The most important moment since the Paris Agreement
After a year-long delay due to Covid-19, COP26 ended with an agreement – the Glasgow Climate Pact – that just about kept the 1.5 °C goal alive.
Important progress was made in the form of commitments in areas such as methane and deforestation, as well as pledges to bring better nationally determined contributions to the table next year.
The steps taken in the next few years will determine whether or not we can get on track to avoid the worst consequences of climate change. Current policies are projected to result in an increase of 2.7°C. In the best-case scenario if we fully implement all announced targets on time, including net-zero targets and NDCs, we could limit global warming to 1.8°C.
We need to seize this opportunity to significantly scale up our climate ambitions and translate this into meaningful action – both in the form of policies, legislation and corporate climate action.
As the energy sector accounts for 73% of global emissions, speeding up the transition to renewable energy represents the primary lever to take immediate climate action and achieve deep emissions cuts.
