COP26: Progress, Challenges, and Outlook

Adv Atmos Sci. 2022;39(8):1209-1216. doi: 10.1007/s00376-022-2097-z. Epub 2022 Jun 27.

Abstract

The 26th Conference of the Parties (COP26) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was held in Glasgow a year later than scheduled, with expected outcomes achieved under a post-pandemic background. Based on the Issue-Actor-Mechanism Framework, this paper systematically evaluates the outcomes achieved at COP26 and analyzes the tendency of post-COP26 climate negotiations. Overall, with the concerted efforts of all parties, COP26 has achieved a balanced and inclusive package of outcomes and concluded six years of negotiations on the Paris Rulebook. It is fair to say that COP26 is another milestone in climate governance following the implementation of the Paris Agreement. Meanwhile, the Glasgow Climate Pact has cemented the consensus on a global commitment to accelerating climate action over the next decade and reached a breakthrough consensus on reducing coal, controlling methane, and halting deforestation. In the post-COP26 era, we still need to take concrete actions to implement the outcomes of the Paris Agreement and the Glasgow Climate Pact, innovate ways to speed up CO2 emissions reduction, and continue to strive for breakthroughs in important issues such as finance, technology, adaptation, and collaboration. In addition to avoiding the escalation of international conflicts, we need to collectively and properly handle the relationship between energy security, carbon reduction, and development and facilitate the efforts of countries to achieve their Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including climate-related goals. China will continue to maintain the existing multilateral mechanisms and processes for climate governance, unremittingly take concrete actions to address climate change, promote a domestic comprehensive green transition and global cooperation on carbon neutrality, and contribute constructively to global climate governance.

全球气候变化在国际议程中的重要性不断提升,尽管受疫情及短期恢复行为影响,但各国在积极履行国际公约、强化气候目标和务实行动方面具有基本共识。在此背景下,联合国气候变化框架公约第26次缔约方大会(简称COP26)延迟一年在英国格拉斯哥召开,取得了预期成果。本文根据观察、研讨和基于“议题-主体-机制”的分析框架(Issue-Actor-Mechanism),对COP26成效开展了系统评估,并对COP26后的气候谈判走势进行了研判。总体来看,在各方共同努力下,COP26达成了平衡、包容的一揽子成果,会议为历时6年的《巴黎协定》实施细则谈判画上了句号,可以说COP26是继巴黎协定实施后全球气候治理的又一重要里程碑。同时,《格拉斯哥气候协议》巩固了在未来十年全球致力于加速气候行动的共识,在减煤、甲烷治理、停止毁林等方面达成一定的突破性共识。在后COP26时代,我们仍需要采取切实行动,落实《巴黎协定》及《格拉斯哥气候协议》各项成果,创新路径加速CO2减排,继续在资金、技术、适应、合作等重要议题上争取突破,避免国际冲突加剧,携手处理好能源安全、减碳与发展的关系,促进各国实现包括气候在内的可持续发展目标。中国将继续维护现有气候治理多边机制和进程,持续采取切实行动应对气候变化,促进自身全面绿色转型及全球碳中和合作,为全球气候治理贡献建设性力量。.

Keywords: COP26; Glasgow; Paris Agreement; climate change; climate governance.

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