COP26 kicks off on Saturday 13 November in Glasgow, Scotland’s largest city, with the announcement of new agreements, new announcements and new targets. After two weeks of negotiations, the different parties left with mixed results, as COP26 in itself and the Glasgow Treaty did not progress up to the expected progress in the fight against global warming across the planet.
Presented almost unanimously as the COP of the last chance called to reverse the worsening of the climate crisis, COP26 took place exclusively in scientific and politico-economic contexts, and has sparked conversations about the future of international climate action. . Against the backdrop of the official withdrawal of the United States to the Paris Agreement.
It was also the first international climate conference hosted by the United Kingdom since Brexit, and which brought together a number of political and economic leaders who traveled to Scottish soil to hold one-on-one talks. For the first time since the appearance of the coronavirus pandemic.
“These unique references have generated great anticipation, especially among many developing countries, which rely not only on the leadership of US Democratic leaders, but in particular on the special consideration of the recent scientific assessment carried out by the IPCC”, Dr Kennel DeLusca underlined. The Haitian expert who contributed to the publication of the IPCC’s Working Group #1’s 6th Assessment Report last August, which rings alarm bells on the urgent need to act in the short term to keep the planet safe. 1.5°C trajectory and thus, avoid scenarios of unprecedented negative consequences, especially in developing countries.
Expectations of Developing Countries, continued Dr DeLusca, Chairman of the Least Developed Countries Expert Group, identifying clear paths to follow in order to establish a new, especially with regard to the financial commitments of developed countries from 2020 onwards. Fiscal commitment by 2025, raising the adaptation profile to achieve balance with mitigation, better cohesion for loss and damage including financial mechanisms, resolution of the markets issue and completion of work on collection of rules for the full implementation of the Paris Agreement .
If unprecedented announcements were made during this COP26, especially the progressive reduction of deforestation and fossil fuel subsidies, in view of the three declarations of the Glasgow Treaty, it is clear that the results obtained remain very mixed.
This is the main lesson retained by the head of the Haitian delegation for this COP26, Minister James Cadet, whose speech was very well received during the high-level segment. The Haitian Minister of the Environment has actually requested funding of adaptation projects for the benefit of vulnerable states, issues related to climate justice, and made links between climate change and geopolitical and social unrest as an amplifier of inequalities.
Dr Kennel DeLuska, for his part, notes this over COP26’s mixed record, and regrets that “the financial commitment of developed countries to $100 billion per year from 2020 will not be honored before 2023, While the needs of developing countries are on the order of trillions of dollars, the absence of a specific financial mechanism for loss and damage and a well-crafted plan to double the funds for adaptation”.
“There are still urgent matters postponed! », said Dr. DeLusca, associate director of Unite Caribbean firm, pointing the finger at the exaggerated disconnection between science and politics. According to the Haitian expert, this COP26 for Haiti, developed countries and Clearly confirms the growing gap between the priorities of developing countries.
“This phase shift is likely to amplify the negative consequences of climate change, which, along with an almost chronic socio-political crisis, hinder the country’s process of sustainable development, reduction of inequalities and eradication of hunger,” said Dr. DeLusca, who, far from questioning multilateralism, calls with all his might for a new class of world leaders.
In addition, the Haitian delegation participated in talks through various groups to which the country belongs, namely the Group of Least Developed Countries (LDC) G77+ China and the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS). Minister Cadet held meetings with a number of technical and regional partners, such as the Adaptation Fund, Green Fund and 5Cs, eager to help Haiti in the implementation of its NAP process and receive funding for implementation. implementation of projects in this direction.
The Haitian delegation was composed of a total of 16 members, with technical and military support from three members of the diplomatic representation of the Republic of Haiti in the United Kingdom, including Ambassador uvard Saint Armand.
What should be remembered from the Glasgow Pact?
In short: the Glasgow Treaty is accelerating monitoring of climate ambitions, and putting the 1.5° target back on the table. Another positive point: the treaty recognizes the need to protect, conserve and restore nature and ecosystems, in particular forests and other terrestrial and marine ecosystems. The talks also led to an agreement on methane, the second most important greenhouse gas. About 80 countries have pledged to reduce their methane emissions by at least 30%, although there was no clear target for this gas. At the request of developing countries and the G77, the share of funds allocated for climate change adaptation has been revised upwards.
However, the Glasgow Treaty contains some disappointing declarations in many respects, notably those relating to fossil fuels. Gas and fuel are not mentioned in the document, although they represent most of the energy consumed in the world, and they contribute greatly to global warming.