Headline Roundup • November 14th, 2021
COP26 Summit Ends With Glasgow Climate Pact To Reduce Fossil Fuel Use
China,Climate Change,Coal,COP26,Environment,EPA,Fossil Fuels,India,Sustainability,United Nations,World
Summary from the AllSides News Team
After nearly two weeks of discussions, leaders from nearly 200 countries reached an agreement Saturday at the COP26 climate summit to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions across the globe.
The Glasgow Climate Pact, which marks a first in the 25-year history of UN climate talks, calls on world leaders to phase out fossil fuel use for renewable energy. The group notably weakened the language of the pact from a "phase out" to a "phase down" of coal after last-minute protests from India and China. Earlier on in the summit, world leaders pledged to cut worldwide methane emissions by 30% by 2030 to be consistent with the 1.5-degree goal. If global warming exceeds 1.5°, experts say the likelihood of major climate catastrophes will significantly increase.
The Glasgow Climate Pact was covered more prominently by left-rated outlets, which generally promoted more stories related to climate change during the COP26 summit. Many voices across the political spectrum said the deal didn't "meet the urgency of the moment," instead relying on "the good faith of the world’s governments to adhere to its rules as best they can." Most left-rated outlets emphasized how the climate pact "leaves vulnerable countries far short of the funds they need to cope with increasing weather disasters." Some right-rated outlets criticized India and China, two leading emitters of coal, for continuing to "increase their consumption of the dirtiest fossil fuel as their economies grow."
Featured Coverage of this Story
Christoph Soeder/Picture Alliance/Getty Images
Nearly 200 nations reached a climate agreement on Saturday at COP26 with an unprecedented reference to the role of fossil fuels in the climate crisis, even after an 11th-hour objection from India that watered down the language around reducing the use of coal.
The COP process has tried and failed for years to include an acknowledgment that the climate crisis has been caused by the burning of fossil fuels. Coal is the single biggest source of greenhouse gases and phasing it out was a key priority of COP26 President Alok Sharma.
But despite that...
PHIL NOBLE/REUTERS
More than 190 nations reached a deal at the United Nations summit here that aims to accelerate greenhouse-gas-emissions cuts across the world, but leaves big questions over how governments will follow through in the coming decade to try to avert the worst effects of global warming.
Supporters say the deal—struck Saturday evening after two weeks of negotiations—signals new determination among the world’s governments to shift away from burning fossil fuels, the main source of greenhouse gases that scientists say are causing the earth to warm. The agreement, though, features weaknesses that have hamstrung...
Photo by Ian Forsyth/Getty Images
World leaders have reached a deal at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow, Scotland to help combat the effects of climate change.
The COP26 Climate Pact, which was formed Saturday, will push countries to phase out subsidies for the fossil fuel industry and turn away from coal. This is the first time limiting fossil fuels has been mentioned in a global climate agreement. Fossil fuels play a large role in warming the planet and world leaders in the global climate conference want to look to other energy sources, the Washington...
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