Was the Glasgow pact a victory for the climate? only time will tell

The ambition was clear: the UN Climate Summit aimed to ensure a I wake up to give the world a chance to avoid the worst impacts of climate change by limiting global warming to just 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

The agreement achieved that goal, but barely, and its ultimate success will be determined by the future actions of the governments that signed it, according to the hosts, the UK, as well as summit participants and observers.

“I think today we can credibly say that we have kept the 1.5 degree limit within our reach. But the pulse is still weak, and we will only survive if we keep our promises”, said the president of the summit, Alok Sharma, on Saturday night (13), after the signing of the pact.

The deal, backed by nearly 200 countries and targeting fossil fuels, the biggest drivers of man-made global warming for the first time, called on governments to accelerate emission cuts and promised more funding for poor countries struggling to fight climate change.

It also introduced voluntary pledges and pacts from countries, companies and investors to clean up emissions from cars and planes, reduce methane emissions, protect forests and strengthen sustainable finance.

But the deal was rife with concessions, leaving all parties – from rich nations chasing quicker action to resource-rich developing countries and island countries – unsatisfied.

“The approved texts are concessions”, said the UN secretary general, António Guterres. “They reflect the interests, conditions, contradictions and state of political will in today’s world.”

This leaves the world highly vulnerable.

“We are still knocking on the door of the climate catastrophe. It’s time to go into emergency mode,” he said.