COP26: The Final Push
2021-11-12
| Policy Research and Advocacy Team, Friends of the Earth (HK)
COP26 is
nearing the end of the second week.
Even with the
new climate declarations made last week, the Climate Action Tracker notes there
is still a major gap in reaching the 1.5°C warming target. It predicts that
current policies and actions will send the world hurtling towards a 2.4°C
temperature increase by 2100.[1]UN Secretary-General Guterres has called for more regular reviews of climate
plans—once every year instead of every five years—should the outcomes of COP26
fall short of expectations.[2]
With just one
day left, delegates are working hard to iron out a global carbon market deal
and unlock trillions of dollars of investment.[3]Despite the promise to mobilise US$100 billion of climate financing yearly,
wealthier nations continue to resist committing to compensate vulnerable
counterparts for losses and damages arising from climate change.[4]
The
Like-Minded Developing Countries—composed of 22 nations including large
emitters like China, India, and Saudi Arabia—are now calling for US$1.3
trillion per year to be channelled to developing countries by 2030 for climate
mitigation and adaptation.[5]India in particular demanded for US$1 trillion in financial support by 2030 for
the country alone to uphold the surprising net-zero pledge it made last week.[6]
One welcome
surprise came from the world’s two largest carbon emitters, China and the US,
announcing on Wednesday to work more closely together on climate actions.[7]While largely symbolic, the joint declaration still sends a powerful message,
recognising the urgency for action.
To support
China’s climate ambitions, the Hong Kong government has to become more
transparent with the progress of its climate actions through its new Office of
Climate Change and Carbon Neutrality. For example:
·Provide
more regular update of local greenhouse gas emission trends
·Review
the government’s carbon reduction pathways and targets regularly
·Set
carbon reduction pathways and targets for government-funded projects and institutions
·Update
green procurement guidelines to reduce carbon emissions
·Add
climate-related information in the disclosure of government waste and energy
statistics (Monitoring of Solid Waste in Hong Kong, Hong Kong Energy End-use
Data, etc.)
Walk the talk - A call
to action to support FoE (HK):
·Tree Planting Challenge and Climate Tree Care
·CESGA accreditation and scholarship program
·Carbon Neutrality Forum