COP26: Crunch Time As Climate Deal Stretches Into Overtime Drive

A new draft agreement to avert the worst impacts of climate change is expected to be announced in the coming hours after talks at the COP26 summit in Scotland passed the Friday deadline. Sticking points include phasing out coal, subsidies on other fossil fuels, and financial help to poorer nations. On Friday, envoys from small island nations threatened by rising sea levels said their land was fast disappearing. The conference president, Alok Sharma, urged an injection of "can-do spirit".

Mr. Sharma said he planned to release new draft texts on Saturday morning, based on consultations that continued late into the night. A formal plenary session to adopt the final decisions of the summit is expected later, Mr. Sharma added.

Scientists say that limiting temperature rise to 1.5C compared to pre-industrial levels will protect us from the most dangerous impacts of climate change. It is a key part of the 2015 Paris agreement that most countries signed up to.

Some countries do not want to reference fossil fuel
Meanwhile, China and Saudi Arabia are said to be among a group of countries seeking to remove references to fossil fuel subsidies. The draft's revised text also asked for much tighter deadlines for governments to reveal their plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Speaking from London, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said rich countries must put more "cash on the table" to help the developing world move away from fossil fuels. Former Prime Minister Tony Blair said it would be Mr. Johnson's responsibility "to get the thing over the line at the end", something he said would be "tough to do… when most of the [other] political leaders have gone".

Also on Friday, the climate minister of Tuvalu, which is particularly vulnerable to rising sea levels, made an emotive plea, saying his nation was "literally sinking". "It is a matter of life and survival for many of us, and we implore that Glasgow must be the defining moment. We must not fail," Seve Paeniu said, to a rapturous reception.

Climate finance, or the money promised by richer countries to poorer countries to fight climate change, continues to be one of the most contentious points. In 2009, developed nations pledged to provide $100bn per year to emerging economies by 2020. But this target was not met.

Despite the promises made at COP26 so far, the planet is still heading for 2.4C of warming above pre-industrial levels, according to a report by Climate Action Tracker.



What has been agreed at COP26?

A series of agreements between groups of countries have been announced so far: