What Is COP26? An Overview of the Upcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference

Climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our modern world. As global temperatures rise, more pressing action is needed from world governments to reduce carbon emissions significantly. To discuss how nations can cooperate when it comes to tackling climate change, the United Nations is hosting the Conference of the Parties (COP) 26 in November 2021 in Glasgow, Scotland.

What Is The Conference of the Parties (COP)?

The Conference of the Parties (COP) is an annual event where nations committed to tackling climate change come together to discuss the latest climate policies, negotiation frameworks, and the commitments of individual countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Each year, a different country hosts the COP, and each COP focuses on a different topic.

At COP25 in Madrid in 2019, countries came together to discuss the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, a set of Climate Change protocols designed to reduce global emissions. COP26, meantime, will discuss further steps for how nations can reduce emissions and how countries across the world are meeting their commitments to reduce emissions.

What Can We Expect From COP26?

1. More Urgent Commitments from Governments

At COP26, countries are likely to announce more ambitious commitments to reduce emissions. Last December, the UK became the first major economy to commit to net zero carbon emissions by 2050. Countries such as France, Germany, and Italy have now followed suit.

At COP26, countries will have to demonstrate how they plan to meet those ambitious goals and what strategies they will use to lower emissions. This could lead to a range of new policies and regulations on everything from transport and energy to industry and agriculture.

2. An Increased Focus on Adaptation

The impacts of climate change can already be seen in many parts of the world, including extreme weather events and rising sea levels. COP26 will put an increased emphasis on how countries can adapt to these changes.

This could include more investment in renewable energy sources and infrastructure such as flood defences. Countries will also likely discuss the role of the private sector in helping to fund the transition to a low carbon economy.

3. Greater Steps Toward International Collaboration

COP25 saw the signing of various international agreements when it comes to tackling climate change. At COP26, we can expect more of these collaborations as countries seek to coordinate their efforts to reduce emissions and adapt to climate change.

This could include collaborations on energy, transport, and technology to implement lower emissions technologies in all parts of the world. COP26 is also likely to see greater involvement from non-state actors and public-private partnerships who can play a vital role in helping tackle climate change.

Conclusion

COP26 will be an important moment for the global community to demonstrate leadership when it comes to tackling climate change. This could include more ambitious commitments from governments, increased investments in adaptation and mitigation, and stronger international collaboration. We should all be doing our part to ensure that COP26 is a successful event. Together, we can work to ensure a safe and secure future for all.