The COP26 conference brought together world leaders in Glasgow to discuss global efforts to tackle climate change. As the 26th Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC, COP26 aimed to secure more ambitious commitments on emissions reductions and climate finance. Notable outcomes included 46 countries committing to transition away from unabated coal power and an agreement to increase financing to help developing countries deal with climate change. At COP26, India pledged to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2070 and make climate adaptation a central part of its national policies.

1. UN CLIMATE CHANGE CONFERENCE
COP 26

2. What is Conference of Parties (COP) ?
 The Conference of Parties (COP) is the apex decision-
making body of the United Nations Climate Change
Framework Convention (UNFCCC).
 The UNFCCC was formed in 1994 to stabilize the green
house gas emissions and to protect the earth from the threat
of climate change.
 The UNFCCC has 198 member states, including India, USA,
and China. The first COP was held in 1995.

3. WHAT IS COP26 ?
 The global climate summit wrapping up in Glasgow
is known as COP26, with COP standing
for Conference of the Parties in partnership with
Italy.
 In diplomatic parlance, “the parties” refers to the 197
nations that agreed to a new environmental pact, the
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change, at a meeting in 1992.

4. What will COP26 do?
 The UK hosted the 26th UN Climate Change
Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow on
31 October – 13 November 2021.
 The COP26 summit brought parties together
to accelerate action towards the goals of the
Paris Agreement and the UN Framework
Convention on Climate Change.

5. Why is COP26 important?
 Climate change is one of the biggest challenges of our time and
it demands global collaboration.
 COP provides an organised environment for parties to
gather and discuss how best to tackle climate change
together.
 It brings together rich and poor countries, high emitters and low
emitters.
 COP26 brought together world leaders to act together to
limit temperature rises and climate change.
 The main objectives of the COP26 meeting were to: commit to
more ambitious targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by
2030.
 discuss measures to adapt to the inevitable impacts of climate
change.

6. What is the agenda of COP26?
 According to UNFCCC, COP26 aims to work towards the
following goals:
i. Ensure global net-zero by 2050 and keep the target of 1.5
degree Celsius within reach.
ii. Bring in adaptation measures to protect communities and
natural habitats.
iii. Mobilize climate finance to enable member states to
achieve their climate goals.
iv. Coordination to finalize Paris Rulebook.

7. What were the results of COP26?
 As a result of COP26, 46 countries signed onto a Global
Coal to Clean Energy Transition Statement, committing to
transition away from unabated coal power generation by
about 2030 for “major economies” and a global transition
by roughly 2040.
 For the first time at a COP conference, there was an
explicit plan to reduce use of coal - which is responsible for
40% of annual CO2 emissions.
 The agreement pledged to significantly increase money to
help poor countries cope with the effects of climate change
and make the switch to clean energy.

8.  Prime Minister Narendra Modi, at the ‘High-Level Segment for
Heads of States and Government’ at COP26.
 India has stated that it will reach its net zero carbon emission
target by 2070.
 Modi reiterated that climate justice would be served only when
pressure is put on those countries who have failed to fulfil their
climate finance commitments.
 India has called on developed nations to fulfil the promised
US$1 trillion towards climate finance, the progress of which
must be tracked similar to that of climate mitigation.

9.  India is also focused on making adaptation the main part of
its development policies and schemes, citing.
 examples of schemes like ‘Nal Se Jal’, Clean India
Mission, and Ujjawala, which have also improved the
quality of life.
 Modi also stated that India will keep climate change at the
center of policy making.
 India also intends to include climate change adaptation
policies in school syllabi to make the next generation
aware of these issues.

10. India has announced its five commitments (Amrit Tatva) that it
strives to meet as it continues to work to tackle climate change
related issues.
1. By 2030, India will increase its non-fossil capacity to 500 gigawatts
(GW).
2. India will fulfil 50 percent of its energy requirements with renewable
energy by 2030.
3. India will reduce one billion ton of the total projected carbon
emission between 2021 and 2030.
4. By 2030, India will reduce its economy’s carbon intensity to less
than 45 percent.
5. India will achieve the target of net zero emissions by 2070.