6 minute read
COP26 - next steps
The LI was represented at COP26 by the President Jane Findlay, CEO Sue Morgan and members of the Policy Team, including Dilraj Sokhi-Watson, who asks if the event was a road to recovery or a missed opportunity.
Dilraj Sokhi-Watson
A successful outcome would be, ambitious 2030 greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reducing targets and actions across all high emitting sectors, leading to a global goal of 1.5°C, adaptation support through finance for the most vulnerable countries, equal consideration given to adaptation as well as mitigation, and enhanced climate resilience through nature-based solutions (1) .
What could have been a kaleidoscopic montage of climate targets and solutions, that would have set the tone for ambitious action in the coming decade, became a disjointed picture of commitments. While some may argue that initiatives and commitments made at COP26, such as deforestation pledges (2) , methane pledge (3) , coal phase out (4) , the ‘Global Goal on Adaptation (5) ’ and the ‘Glasgow Climate Pact (6) ’, set us on the pathway between 1.8°C and 2.1°C of global warming (7) , and there is still a glimmer of hope that keeps the 1.5°C goal alive. Two questions arise from this. First,
do these actions have enough weight to take the 1.5°C climate goal off ‘life support’ (8) and our planet into recovery? Secondly, with key unresolved issues such as lack of action on fossil fuel abatement and an absence of ambitious emission reduction targets in the near term from the big polluters, in addition to maintaining the net zero momentum, should we now focus more on adaptation and enhancing resilience?
Post COP26, the call for ‘urgent action’ continues. Whether we will be able to achieve the global 1.5°C goal remains to be seen, with countries being ‘requested’ to ‘revisit and strengthen’ their climate pledges by the end of 2022, in time for COP27 in Egypt. For now, though, the commitments and pledges made at COP26 somehow give the feeling that the show is over, the curtains are drawn, the audience is walking away with apprehension, and when the time comes for COP27 the one and only sequel, will live up to all the unfilled promises made in the preceding COPs, or will the calls for urgent action remain unheard?
The LI’s President Jane Findlay, CEO Sue Morgan, LIS Branch Chair Rebecca Rylott and members of the senior management team had the opportunity to attend COP26 in person, observe negotiations and attend conference activities in Glasgow. Further information on engagement, collaboration and conference activities can be viewed on the LI’s COP26 Campaign 16 page.
The road from Glasgow to Sharm el-Sheikh
The LI’s 2021 COP26: ‘What do the outcomes mean for the landscape profession?’ (17) policy briefing provides a detailed review of COP26 outcomes, their implications on UK’s climate responsibilities and commitments, and how this impacts the landscape sector. A key outcome of COP26 – the ‘Glasgow Climate Pact’ – is being called a distinctive, global, cross-sector political decision, calling on countries for more ambitious national emission reduction targets, policies and implementation plans to be put in place by COP27, which takes place at the end of 2022.
Sue Morgan with a copy of Landscape for 2030.
Historically, adaptation has been underfunded, where historically, negotiations on climate finance have been heavily skewed towards mitigation activities. However, this was the first time adaptation was considered. This change in pace is reflected in the Glasgow Pact, where developed countries have been called to ‘at least double their collective provision of climate finance for adaptation’ from 2019 levels by 2025. In addition to expanding the scope for climate finance and emphasising oprogressively ambitious emission reduction targets, a two-year Glasgow to Sharm el-Sheikh Work programme on the Global Goal on Adaptation has been included as well. The Glasgow to Sharm el-Sheikh Work programme builds on the work of the Adaptation Committee. From the landscape sector’s perspective, globally, countries will now need to adapt to the changing climate and its impacts, in ways that will make a profound impact on the landscape profession.
Translating global ambition to national action
On the domestic front, more focus on adaptation and the emphasis on implementation of emission reduction targets at COP26 are of particular relevance. One dimension of adaptation is building, improving and maintaining green infrastructure, which has been traditionally underfunded. There is a need for further investment in green infrastructure: natural flood management systems, energy, including carbon efficient strategies such as green roofs and waterefficient design, measures which embed nature-based solutions and enhance resilience. The issue of underfunding for adaptation is also relevant on the domestic front, as this is connected to the implementation of UK’s emission reduction targets. The UK’s Net Zero Strategy (18) provides the overall framework to deliver its climate ambitions, including headline actions to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. While there are positive initiatives within the strategy
in the areas of sustainable transport, heat in buildings, green jobs and green finance, there is an absence of detailed policy interventions when it comes to green infrastructure investment (19) . The Climate Change Committee’s key recommendation (20) to the UK government on this front is to reinforce its climate adaptation policies through clear implementation plans. Following COP26, the next key milestone on the domestic front which will highlight near term action is the next five-year National Adaptation Programme for 2023- 2028. The programme will be published this year and will set out adaptation action the government will be taking for the next five years.
Dilraj Sokhi-Watson is the Landscape Institute’s Policy and Partnerships manager for Scotland
References
1 For a detailed analysis of COP26 outcomes and the implications on the landscape profession please refer to LI COP26 policy briefing, available here: https:// landscapewpstorage01.blob.core.windows.net/ www-landscapeinstitute-org/2021/12/policy-briefingdecember-2021-cop26-what-ouctomes-mean-for-thelandscape-profession.pdf
2 https://ukcop26.org/glasgow-leaders-declaration-onforests-and-land-use/
3 https://www.globalmethanepledge.org/
4 https://www.gov.uk/government/news/end-of-coal-insight-as-uk-secures-ambitious-commitments-atcop26-summit
5 https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/ what-does-cop26-mean-adaptation#:~:text=The%20 Paris%20Agreement%20in%202015,for%20 tracking%20countries’%20adaptation%20progress.
6 https://unfccc.int/documents/310475
7 https://www.iea.org/commentaries/cop26-climatepledges-could-help-limit-global-warming-to-1-8-c-butimplementing-them-will-be-the-key
8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjH6_hsbyvY
9 https://landscapewpstorage01.blob.core.windows. net/www-landscapeinstitute-org/2020/05/12284- climate-biodiversity-action-plan.pdf
10 https://www.landscapeinstitute.org/news new-publication-landscape-2030/
11 https://landscapewpstorage01.blob.core.windows. net/www-landscapeinstitute-org/2020/09/12332- greener-recovery-v6.pdf
12 https://issuu.com/landscape-institute/docs/ li_journal_4_cop_edition/s/13631567
13 https://www.iflaworld.com/ifla-climate-actioncommitment-statement
14 https://cic.org.uk/admin/resources/cic-carbon-zeroclimate-action-plan-for-professional-institutions-3.pdf
15 https://buildbetternow.co/16 https://www.landscapeinstitute.org/policy/cop26/
17 https://landscapewpstorage01.blob.core.windows. net/www-landscapeinstitute-org/2021/12/ policy-briefing-december-2021-cop26-whatouctomes-mean-for-the-landscape-profession.pdf?_cl dee=ZGlscmFqLnNva2hpLXdhdHNvbkBsYW5kc2Nh cGVpbnN0aXR1dGUub3Jn&recipientid=conta ct-59b70d954a19eb11a813000d3ad689ea-475e873 3dfa7486d91bc6cd05ba4aadc&esid=40817 cc3-085d-ec11-8f8f-000d3ad651f9
18 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ net-zero-strategy
19 https://www.landscapeinstitute.org/news/ landscape-institute-responds-government-net-zerostrategy/
20 https://www.theccc.org.uk/publication/cop26-keyoutcomes-and-next-steps-for-the-uk/
