'Historic' global climate deal agreed at COP26 after two weeks of tense talks

13 November 2021, 19:59 | Updated: 13 November 2021, 21:41

COP26 has agreed a new climate deal.
COP26 has agreed a new climate deal. Picture: Alamy

By Sophie Barnett

World leaders have agreed a deal to get countries to strengthen their emissions-cutting targets for 2030 by the end of next year in a bid to limit dangerous global warming.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

The new global climate deal was agreed at COP26 on Saturday evening - more than 24 hours after the official finishing time of the conference.

The deal will accelerate efforts toward phasing down unabated coal and phasing out inefficient fossil fuel subsidies.

The Glasgow Pact was watered down at the last minute - following a push by India and China - from escalating the "phase out" of unabated coal, to "phase down", prompting angry responses from European and vulnerable countries.

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

What is COP26?

But it is the first explicit mentions of fossil fuels in a UN climate agreement.

The deal aims to keep limiting global warming to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels "alive" or within reach, in the face of a huge gap between the action countries are taking and what is needed to meet the goal.

After the decisions were agreed, COP26 President Alok Sharma told the climate summit "history has been made here in Glasgow".

He said: "We can say with credibility that we have kept 1.5C within reach but its pulse is weak and it will only survive if we keep our promises, if we translate commitments into rapid action and if we deliver on the expectations set out in this Glasgow Climate Pact to increase ambition to 2030 and beyond."

He said the "vast gap that remains" must be closed and quoted remarks from the Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley, who earlier told the conference that for Barbados and other small island states a rise of 2C is a "death sentence".

Read more: COP26 'doubles carbon footprint' of previous climate summit

Read more: Boris Johnson took private plane back to London from COP26 climate summit

Boris Johnson, who has been embroiled in a Tory "sleaze" row in recent days, also welcomed the pact.

"We asked nations to come together for our planet at COP26, and they have answered that call," he said.

"I want to thank the leaders, negotiators and campaigners who made this pact happen - and the people of Glasgow who welcomed them with open arms.

"I also want particularly to thank COP President Alok Sharma who has worked incredibly hard to bring countries together.

"There is still a huge amount more to do in the coming years. But today’s agreement is a big step forward and, critically, we have the first ever international agreement to phase down coal and a roadmap to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees.

"I hope that we will look back on COP26 in Glasgow as the beginning of the end of climate change, and I will continue to work tirelessly towards that goal."

But the deal has faced criticism for not being strong enough to tackle the crisis.

London mayor Sadiq Khan said the agreement "simply doesn't meet the scale of the challenge" - and said t is "vital" we give our world its "best chance of survival".

"The climate crisis is the biggest challenge facing our world and it is clear that we cannot afford further delay," said Mr Khan.

"Countries on the front line of the climate crisis deserve to have the urgent issue of loss and damage addressed and there is much still to be done to keep the hope of 1.5C alive.

"So, as leaders return home from Cop26, it is vital those nations who have it in their power to help reverse our planet's decline join those of us committed to doing so to give our world its best chance of survival."

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.

The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: "The climate crisis is the biggest challenge facing our world and it is clear that we cannot afford further delay.

"While I welcome any progress, this agreement simply doesn't meet the scale of the challenge.

"Countries on the front line of the climate crisis deserve to have the urgent issue of loss and damage addressed and there is much still to be done to keep the hope of 1.5C alive.

"So, as leaders return home from Cop26, it is vital those nations who have it in their power to help reverse our planet's decline join those of us committed to doing so to give our world its best chance of survival."

This story is being updated

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Mohamed Mansour has been awarded a knighthood

Conservatives accused of 'cronyism' after donor who gave £5 million given 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 experience of growing up with his 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

Firefighters at the scene of a bus crash in Limpopo

Bus falls from bridge in South Africa and erupts into flames, killing at least 45 and leaving child, 8, as lone survivor

Music-Green Day UN

Green Day to headline UN-backed global climate concert

Exclusive
Starmer has vowed to resurrect Boris Johnson's 'Levelling Up' policy

Failure to ‘level up’ Britain would be ‘catastrophic’, Wes Streeting admits, as Starmer vows to resurrect Johnson policy

Border Force staff will walk out from April 11

Hundreds of Border Force officers at Heathrow Airport to stage four-day strike

Stephen Bear was ordered to pay Ms Harrison £5,000.

Disgraced reality TV star Stephen Bear ordered to pay £27,000 over revenge porn conviction or face nine months in jail