Nations Strike Climate Deal, but World Remains Far From Limiting Warming

"Some activists called the agreement in Glasgow disappointing, but it established a clear consensus that all countries need to do much more."

"GLASGOW — Diplomats from nearly 200 countries on Saturday struck a major agreement aimed at intensifying global efforts to fight climate change by calling on governments to return next year with stronger plans to curb their planet-warming emissions and urging wealthy nations to “at least double” funding to protect poor nations from the hazards of a hotter planet.

The new deal will not, on its own, solve global warming, despite the urgent demands of many of the thousands of politicians, environmentalists and protesters who gathered at the Glasgow climate summit. Its success or failure will hinge on whether world leaders now follow through with new policies to cut greenhouse gas emissions. And the deal still leaves vulnerable countries far short of the funds they need to cope with increasing weather disasters.

The talks underscored the complexity of trying to persuade scores of countries, each with its own economic interests and domestic politics, to act in unison for the greater good.

But the agreement established a clear consensus that all nations must do much more, immediately, to prevent a harrowing rise in global temperatures. And it set up transparency rules to hold countries accountable for the progress they make or fail to make."

Brad Plumer and Lisa Friedman report for the New York Times November 13, 2021.

SEE ALSO:

"At COP26, Nations Speed Climate Action But Leave World Still Headed For Dangerous Warming" (Washington Post)

"U.N. Climate Agreement Clinched After Late Drama Over Coal" (Reuters)

"Factbox-What's in the Glasgow Climate Pact?" (Reuters)

"The Glasgow Climate Pact, Annotated" (Washington Post)

"In Glasgow, COP26 Negotiators Do Little to Cut Emissions, but Allow Oil and Gas Executives to Rest Easy" (Inside Climate News)

"‘Watered-Down Hope’: Experts Wanted More From Climate Pact" (AP)

"COP26 Climate Deal Calls For Historic Shift From Fossil Fuels" (Axios)

"The Last-Minute Coal Demand That Almost Sunk The Glasgow Climate Deal" (Politico)

"Here's What World Leaders Agreed To — And What They Didn't — At The U.N. Climate Summit" (NPR)

"‘Still on the Road to Hell': Global Media Reacts to COP26 Climate Deal" (CNBC)

"Glasgow Climate Deal’s Success Hinges on Pledges Becoming Action" (Bloomberg Environment)

"What Are The Key Points Of The Glasgow Climate Pact?" (Guardian)