Climate Change and COP26
Christos Efstathiou
11/2021
Temperature rise since 1880
Climate change is the result of rising of the mean global temperature
since the preindustrial area (1880) …
Temperature and carbon dioxide since 1880
… due to accumulation of the Carbon Dioxide and other gases
in the atmosphere. The main responsible is the human activity.
Emissions by country
The most polluting countries: USA, China, India, Russia
The IPCC’s scientists explain how climate change has been fuelling extreme weather events and flooding, severe heat waves and droughts, loss and extinction of species, and the melting of ice sheets and rising of sea levels.
To tackle this phenomenon -crucial for the continue of life, United Nations Organization (UNO) has convoked 26 conferences since 1992 – Conventions Of Parties (COPs)
Climate change consequences
In 1992, countries agreed to an international treaty called the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which set ground rules and expectations for global cooperation on combating climate change.
It was the first time the majority of nations formally recognized the need to control greenhouse gas emissions, which cause global warming that drives climate change.
1992 – Rio Convention
THE START
The Paris Agreement, adopted in December 2015, aims to avoid dangerous climate change by limiting global warming to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and pursuing efforts to limit the temperature rise to 1.5°C, and to make financial flows consistent with climate objectives.
2015 – Paris Convention COP21
THE TURN
Enough greenhouse gas emissions are already in the atmosphere, and they stay there long enough, that even under the most ambitious scenario of countries quickly reducing their emissions, the world will experience rising temperatures through at least mid-century.
However, there remains a narrow window of opportunity. If countries can cut global emissions to “net zero” by 2050, that could bring warming back to under 1.5 C in the second half of the 21st century.
How to get closer to that course is what leaders and negotiators are discussing.
2021- The situation
The cost of failure is astronomical.
Studies have shown that the difference between 1.5 and 2 degrees Celsius can mean the submersion of small island states, the death of coral reefs, extreme heat waves, flooding and wildfires, and crop failure.
That translates into many premature deaths, more mass migration, major economic losses, large parts of unliveable land and violent conflict over resources and food.
the difference between
1.5 and 2 degrees
What is COP26
The 26th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), more commonly known as COP26 took place from 1-13 November 2021 in Glasgow, Scotland.
COP26 brought together governments, businesses, local authorities and civil society to discuss global climate action.
But as a preface…… Look at this video
The initial set of emission reduction targets in 2015 was far too weak to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
COP26 The targets
Key goals of COP26:
COP26 The targets
The conclusions
The Glasgow Climate Pact is a step forward, researchers say, but efforts to decarbonize are not enough to limit global temperature rises to 2 °C.
Even if pledges announced at the COP meeting are implemented, temperatures are still projected to rise 2.4 °C by 2100 , well above the 1.5 °C target agreed at the 2015 Paris climate summit. The effects of this are likely to be catastrophic.
NATURE - The international journal of science / 18 November 2021
Too little, too late
What can you do?
Change your life