This November the UK will host the UN climate change conference COP26 in Glasgow. World leaders will meet with the aim to agree how to tackle the urgent threat of global climate change.
Together with Italy the UK will host the COP26 summit and work to prevent global temperatures rising above 1.5C and protect our planet and people from the intensifying impacts of climate change.
If we don’t act immediately, by the end of the century we will warm the world by at least 3C. This would cause catastrophic flooding, pollution, bush fires, extreme weather, and destruction of species.
How is the UK Government planning to make a difference?
To work towards preventing this, the UK Government has shared where they will invest their efforts during the months up to COP26 taking four key goals to governments across the world.
1. Secure global net zero by mid-century and keep 1.5 degrees within reach
Countries are being asked to come forward with ambitious 2030 emissions reductions targets that align with reaching net zero by the middle of the century. To deliver on these stretching targets, countries will need to accelerate the phase-out of coal, curtail deforestation, speed up the switch to electric vehicles and encourage investment in renewables.
2. Adapt to protect communities and natural habitats
The climate is already changing and it will continue to change even as we reduce emissions, with devastating effects. At COP26 we will need to work together to enable and encourage countries affected by climate change to protect and restore ecosystems, build defences, warning systems and resilient infrastructure and agriculture to avoid loss of homes, livelihoods and even lives.
3. Mobilise finance
To deliver on the first two goals, developed countries will need to mobilise at least $100bn in climate finance every year. The UK has also said international financial institutions must play their part and work towards unleashing the trillions in private and public sector finance required to secure global net zero.
4. Work together to deliver
We can only rise to the challenges of the climate crisis by working together. At COP26 we must finalise the Paris Rulebook (the detailed rules that make the Paris Agreement operational), and accelerate action to tackle the climate crisis through collaboration between governments, businesses and civil society.
Find out more
Here at Greenwich, we champion climate action and believe every university has a part to play in sustainable teaching. We have joined the COP26 Universities Network to support the sector’s role in engaging with the Glasgow Conference - you can find out more on Our Journey to COP26 webpage, which you can access easily from the portal home page.
