New York. COP26 in Glasgow was intended to “deliver coal to history”, and some progress has been made, even if it is far less than expected. At the climate summit in Scotland, more than 40 countries agreed on a historic commitment, that the use of coal for electricity generation was completely phased out before 2050. However, this commitment was not jointly accepted by the main users of fossil fuels. States and China, but also Russia, India and Australia. According to the agreement, the coal phase will be for major economies in the 2030s and developing countries in the 2040s. The nations that have signed the commitment include Poland, Chile, Canada, Vietnam and Ukraine, more than 100 financial institutions and other international organizations. The British government, co-chairs of COP26 with Italy, acknowledged the agreement as “a fundamental moment in our global efforts to combat climate change”. “The end of coal is in sight,” said British Enterprise Minister Kwasi Quarteng. However, many observers argue that the important goal of keeping global warming within 1.5 degrees will be missed unless major polluters refuse to sign. Regarding Washington, despite Joe Biden’s desire to project the US to Glasgow as a leader in the fight against climate change, analysts see the election as an attempt not to oppose the coal-fired states’ representatives in Congress. I have read. The President’s difficulty is passing in getting results on his economic and social agenda. Another commitment signed in Scotland, in this case also by the US, concerns a blockage in public funding for fossil fuel projects abroad until the end of 2022: the signatories are 20 countries, including Italy, the United Kingdom and Canada. However, no major Asian states are responsible for much of this funding abroad. The commitment covers all fossil fuels, including oil and gas, going beyond the one made this year by G20 countries to halt foreign funding for coal only. However, relaxations are expected in unspecified ‘limited’ circumstances, which should be in line with the Paris Agreement goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees. And another step forward was launched with the accession of 103 countries by the European Union and the United States: a historic commitment to reduce emissions of the potent greenhouse gas methane, the second largest contributor to climate change after dioxide . Carbonic. A step that could stop global warming by 0.2°C. The signatories – including major emitters such as Nigeria and Pakistan – will seek to reduce global methane emissions by 30 percent below 2020 levels by 2030. “We must act now, we cannot wait until 2050. Emissions – explained European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen –. Reducing methane emissions is one of the most effective things we can do to reduce global warming in the short term. While Biden said that “what we do in this decade will have an impact on whether or not we meet our long-term commitment.” and “one of the most important things we do is reach What we can do to keep 1.5 degrees within is to reduce our methane emissions as quickly as possible.” In fact, methane is much more potent, but also has a shorter life than carbon dioxide: two of its biggest warming effects. Over decades, while carbon dioxide remains in the atmosphere for hundreds of years, this means reductions in the gas can now have a relatively rapid impact on global temperatures.