Back in 1992, 154 of our nation's leaders came together to create the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) to support global efforts to combat climate change. After the UNFCCC officially entered into force in 1994, the Parties to the Convention have met every year in the COP (read: Conference of the Parties) to monitor the efforts of each nation. The first COP took place in Berlin in 1995 and the COP26 in Glasgow is this year's meeting.
The 2015 conference, COP21, created the landmark treaty also known as the Paris Agreement. This agreement, signed by 197 parties and ratified by 191, sets out to limit the rise in global temperature to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase even further to 1.5 degrees Celsius. The COP26 is highly anticipated because it is regarded as the successor to COP21 that should review what has and has not been achieved since the historic Paris Agreement and set concrete plans for how to finalise the ‘Paris Rulebook’.
This year's COP26 is held in Glasgow.
There are four COP26 themes that the summit will debate to review and promote the effective implementation of the Convention. After the Paris Agreement, the pressure is on to reach another historic agreement.
The COP26 summit is a two week event and the agenda goes as follows:
In order to limit the global temperature rise to 1.5°, as outlined by the Paris Agreement, carbon dioxide removal solutions such as direct air capture are needed in addition to emissions reduction efforts. If carbon dioxide removal solutions are not implemented at a large scale, the 1.5° goal may be out of reach. By becoming a Pioneer, you can enable the removal of your personal emissions and support Climeworks in further developing and scaling its direct air capture technology. COP26 may be a few days away but you can already take climate action now!