COP26 Highlights: India says its solar energy capacity increased 17 times in 7 years

For the first time in over two decades, promoters and purveyors of nuclear energy have not felt shunned at UN climate change conferences. As this year's UN climate talks go into their second week, negotiations on key topics are inching forward. Boosted by a few high-profile announcements at the start of the meeting, delegates are upbeat about the prospects for tangible progress in the fight against global warming. Stay tuned on DH for live updates.

Chasm opens between COP26 words and climate action

COP26's first week saw keynote pledges to end deforestation, phase out coal, and mobilise trillions for green investment. But observers say there is a gulf between host Britain's proclamations and the emissions cuts that must be achieved.

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India at COP26 says its solar energy capacity increased 17 times in 7 years; now at 45 GW

India on Sunday told the UN climate summit here that its solar energy capacity stands at about 45 gigawatts after it increased 17 times in the last seven years, asserting that although the country represents 17 per cent of the global population, its historical cumulative emissions are only 4 per cent.

India said this while giving a presentation on its third Biennial Update Report (BUR) during the 11th Facilitative Sharing of Views (FSV) at the ongoing COP26 climate summit here.

The BUR was submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in February.

The key highlight of the discussion on India’s third BUR was the achievement of 24 per cent reduction in emission intensity of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) over the period of 2005-2014, and the significant increase of its solar programme. (PTI)

The emissions of the richest 10% are 10 times higher than their 1.5C fair-share, finds study

A demonstrator holds a sign reading "Sorry for the inconvenience, we are worried about our imminent extinction" during a protest, as the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) takes place in Glasgow (Reuters)

A delegation of Indigenous Leaders take part in a ceremony taking place within a wooden arch built from locally sourced larch on the Cowal peninsula in Scotland on November 4, 2021, on the sidelines of the COP26 UN Climate Change Conference (AFP)

New $345 million program to transform food systems in 27 nations

At an event at the ongoing COP26 in Glasgow, a new $345 million, seven-year program, The Food Systems, Land Use and Restoration Impact Program (FOLUR), will launch projects in 27 countries, targeting the production and value chains of eight key commodities: beef, cocoa, coffee, maize, palm oil, rice, soy, and wheat.

FOLUR aims to transform global food and land use systems through a Global Platform and 27 country projects that restore degraded landscapes and intensify sustainable land management practices.

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Missing voices of feminists, grassroots women at COP26

Members and partners of the Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development (APWLD) are enraged by the deliberate exclusion of feminists and grassroots women at the 26th Conference of Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP26) in Glasgow.

APWLD member and SERUNI Indonesia's Triana Wardani is one of the very few women representing grassroots communities from the global south who successfully arrived in Glasgow for the COP26.

However, Triana noted that the discriminatory Covid-19 travel restrictions by the UK government made the process extremely difficult and alienating.

(IANS)

What's the difference between 1.5°C and 2°C of global warming?

Over and over at the UN climate summit in Glasgow, world leaders have stressed the need to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

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Greta Thunberg emerged from 5 decades of environmental youth activism in Sweden

After 18 months of digital campaigning, young people are again taking to the streets demanding climate justice, with attention now directed at the UN climate summit in Glasgow and a protest march on November 5.

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The world is one year closer to 1.5°C global warming threshold

Global carbon dioxide emissions are expected to increase to almost 2019 levels this year, upending last year’s unprecedented drop caused by Covid-19 lockdowns.

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'Global momentum to tackle China': Australian PM's gaffe in COP26 speech goes viral

A video clip of Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison making a mistake during a COP26 speech has gone viral on social media, with Twitter users saying it was a "Freudian slip".

Morrison, supposed to say "global momentum to tackle climate change", mistakenly said "tackle China" during his address at the 26th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP26) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, reports Xinhua news agency.

Krishani Dhanji, a political producer with Australia's SBS News, shared the video footage on Twitter, saying, "A faux pas from the PM?"

Morrison, Dhanji added, appeared to say "global momentum to tackle 'China'" instead of "climate change" before correcting himself.

Protesters take part in a rally organised by the COP26 Coalition in Glasgow, Scotland, demanding global climate justice, Saturday, November 6, 2021. The protest was taking place as leaders and activists from around the world were gathering in Scotland's biggest city for the UN climate summit, to lay out their vision for addressing the common challenge of global warming.

Credit: AP/PTI Photo

Automakers reveal plans to go all-electric in 2021, COP26 a booster

The success of Tesla has pushed nearly all automakers to go all-electric in 2021, and the COP26 climate conference has provided a booster dose to initiate strategies for the supply of batteries, electric motors, power electronics and other components for a green future.

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3,000 miles from Glasgow, Churchill and its polar bears face the future

This is not another story about saving Hudson Bay’s polar bears. It’s too late for that. This is a story about what comes next for a small town that bills itself as the Polar Bear Capital of the World.

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A demonstrator holds a sign reading "Climate emergency now" during a protest, as the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) takes place in Glasgow, in Mexico City, Mexico November 6, 2021.

(Reuters)

COP26 braces for youth protests against climate inaction

Thousands of youth activists were descending on the Scottish city of Glasgow on Friday to protest what they say is a dangerous lack of action by leaders at the COP26 climate summit.

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'Capitalism is killing the planet': Protesters rally in Glasgow's COP26

Thousands of protesters set off from a Glasgow park Saturday to march through the city hosting the U.N. climate conference and demand bolder global action.

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A bicyclist passes as demonstrators hold a sign reading "Climate emergency now" during a protest, as the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) takes place in Glasgow, in Mexico City, Mexico November 6, 2021.

(Reuters)

Glasgow climate negotiators seek to resolve 4 key challenges

As this year's UN climate talks go into their second week, negotiations on key topics are inching forward. Boosted by a few high-profile announcements at the start of the meeting, delegates are upbeat about the prospects for tangible progress in the fight against global warming.

Laurent Fabius, the former French foreign minister who helped forge the Paris climate accord, said the general atmosphere had improved since the talks began on October 31 and "most negotiators want an agreement". (AP/PTI)

Climate crisis could give nuclear energy a second wind

For more than two decades, promoters and purveyors of nuclear energy felt shunned at UN climate change conferences.

At theCOP26summit underway in Glasgow, however, they have been welcomed with open arms, the UN's top nuclear regulator told AFP.

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Protesters demand climate action in global rally

Tens of thousands of protesters braved rain and wind in Glasgow Saturday to take part in worldwide demonstrations against what campaigners say is a failure of crunch UN climate talks to act fast enough to tame global warming.

Dozens of events are planned worldwide to demand cuts in fossil fuel use and immediate help for communities already affected by climate change, particularly in poorer countries. (AFP)