COP26 Final Declaration: “Comprehensive and Diverse” | tagesschau.de

In the final declaration of the climate summit, fossil fuels are named as the causes of climate change. Although there is also criticism of the paper, said ARD correspondent Eckert at tagesschau24. Nevertheless, the declaration is comprehensive.

Almost 200 nations agreed on a joint final declaration at the UN climate conference in Glasgow. In the last few minutes, however, at the urging of India and China, a formulation has been weakened in order to reach a compromise when it comes to the coal phase-out. Nevertheless, this final declaration is comprehensive and diverse, said ARD correspondent Werner Eckert in conversation with tagesschau24. “It is the first declaration in which coal – including oil and gas, the subsidies for it – have really been named as the cause of the problem,” said Eckert.

The burning of fossil fuels as the cause of climate change was officially reflected on for the first time with the Glasgow Declaration, according to the head of the environmental department SWR. “It is a political appeal, it is not a resolution that forces the states to get out of coal now,” said Eckert. “It is an appeal to end this form of energy specifically and to cut subsidies for oil and gas faster than previously planned.”

The declaration also stated that global emissions of climate-damaging greenhouse gases would be reduced by 45 percent by 2030. “That will have a significant political impact in the next few years,” said Eckert tagesschau24.