Climate talks in times of crisis: Your roadmap to COP26

An activist holding a placard during a climate strike demonstration in front of the Swiss House of Parliament in Bern on Oct 22, ahead of the COP26 in Glasgow on Oct 31, 2021. — AFP

The COP26 climate talks were always going to be difficult: 200 countries in search of a plan to prevent catastrophic warming of the planet with time running out fast.The backdrop of terrifying weather events had brought a renewed sense of urgency to the matter. Then, the energy crisis struck, leaving Asia and Europe scrambling for fossil fuels, forcing China to double down on coal, and giving climate laggards another excuse not to engage. In the United States, President Joe Biden’s green ambitions have got bogged down in domestic politics, undermining his credibility as he tries to push others to curb their emissions.The aim of COP – the acronym for the conference of parties that’s now in its 26th round – is to curb emissions, keep the goal of 1.5°C of global warming within reach, reduce coal use, sort out rules for a global carbon market, and raise billions in climate finance.

But at the heart of talks is the issue of fairness. Developing nations say rich countries wrecked the planet as they industrialised, and it’s now unfair they’re thwarting others’ economic progress – and failing to provide enough cash to help poor countries adjust. That’s why there’s so much talk about how much money will be on the table.