COP26: Climate crisis talks enter overtime with 'ambitious outcome in sight'

13 November 2021, 10:43 | Updated: 13 November 2021, 10:47

Boris Johnson has faith in an "ambitious outcome".
Boris Johnson has faith in an "ambitious outcome". Picture: Alamy

By Emma Soteriou

An "ambitious outcome is in sight" as COP26 negotiations enter overtime, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

His comments came during a call with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday, despite the event surpassing the scheduled finish of 6pm.

COP26 president Alok Sharma said agreements were set to be struck overnight, with revised documents available on Saturday morning.

Requests for countries to phase out "unabated coal" and "inefficient fossil fuel subsidies" have remained in a new draft version of the Cop26 deal.

The latest copy, published over 13 hours after the talks were due to end, also asks countries to "revisit and strengthen" their 2030 emissions-cutting targets by the end of 2022, which is seen as key to keeping global warming limited to 1.5C.

It requests countries revisit the targets "as necessary to align with the Paris Agreement temperature goal by the end of 2022, taking into account different national circumstances".

However, Mr Sharma added that talks were likely to continue into Saturday afternoon, with countries due to return to another meeting later in the day.

A Downing Street spokeswoman said: "[Mr Johnson and Mr Trudeau] discussed progress in the ongoing COP26 negotiations in Glasgow and agreed that an ambitious outcome is in sight."

She added: "The leaders committed to work together to help resolve outstanding issues in the talks and reach an agreement at COP26 that works for all countries."

Read more: Cop26 analysis: Talks enter the end game - will ministers become the Avengers?

Read more: Draft COP26 plans water down targets to curb fossil fuels

Jack Foster reports from COP26 as negotiations move into extra time

At an afternoon plenary on Friday, countries set out their views on the latest drafts of the agreements, which had been published earlier in the day.

Two major issues of concern were financial support for poorer countries in efforts to adapt to climate change and the phasing out of "unabated coal and subsidies for inefficient fossil fuels".

The draft appeared to have weakened its push to curb fossil fuels, instead focusing on "rapidly scaling up clean power".

There were also warnings that limiting temperature rises to 1.5C - a deal set in place as part of the Paris Agreement - was a "matter of life and death".

Scientists have said that global emissions need to be reduced by 45 per cent by 2030, reaching net zero by 2050.

Read more: 'I am part of her movement': PM's COP26 adviser Mark Carney hails Greta Thunberg

Ed Miliband calls in from COP26 to comment on the climate crisis

However, pledges from world leaders leave the world well off track to meet the goal.

It has left negotiators under added pressure to resolve issues and rapidly increase their ambition for emission cuts in the 2020s.

There have also been efforts to find an agreement on delivering workable carbon markets and on transparency so it is clear the action countries are taking on emissions.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Drivers queuing in Dover on Friday morning

Holidaymakers hit with 2-hour Dover ferry waits amid strong winds, as 2.6m hit the roads for Good Friday getaway

The attack happened on a train in south London

Teenager charged with attempted murder after south London train stabbing, with victim still in critical condition

Mother Natalie Pinnell

Mother left in tears after daughter with complex needs 'erased' from school photo

Amber Rudd and Mary Beard have both been nominated to the Garrick Club

Amber Rudd and Mary Beard among seven women nominated for membership of all-male Garrick Club

Exclusive
Anneliese Dodds said Labour would make sure local people have 'skin in the game' with tackling inequality

'Rebuild has to start from ground up,' Labour's Anneliese Dodds says, and 'local people must have skin in the game'

Mohamed Mansour has been awarded a knighthood

Conservatives accused of 'cronyism' after donor who gave £5 million awarded knighthood in surprise honours list

Exclusive
Justin Welby recalled his experience of coping with his father's drinking as a teenager.

‘It was utterly isolating’: Archbishop of Canterbury recalls harrowing childhood with alcoholic father

More than 2 million drivers are set to hit the road on Good Friday.

Easter Carmageddon: Over two million drivers to hit the road on Good Friday after Storm Nelson travel chaos

Michael Gove has slammed the water firm as a 'disgrace'.

Thames Water bosses branded a ‘disgrace’ as Michael Gove tells firm ‘not to punish consumers’ for its failings

South Africa Bus Crash

Girl, 8, the sole survivor as 45 die in bus crash off South Africa bridge

A spokesman has denied reports the sausage dog could be banned.

The wurst news is over: Germany denies claims of sausage dog ban

Israel Palestinians Britain Aid

UN top court orders Israel to open more land crossings into Gaza

Greece Confidence Vote

Greece’s government survives no-confidence motion called over rail disaster

A council has had to apologise following the incident.

Fury as parents offered version of school class photo without complex needs pupils

Conjoined twin who shot to fame with sister on The Oprah Winfrey Show marries army veteran in private ceremony

Conjoined twin who shot to fame with sister on The Oprah Winfrey Show marries army veteran in private ceremony

Israel Palestinians UN Security Council

Russia ‘abolishes’ monitoring of sanctions on North Korea with UN veto