

The mitigation section includes excerpts on trying to limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, as opposed to the 2 degree upper limit mentioned in the Paris Agreement, and urges countries to speed up the upgrade of their emissions pledges by the end of 2022.

The LMDC does not believe that developing countries should have the same emissions deadlines and ambitions as rich countries.

(This text is a translation. To read the original, in English, click here)