COP agreement draft accused of ‘not going far enough’ as talks continue

The climate agreement currently being negotiated at the COP 26 UN climate summit has received mixed reactions from business and political opinion today.

The initial draft reported on yesterday evening urged countries “to accelerate the phasing-out of coal and subsidies for fossil fuels”.

The specific reference to fossil fuels, such as oil, gas and coal, was new for a UN climate document.

Today’s updated draft has shifted tack, asking that countries speed up their  transition to “clean” energy, “including by rapidly scaling up clean power generation and accelerating the phaseout of unabated coal power and of inefficient subsidies for fossil fuels”.

However it has been suggested that China and India could play a part in thwarting the pledge.

Ed Miliband MP, Labour’s Shadow Business Secretary, commenting on the latest COP draft text has said in a statement: “It’s clear that the aim of this summit to keep 1.5 alive is in mortal peril.

“There has been some welcome progress on strengthening the pathway out of Glasgow in the new draft. But there is still too much ambiguity about the responsibility of all countries to align their targets with 1.5 degrees and important language on keeping fossil fuels in the ground has been watered down.

“It is absolutely vital that there is no backsliding, no fudges, and no bending over backwards for the big emitters over the next crucial hours. It is also imperative that the developed world finally delivers the long-promised finance and support for developing countries.

“The Government has a vital role to play in fighting for ambition, strength and clarity in the last stages of this summit.”

Tracy Carty, head of Oxfam’s Cop26 delegation has complained that the latest draft is “still missing some vital elements,” adding that the “most glaring” flaw “is the lack of any mention of the finance plan for loss and damage that was proposed last night by the G77 group of developing countries.”