(Dan Tri) – Political barriers in each country as well as internationally continue to `get in the way` of the world realizing its goals of combating climate change.
People participate in a climate march in Brussels, Belgium, ahead of the COP26 conference in Glasgow, England (Photo: Reuters).
In 1778 in Glasgow, Scotland, engineer James Watt perfected the steam engine, helping to create the foundation for the Industrial Revolution.
A United Nations report, published earlier this year, warned that the chance of Earth’s temperature rising above 1.5 degrees Celsius within the next two decades is 50-50.
However, political barriers in each country as well as internationally continue to stand in the way of the world reaching its goal.
Challenges with COP26
A man holds up penguin pictures during a protest against climate change in Tel Aviv, Israel on October 29 (Photo: Reuters).
COP26, taking place in Glasgow from October 31 to November 2, is the abbreviation for the 26th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
According to the 2015 Paris Agreement to combat climate change, countries agreed to take action to keep global temperatures from rising by no more than 2 degrees Celsius compared to pre-industrial levels by the end of this century, and will make efforts to limit global warming.
These were all recorded in the joint communiqué of the G20 leaders after the recent conference in Italy, according to CNN.
However, China’s new commitment to cut emissions submitted last week was only slightly higher than the previous one.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, as co-host of COP26, has warned that the conference is at risk of collapsing because countries have not yet committed enough to keep the Earth’s temperature rise to no more than 1.5 degrees Celsius. He said
`There’s no doubt now that we probably won’t get there and we have to be honest with ourselves,` Mr. Johnson said, according to the Guardian.
US-China competition is a barrier
US President Joe Biden spoke at COP26 on November 1 (Photo: Reuters).
According to observers, increasing competition between China and the US also makes cooperative efforts to combat climate change more difficult.
`Back in 2015 when the Paris Agreement was adopted, the US and China were in their honeymoon period and the two countries were ready to reach a consensus and create a breakthrough on climate issues,` Mr. Li told SCMP
China, the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases, has disappointed with its new NDC, which sets a target of `carbon neutrality` by 2060. According to activist Li Shuo of the environmental organization
`It also reflects Beijing’s doubts about the US’s ability to meet carbon emission reduction goals and spend money to combat climate change,` Mr. Li said.
Domestic concerns may also be a factor following China’s recent electricity crisis.
On the US side, activist Li warned that Washington’s commitments may be just empty words if President Joe Biden cannot convince Congress to support two commitments: halving emissions by 2030.
All eyes will be on the US at COP26, while Russia and China will not directly attend this important event.