China and India will have to explain themselves to climate-vulnerable nations, COP26 President Alok Sharma has said as the summit ends, reports BBC.
Sharma’s statement
Britain’s president of the COP26 climate conference, Alok Sharma, said on Saturday he was “deeply sorry” for how the gathering concluded with last minute changes on the wording about coal.
His voice breaking with emotion after hearing from vulnerable nations which expressed their anger over the changes to the text, he said: “May I just say to all delegates I apologise for the way this process has unfolded and I am deeply sorry.”
“I also understand the deep disappointment but I think as you have noted, it’s also vital that we protect this package.”
China and India will have to explain themselves
Mr Sharma said the deal struck in the Glasgow climate pact was a “fragile win” and urged China and India to “justify” their actions to nations that are more vulnerable to the effects of global warming.
He told BBC One’s Andrew Marr Show:
“But as I said, in relation to what happened yesterday, China and India will have to explain themselves and what they did to the most climate-vulnerable countries in the world.”
Despite its survival in the final agreement, the contentious clause was substantially weakened over the course of the week. In a last-minute change on Saturday night proposed by India and China, the coal commitment was changed from “phase out” to “phase down”. After tense last-minute bargaining, global leaders sealed a last minute deal that included for the first time a pledge to reduce the use of fossil fuels.
The final text commits the 197 parties to the Paris agreement to “phase down” unabated coal power and “phase out inefficient fossil fuel subsidies.”
Emission reduction
The deal also commits countries to strengthen their 2030 emissions reductions targets by the end of 2022, and asks rich nations to “at least double” the amount of money they give developing countries for adapting to climate change.
Did you subscribe to our daily Newsletter?
It’s Free! Click here to Subscribe
Source: BBC
