UNSG António Guterres’ statement on the conclusion of the UN Climate Change Conference COP 26

Let me begin by thanking our hosts -- the UK government and the people of Glasgow -- for their tremendous hospitality.  

 

I salute Alok Sharma and his team.  This was an extremely challenging conference. They have shown remarkable expertise in reaching consensus among parties.  

  

I am grateful to Patricia Espinosa and all my colleagues of the United Nations Climate Change team. 

 

And I express my gratitude to all delegates -- and all those on the outside who have put pressure on this COP to deliver. 

 

The approved texts are a compromise. They reflect the interests, the conditions, the contradictions and the state of political will in the world today.   

 

They take important steps, but unfortunately the collective political will was not enough to overcome some deep contradictions. 

 

As I said at the opening, we must accelerate action to keep the 1.5 degree goal alive. 

 

Our fragile planet is hanging by a thread.   

 

We are still knocking on the door of climate catastrophe.   

 

It is time to go into emergency mode -- or our chance of reaching net zero will itself be zero. 

 

I reaffirm my conviction that we must end fossil fuels subsidies.  

Phase out coal.   

 

Put a price on carbon.  

 

Build resilience of vulnerable communities against the here and now impacts of climate change.   

 

And make good on the $100 billion climate finance commitment to support developing countries.  

 

We did not achieve these goals at this conference. But we have some building blocks for progress.  

 

Commitments to end deforestation. To drastically reduce methane emissions. To mobilize private finance around net zero.   

 

And the texts today reaffirm resolve towards the 1.5 degree goal. Boost climate finance for adaptation. Recognize the need to strengthen support for vulnerable countries suffering from irreparable climate damage.   

 

And for the first time they encourage International Financial Institutions to consider climate vulnerabilities in concessional financial and other forms of support, including Special Drawing Rights. 

 

And finally close the Paris rule book with agreement on carbon markets and transparency.   

 

These are welcome steps, but they are not enough.   

Science tells us that the absolute priority must be rapid, deep and sustained emissions reductions in this decade. 

Specifically -- a 45% cut by 2030 compared to 2010 levels.   

But the present set of Nationally Determined Contributions -- even if fully implemented -- will still increase emissions this decade on a pathway that will clearly lead us to well above 2 degrees by the end of the century compared to pre-industrial levels. 

I welcome the agreement between US and China here in Glasgow that -- like the text today -- pledges to accelerate action to reduce emissions in the 2020s. 

To help lower emissions in many other emerging economies, we need to build coalitions of support including developed countries, financial institutions, those with the technical know-how. 

This is crucial to help each of those emerging countries speed the transition from coal and accelerate the greening of their economies.    

The partnership with South Africa announced a few days ago is a model for doing just that.   

I want to make a particular appeal for our future work in relation to adaptation and the issue of loss and damage. 

Adaptation isn’t a technocratic issue, it is life or death. 

I was once Prime Minister of my country. And I imagine myself today in the shoes of a leader from a vulnerable country.   

COVID-19 vaccines are scarce. My economy is sinking. Debt is mounting.  International resources for recovery are completely insufficient.   

Meanwhile, although we contributed least to the climate crisis, we suffer most.   

And when yet another hurricane devastates my country, the treasury is empty.   

Protecting countries from climate disaster is not charity.  It is solidarity and enlightened self-interest.   

We have another climate crisis today. A climate of mistrust is enveloping our globe.  Climate action can help rebuild trust and restore credibility.   

That means finally delivering on the $100 billion climate finance commitment to developing countries.  

No more IOUs. 

It means measuring progress, updating climate plans every year and raising ambition. I will convene a global stock-taking summit at the heads of state level in 2023.   Read more: https://in.one.un.org/un-press-releas...