COP 26, Importance Key Points And What Pakistan should do To Follow It

                Conference Of Parties 26

The United Nations Climate Change Conference 2021, commonly called COP 26 because it was the 26 major conference on climate change, was held at the SEC (Scottish Event Campus) Centre in Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom from 31 October to 13 Nov 2021. United Nations Climate Change Conference annually organizes this conference to mitigate climate change by cutting greenhouse gas emissions into the environment. For nearly thirty times Conference Of Parties has brought together the world leaders Governments, Organizations, and states to reduce the dangerous effects of climate change. More than 100 world leaders were among the attendees of the Conference Of Parties like United States President Joe Biden, China Xi Jinping, French President Emmanuel Macron, and United Kingdom Prime Minister Boris Johnson etc. 

 

Four Key Themes of COP 26 

• Secure global net zero and maintain 1.5 degrees within range. Net zero means that any kind of pumping of greenhouse gases does not occur in the atmosphere. The temperature should be maintained around   1.5 degrees.
• Make adaptations to protect the communities and natural habitats by protecting and restoring an ecosystem. 
• Mobilize finance nations should fulfill their promises in the Paris Agreement to mobilize US$100 per year so that the targets made to reduce climate change can be achieved. 
• Work together to deliver. Show flexibility in meeting the country-level goals through carbon emissions trading and increasing the price to reduce carbon emissions. 

  Classification Of COP 26  Into Zone For Good Performance           COP26 has been divided into two zones

 Inner Blue Zone 

Outer Green Zone

Inner Blue Zone:
This zone includes only credited officials, ministers,s and other credited individuals and organizations involved in it. The purpose of this zone is to negotiate and make agreements together to reduce climate change by controlling the causing factors of climate destruction such as greenhouse gases carbon, methane, etc.

Outer Green Zone:

This zone occurs where organizations can afford it Organizations will have their own pavilions, exhibitions, and events to display what they are doing to combat climate change. It will be for the visitors who have ordered a ticket. It will attract the attention of the visitors and will play a significant role in alerting the audience to play their role in protecting from the dangerous effects of climate change.     

COP26 Connection with the Paris Agreement :
In 2015, world leaders gathered in Paris and made history and an agreement was signed which was adopted by 196 parties to combat global warming and to reduce climate change. It was adopted by the parties on 12 December 2015 and came into force on 4 Nov 2016. In this agreement global warming to 2 or preferably 1.5 degrees Celsius compared to pre-industrial levels. However, the implementation did not occur on this agreement and the global temperature rose above 1.2 degrees according to NASA. Scientists estimate that this emission should be reduced by 50 percent by 2030 and emissions must go to net zero by 2050.
According to this agreement, countries should adopt their agreement ambitions every five years. That is called NDCs Nationally Determined contributions because these existing ambitions or goals are not enough to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement.COP26 was a crucial action calendar in it and countries needed to make more short-term and long-term goals to combat it.

 

   

What Pakistan Should Do To Follow COP26:

Pakistan has not committed to maintaining a net zero for the long term but committed to reducing the emissions by 50 percent by 2030 of which 15 percent is unconditional.COP26 offers five key takeaways to Pakistan.

1. Phrasing down coal
2. Carbon trading 
3. Access international finance
4. Revise NDCs
5. Operating Pledges

Phrasing down coal:

Pakistan's usage of coal is small but growing is causing three major problems first coal usage is not only a source of energy production but also a means of running factories and other cement industries. Sindh's ambition to exploit coal is increasing the nation Pakistan needs to develop a business plan to phasing out the coal.

Carbon Trading:

It follows to finalize 6 articles of the Paris Agreement, in which countries of carbon marketing have to deposit money as a surcharge deposit. It will help the countries to invest it's half money to reduce emissions almost 2 percent of taken 5 percent is invested in it and these deposits will be ring-fenced for poor countries. Pakistan needs to be involved in the discussion that the levy should be applied more broadly. Countries will pay an extra premium for these offsets and the funds assist the developing countries.

Access International Finance:

Glasgow climate Pact has less progress in fulfilling the commitment with the developing countries. The commitment of paying $100 per year would be honored. Pakistan's fundamental problem is not that developed countries have not augmented their commitments. There are two main problems. First is the inability to have direct access to concessional climate finance. And another is the inability to spend and absorb the finances that are secured in our names by others.

Revise NDC:

The GCP has requested countries to visit the 2030 targets and next year more work by nationally determined contributions because the present commitments and goals are not only necessary for this purpose to reduce the global temperature to less than 2 degrees Celsius. It is in the interest of Pakistan to plan NDC revision. This internal process will help Pakistan maintain its viability in climate and other global forums.

Operationalize Pledges:

Pakistan has signed a global methane pledge to limit methane emissions by 30 percent compared with 2021 levels. Pakistan has signed to reduce deforestation and reverse it over a decade it will increase the ecosystem-based approach for the reduction of the climate change process.