The latest United Nations climate talks have ended in Madrid with a compromise deal and widespread disappointment over the outcome.
The BBC says that “exhausted delegates” reached agreement on the key question of increasing the global response to curbing carbon. The agreement will see new, improved carbon cutting plans on the table by the time of the Glasgow conference next year.
However, this was not enough for many. The UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said: “The international community lost an important opportunity to show increased ambition on mitigation, adaptation and finance to tackle the climate crisis.”
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Laurence Tubiana from the European Climate Foundation, and an architect of the Paris agreement, described the outcome of the talks as “a far cry from what science tells us is needed”.
Discussions went at “snail’s pace”, The Guardian says, and had “low ambition”. This was a view shared by Oxfam International, whose interim executive director, Chema Vera, told CNN: “The world is screaming out for action but this summit responded with a whisper”.
May Boeve, executive director of climate campaign group 350.org, said the fossil fuel giants “got what they wanted - a weakened text that kicks most of the big issues down the road to COP26”.
Almost 200 countries met in Madrid for the talks, aimed at forging a new response to the climate crisis. The European Union and small island states pushed for more ambitious agreements but they were opposed by a range of larger nations including the US, Brazil, India and China.
Looking ahead, the BBC’s Roger Harrabin says the fact that next year’s climate conference will be held in Glasgow “heaps enormous pressure on UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson” because he could be “humiliated” if he tries to lead other nations while his own government is still failing to meet its own medium-term climate targets.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise, refreshing and balanced take on the week’s news agenda - try The Week magazine. Start your trial subscription today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
-
Death toll from Southeast Asia storms tops 1,000speed read Catastrophic floods and landslides have struck Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia
-
Can for-profit geoengineering put a pause on climate change?In the Spotlight Stardust Solutions wants to dim the sun. Scientists are worried.
-
How will climate change affect the UK?The Explainer Met Office projections show the UK getting substantially warmer and wetter – with more extreme weather events
-
Can the UK do more on climate change?Today's Big Question Labour has shown leadership in the face of fraying international consensus, but must show the public their green mission is ‘a net benefit, not a net cost’
-
Did Cop30 fulfil its promise to Indigenous Brazilians?Today’s Big Question Brazilian president approves 10 new protected territories, following ‘unprecedented’ Indigenous presence at conference, both as delegates and protesters
-
Can the world adapt to climate change?Today's Big Question As the world gets hotter, COP30 leaders consider resilience efforts
-
Taps could run dry in drought-stricken TehranUnder the Radar President warns that unless rationing eases water crisis, citizens may have to evacuate the capital
-
The future of the Paris AgreementThe Explainer UN secretary general warns it is ‘inevitable’ the world will overshoot 1.5C target, but there is still time to change course
