Cop 26: disappointing results, but let’s try to understand what the positive outcomes of the climate conference were

Everyone has talked about it as the appointment of the year to take stock is to find solutions to the real climate crisis, but what were the real goals achieved by Cop 26 in Glasgow?
What did the much-discussed climate conference bring about?

The main goals are essentially three:

1. Commitment to end deforestation by 2030, putting financial commitments on the table.
   Over one hundred world leaders, who lead the host countries of 86% of the world’s forests, have in fact committed to ending deforestation by 2030.
   How? putting on the table financial commitments, which also include private investments, for an amount of 19.2 billion euros.
2. Reduction of methane emissions by 30% by 2030.
   With over 100 countries representing 70% of the global economy that have joined the initiative launched by the European Union and the United States.
3. Aid to the most vulnerable countries to promote their green transition. The European Union, represented by the president of the EU Commission Ursula von der Leyen, has committed a billion, of which 250 million, to be allocated to the Congo Basin, considered the second lung of the Earth after the Amazon.

Transition from coal to clean energy

The document approved today contains a declaration on the transition from coal to clean energy promoted by the United Kingdom that commits countries – but also over 100 financial institutions and other international organizations – to end all investments that involve the opening of new plants in coal for energy production and foresees the gradual exit from coal by the decade of 2030 for the main economies and by the decade of 2040 for the rest of the world. The key point of this disappointing announcement is that coal can basically continue to be used for years to come. All the more disappointing if we consider that the countries that use coal the most for electricity production, such as China, India, the United States and Australia, are excluded from the agreement.

As Greta Thunberg from Glasgow’s Kelvingrove Park says, “it is clear to everyone that COP26 is a failure, the inaction of leaders destroys the environment”.