COP26 Final Declaration: Not the Worst Climate Conference

In terms of the reality of climate change, the climate conferences have always been inadequate. Nevertheless, the final declaration from Glasgow makes it clear that the age of fossil fuels is coming to an end.

Yes, great, conference bashing is always possible. The world will not be saved there. It’s correct. Resolutions from 197 states are not leading articles, no clever statements by scientists and they certainly do not fit on a demo poster. As far as climate protection is concerned, they have always been inadequate – measured against the reality of climate change – and that is already cruel.

But in the end, Glasgow, with its pact, is not the worst climate conference. It is the first to say what has long been clear: the age of fossil fuels must come to an end. An accelerated phase-out of coal and inefficient government subsidies are just an appeal – but of political importance. Coal, oil and gas are the central problem. Today we are releasing as much carbon in a few decades as nature has stored in millions of years. This is not just a little bit of energy, this is the greatest human attack on this planet.

Developing countries are rightly disappointed

Nevertheless, there was a dispute with India over this mention until the end. She could only be saved at the cost of further dilution. The second is the admission that the 1.5 degree limit quickly requires more action. China knows that this is being addressed directly. If emissions there do not go down in the middle of the decade, this limit will not be adhered to.

Developing countries are rightly disappointed. And the promises of the industrialized countries to help them have not been fulfilled. For the future, they must continue to hope – also that there will finally be talk of compensation for the damage and losses that they bear disproportionately and that overwhelm their own national budgets.

Hope for the economy

How next? Nothing works by itself now either. The incantations and long-term goals alone do not bring the world further. In reality, we are on the way to temperatures well over two degrees. And my imagination does not go so far that I can imagine that the politicians can get ahead on their own. My hope is in the economy.

All countries are now on the way towards climate neutrality – including one message in Glasgow. Coal-fired power plants are or will soon be high-risk investments. Your term: very limited. That makes them expensive. The economy is already looking for new business models. Technically, most of the solutions are there – that just has to be unleashed. Then the bosses drive politics in front of them. This is the only way to get China on board.

And the resistance in society can be overcome better with solutions than with demands that lead to excessive demands. Am I dreaming? No more than those who believe that no matter how correct scientific knowledge can be turned into political reality.