In an open letter to world leaders ahead of the COP26, the high-level two-week global climate talks that opened in Glasgow yesterday, November 1, the Alliance of CEO Climate Leaders called for great commitment to politicians to efforts to accelerate the race to net-zero.
The industry captains called on governments around the world to use the forum as "as our best chance to agree the steps that are required to halve greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, reach net-zero emissions by 2050 and build nature-positive economies.”
Notably, they want governments to publish ambitious and 1.5°C-aligned Nationally Determined Contributions that would at least halve global emissions by 2030 and commit to global net-zero by 2050, while also ensuring that developed countries meet their $100 billion commitment to support developing countries’ efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change.
They also want leaders to "ensure that the major development finance institutions also commit to science-based guidelines across their lending portfolios.”
The talks are seen as critical in mobilising concrete global action against climate change, and the return of the U.S to climate-fold should boost optimism, but concerns about financing shortages at a time when the world is battling a pandemic have marred the opening sessions of the gathering.
The talks come hot on the heels of the G20 Summit in Italy where leaders called for greater global solidarity in climate matters.
Like Covid-19, climate change is a global phenomenon affecting everyone, both the biggest emitters and the least contributors to greenhouse gas emissions, the wealthiest and the poorest.
Rwanda, one of the smallest emitters, has sent a high-powered delegation to the Glasgow talks led by Prime Minister Edouard Ngirente, and warned that, "to achieve global climate goals, countries need to manage the increasing impacts of climate change on citizens’ lives and renew their commitment to sustainable climate finance.
"COP26 is an opportunity for the world to end the fossil fuel era and start regenerating nature, while also protecting remaining ecosystems.”
Yet, the ongoing meeting is just the latest in a series of climate talks and deals, which eco-activists say have hitherto not inspired meaningful actions on the part of the industrialised world, in particular.
In Glasgow, world leaders have an opportunity to accelerate the momentum already set in motion by previous climate deals – including the Paris Agreement and the Kigali Amendment to Montreal Protocol – and lay out bold and clear strategies and timelines for a galvanised global action on climate.