Environmentalists: COP26 draft is a ‘step back in climate ambition’

Glasgow (UK), November 13 (EFE). – Spanish political representatives and environmental organizations explained to Efe that the new draft agreement presented by the British Presidency of COP26 in Glasgow on Saturday is a “step back in climate ambition”.

The head of energy and climate at Ecologistas en Acción, Javier Andaluz, noted that the draft UN climate summit agreement presented this Saturday – in an extension of the COP26 conference, which was due to end yesterday afternoon – represented a “step back in climate ambition” with regard to in the previously submitted draft.

And Andalus announced that the new proposal by COP26 President Alok Sharma weakens the conclusions of the Intergovernmental Panel of Experts on Climate Change (IPCC).

The environmental organization’s head of energy and climate cautioned that the new draft “reports fossil fuels in a very weak way”, because it “does not attack fossil fuel subsidies directly”, but “only refers to the least efficient technologies” and, in the case of coal “it mentions its use for electrical purposes” Just”.

And Andalus expressed concern about the issue of adaptation, because they understand that the new proposal “dilutes the intention to double funds for adaptation by 2025” and “the promises made by countries under COP26”.

In addition, he considered that “instead of seeing a commitment to actually operate effectively while providing specific funds for losses and damages,” this issue would “be subject to a new two-year discussion” that would make the implementation of this funding “more overdue.”

For his part, the head of the Environmental Transformation Committee of the Spanish Congress of Representatives, Juan Antonio López de Oralde, told Efe that “unfortunately, the fossil fuel industry is putting forward a giant battle for its survival, trying to impose what they call efficient fossil fuels, something that does not exist” .

“The final agreement should issue an unconditional call to end fossil fuels, and comply with COP26 commitments,” said López de Oralde, leader of Spain’s environmental party Alianza Verde.

“We must continue to advocate greater ambition, because we are still far from containing global warming to 1.5 degrees,” he added, as well as urging the completion of “this $100 billion per year fund to help developing countries.” EFE

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