Nov 3, 2021
#COP26: Chaotic Scenes & Long Queues to Enter COP26 Venue
Day 1 and 2: started with a popular British pastime: queuing. About 2,000 delegates and journalists were kept in large crowds queuing outside the conference centre, there seemed to have been a lack of planning, as no attempt was made to encourage people to queue rather then simply press forward.
The Hope with mixed feelings is on our Leaders Speeches & some commitments at the High-Level Events: A lot of words but we need more actions rather than words to make COP26 a success; to safeguard our future, save humanity and the planet.
Boris Johnson opened COP26: If we don’t get serious about climate change today, it will be too late for our children to get serious about it tomorrow. Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Boris Johnson has told leaders at the start of the COP26 summit.
Joe Biden, America’s President attempted to reassert America’s credibility at the UN climate talks by apologizing for the behaviour of his predecessor. “And reiterated that He will demonstrate to the world the United States is not only back to the table but hopefully leading by the power of our example. His quote that climate commitment is action not words was a renewed hope which we wish is sustained.
China, Russia and Brazil failed to make any new significant pledges and decided not to appear was a setback (China’s president, Xi Jinping, along with Jair Bolsonaro of Brazil and Vladimir Putin of Russia)
Narendra Modi, India’s Prime Minister pledged that his country will meet and of net zero emissions by 2070. He also committed to India getting half of its energy from renewable resources by 2030. Modi demanded developed countries make $1tn available as climate finance.
President Muhammadu Buhari, Nigeria is committed to not-zero by 2060. President Buhari also told the COP26 Leaders’ Summit that Nigeria has developed a detailed energy transition plan and roadmap based on data and evidence. In addition, announced that the National Assembly has also passed the Climate Change Bill, which provides a framework for achieving low greenhouse gas emissions, inclusive green growth and sustainable economic development. He explained that the plan has highlighted some key facts:
‘‘Our transition plan also highlights the key role that gas will play in transitioning our economy across sectors, and the data and evidence show that Nigeria can continue to use gas until 2040 without detracting from the goals of the Paris Agreement.
‘‘Gas will be key for addressing the clean cooking challenge, which is also a challenge of deforestation, and for giving our electric grid the stability and flexibility to integrate renewables at scale. Nigeria will need to integrate an unprecedented 7GW additional renewable capacity each year to achieve net-zero,’’ he said.
On energy access, President Buhari declared that Nigeria’s commitment to a just transition is reflected in ‘‘our ambitious Energy Compact, which includes the Government’s flagship project to electrify 5million households and 25 million people using decentralized solar energy solutions.’’
He described the project as a major first step towards closing the energy access deficit in the country by 2030.
On green projects in the county, the President declared that Federal Government agencies have been directed to ensure the inclusion of projects with Climate Change credentials in the budget.
‘‘I am happy to state that the 2022 budget, which I recently submitted to our National Assembly, is the first cross-sectoral, gender and climate-responsive budget ever prepared in the annals of our history.”
President Buhari concluded his address with a note of caution, saying: ‘‘The outcome of this Conference must result in quick resolution of all outstanding issues about the finalization of the Paris Agreement Rulebook, Adaptation, Mitigation, Finance, Article 6 and Loss and Damage.
World leaders left the United Nations climate change summit on Tuesday with agreements to curb emissions of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, and to end deforestation by 2030.
But while the progress was notable, it still fell well short of the big prize: securing aggressive commitments to reach net-zero carbon emissions globally, to slow the rising temperatures that have led to lethal fires, floods, droughts and heatwaves around the world.
It also remains to be seen whether richer, polluting countries will follow through on their promises to provide $100 billion a year to help developing countries to fight global warming. Key Message: We have a long way to go; Aggressive Commitments to Action Required.
