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Ratchets, phase-downs and a fragile agreement: how Cop26 played out
Last-minute hitch on coal almost reduced Alok Sharma to tears as Glasgow climate pact made imperfect progress
As weary delegates trudged into the Scottish Event Campus on the banks of the Clyde on Saturday, few realised what a mountain they still had to climb. The Cop26 climate talks were long past their official deadline of 6pm on Friday, but there were strong hopes that the big issues had been settled. A deal was tantalisingly close.
The “package” on offer was imperfect – before countries even turned up in Glasgow they were meant to have submitted plans that would cut global carbon output by nearly half by 2030, to limit global heating to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels. Although most countries submitted plans, they were not strong enough and analysis found they would lead to a disastrous 2.4C of heating.
Continue reading...South Australia renewable hydrogen hub wins Japanese backing
A green hydrogen pilot project being developed by Marubeni Corp and the South Australian government has won the backing of the Japanese government.
The post South Australia renewable hydrogen hub wins Japanese backing appeared first on RenewEconomy.
Australia hails COP26 “green light for more coal,” won’t budge on 2030 target
With the ink barely dry on Glasgow Climate Pact, the Morrison government settled straight back into its domestic routine of climate obfuscation and obstruction.
The post Australia hails COP26 “green light for more coal,” won’t budge on 2030 target appeared first on RenewEconomy.
Wind and solar grab more than 60pct share of Australia’s main grid for first time
Renewables hit record share of Australia's main grid on Monday morning, with wind and solar alone grabbing more than 60 per cent for first time.
The post Wind and solar grab more than 60pct share of Australia’s main grid for first time appeared first on RenewEconomy.
South Australia curtailed nearly as much wind and solar on Sunday as it used
South Australia produced nearly twice as much wind and solar as it could use, with curtailment records around the main grid.
The post South Australia curtailed nearly as much wind and solar on Sunday as it used appeared first on RenewEconomy.
Scott Morrison rules out more ambitious 2030 emissions target despite Cop26 pact
Prime minister says Australians will be working in the coal industry ‘for decades to come’
The prime minister, Scott Morrison, has ruled out adopting a more ambitious 2030 emissions reduction target, dismissing calls from moderate MPs who want Australia to revisit its commitment at next year’s UN climate summit.
Under the Glasgow pact arising from this month’s Cop26 summit, Australia was a signatory to a joint “request” for countries to re-examine and strengthen 2030 targets when countries return to the negotiating table at Cop27 in Egypt.
Continue reading...COP26: the Glasgow climate summit demonstrates an appetite for change Australia simply can't ignore
Woodside obtains land for 1.7GW green hydrogen plans for Tasmania
Australian oil and gas giant's plans to produce and export green hydrogen and ammonia from Tasmania to Japan firm up after securing land for H2TAS plant.
The post Woodside obtains land for 1.7GW green hydrogen plans for Tasmania appeared first on RenewEconomy.
Invitation to comment on the listing assessment for nine species
Major European carmakers will hit emissions targets too easily, research shows
Report suggests weak targets could push firms to make millions more of the much more profitable petrol and diesel cars
Weak EU vehicle emissions targets could allow Europe’s biggest carmakers to produce millions more petrol and diesel cars than necessary up to 2030 in a “wasted decade” for cutting carbon pollution, according to a report.
Analysis of car industry sales plans for electric vehicles shared exclusively with the Guardian by Transport and Environment (T&E), a thinktank and campaign group, showed that manufacturers could hit their 2030 EU carbon emissions targets with four years to spare.
Continue reading...COP26: Climate deal sounds the death knell for coal power - PM
Boris Johnson plays down weakening of Cop26 coal ambitions
PM says ‘not much difference’ between ‘phasing down’ and ‘phasing out’ of the fossil fuel
Boris Johnson has said it was disappointing that China and India had watered down the Cop26 climate agreement, but claimed there was little difference between “phasing out” and “phasing down” coal usage.
The prime minister declared the summit in Glasgow a historic success, rating it “more than 6/10”, but acknowledged his “delight at this progress is tinged with disappointment”.
Continue reading...Are you kidding, India? Your last-minute Glasgow intervention won't relieve pressure to ditch coal
Where to find courage and defiant hope when our fragile, dewdrop world seems beyond saving
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The Guardian view on the Cop26 agreement: unfinished business | Editorial
The best thing about the Glasgow agreement is the chance it offers for tougher emissions cuts next year
The anti-global heating movement is not strong enough. With last year’s defeat of Donald Trump, its enemies lost their most powerful figurehead. But the governments of Australia, Brazil, Russia and Saudi Arabia continue to obstruct progress and at Cop26, yet again, they and the other backers of the fossil fuel-powered status quo outgunned supporters of the immediate decarbonisation that is needed, if the goal of limiting temperature rises to 1.5C is to stay within reach. Now the Glasgow conference is over, the most important question for all those seeking to avoid and reduce climate harms is how to speed up the transition.
Ramping up the pressure on polluters – both nations and companies – is the obvious answer. Questions surrounding tactics remain fraught, as the recent debate over protests by Insulate Britain illustrates. But there is no question that civil society has a vital role to play. If people, in a few years’ time, are to look back on Cop26 as a success, it will be because the Glasgow agreement created the mechanism whereby countries must revisit their emissions-cutting pledges every year, and the political conditions changed sufficiently to ensure that existing promises were strengthened.
Continue reading...Cop26 ends with deal, but frustration over watered down coal commitment – video report
The Cop26 climate conference finally came to a close on Saturday evening, as delegates agreed a package after days of tortuous negotiations. However, there was disappointment when a commitment for all 196 signatories to phase out coal was watered down after lobbying from China and India.
In total the pledges will limit global heating to 2.4C – well above the 1.5C required to avert catastrophic environmental consequences – with the biggest polluters required to return next year with improved emissions targets. Cop26 president Alok Sharma, who made an emotional apology for the failure to keep the coal commitment, said: 'We have kept 1.5C within reach, but its pulse is weak.'
- What are the key points of the Glasgow climate pact?
- Glasgow climate pact: leaders welcome Cop26 deal despite coal compromise
- Cop26 ends in climate agreement despite India watering down coal resolution
- ‘Utter betrayal’: civil society groups furious at Cop26 outcome – live updates
Cop26 ends with Glasgow climate pact – in pictures
Inside Saturday’s negotiations as delegates hammer out a deal that makes progress in some important areas
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