Leaders warn COP26 emissions deal 'did not achieve' group's climate goals
![COP26 protest](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/rsRgxEascdDmGnVX4ZPKrY-415-80.jpg)
Negotiators from nearly 200 nations reached a deal Saturday at the United Nations COP26 climate summit to strengthen targets for reducing carbon emissions and phasing out fossil fuels, although India forced a last-minute compromise watering down language on cutting coal use.
Though the deal was the landmark commitment of the conference, The Washington Post reports that many world leaders were disappointed it didn't go further. "We must end fossil fuel subsidies, phase out coal, put a price on carbon, protect vulnerable communities from the impacts of climate change and make good on $100 billion climate finance commitment to support developing countries," said United Nations Secretary General António Guterres. "We did not achieve these goals at this conference but we have some building blocks for progress."
The agreement calls on wealthy nations to follow through on a promise to help poorer nations adapt and pay for costly damage from global warming, reports The Associated Press. The deal fell short of the summit's goal of securing concrete commitments to keep global temperatures from rising more than 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) above preindustrial levels.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
![https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516-320-80.jpg)
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.
"The difference between 1.5 and 2 degrees is a death sentence for us," said Aminath Shauna, the Maldives' environment and climate change minister. Organizers of the summit said the agreement "keeps 1.5 alive."
Other leaders echoed concerns. The White House said the deal is "not enough," and Alok Sharma, the British minister of state and president of the Glasgow talks, said "collectively, our climate ambition and action to date have fallen short on the promises made in Paris." Read more at The Washington Post.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Summer Meza has worked at The Week since 2018, serving as a staff writer, a news writer and currently the deputy editor. As a proud news generalist, she edits everything from political punditry and science news to personal finance advice and film reviews. Summer has previously written for Newsweek and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, covering national politics, transportation and the cannabis industry.
-
4 tips to make your home more eco-friendly
The Week Recommends You don't have to spend a bunch of money to make more sustainable choices
By Theara Coleman, The Week US Published
-
Is Hurricane Beryl the sign of another dangerous storm season?
Today's Big Question Climate change is fueling the frequency and intensity of storms
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
What is NASA working on?
In Depth A running list of the space agency's most exciting developments
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
Extreme weather events in the last year
In Depth These events are becoming more common thanks to climate change, and are "affecting every corner of the world"
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
Fish around the world are shrinking
Under the Radar Smaller fish in a very, very big pond
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
What are rogue waves and what causes them?
Under The Radar Once dismissed as mythology, the 'giant colossi' are now taken very seriously
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
The biggest climate records in the last year
In Depth The number of records set in the past year is a stark reminder of the destructiveness of climate change
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
Inside Siberia's 'megaslump' – and why it is getting bigger
Under The Radar The 'eerie sinkhole' is rapidly expanding and climate change is the reason why
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published