The Glasgow Climate Change Conference opened with a “soft launch” for its two-week gathering, including an opening ceremony, statements from groupings of Parties and stakeholders, and the start of substantive work within five bodies. With two years worth of developments and decisions to cover after the 2020 COP was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, world leaders have arrived to present their pledges at COP 26.

At the opening ceremony on 31 October 2021, the President of the previous UN Climate Change Conference (COP 25), Carolina Schmidt of Chile, said science is non-negotiable; the Chair of the IPCC noted that science attests that the state of the climate system is deteriorating. The President of COP 26, Alok Sharma of the UK, said this meeting is the “last best hope” for the goal of limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius. He said it is crucial to ensure that that “what Paris promised, Glasgow delivers.”

On priorities for COP 26, UNFCCC Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa cited:

• increasing ambition, especially by members of the Group of 20 (G20);
• achieving finance targets and mobilizing trillions; and
• strengthening adaptation action.

Both Espinosa and Schmidt stressed the importance of including stakeholders in the proceedings and in climate action writ large. A representative of the Ngāti Kahungunu group in Aotearoa/New Zealand pointed to Indigenous leadership and resistance to fossil fuel extraction, and to the need for the Global North to commit to halting emissions and redistributing finance.

The emphasis on financing was echoed by UN General Assembly (UNGA) President Abdulla Shahid, who called for enhanced efforts to meet the USD 100 billion finance goal with equal shares for mitigation and adaptation. He also noted the need to monitor the net-zero targets being set in the private sector, and to invest in green jobs.

During their opening statements, Parties exchanged expectations for the meeting. As summarized by the Earth Negotiations Bulletin, many developing countries stressed the need for developed countries to provide adequate finance, in line with the commitment to mobilize USD 100 billion per year by 2020. Developed countries highlighted the need to finalize the rules related to the Paris Agreement rulebook, which will help provide the certainty and confidence to raise ambition.

The Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) called for a formal platform to take stock of the gap to the 1.5°C goal and a decision for major economies to phase out fossil fuel subsidies by 2023. Climate Justice Now! called for “real zero” targets rather than net zero ones. Many speakers called for a new finance goal.

Also on Sunday 31 October, officials and delegations settled several discussions related to the agendas and the organization of work. The ENB notes that “the agendas are large, because there are two years worth of decision making to catch up on.” The five bodies meeting as part of the Glasgow Climate Change Conference are:

• COP: Conference of the Parties
• CMA: Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement
• CMP: Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol
• SBSTA: Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice
• SBI: Subsidiary Body for Implementation

The substantive agendas for all five were adopted by consensus after negotiations.

On Monday, 1 November, the World Leaders Summit provided a platform for leaders to present their pledges to the world. [ENB coverage of COP 26]