COP26: “We have to avoid the worst and also prepare for the inevitable”

By: Carolina Álvarez Peñafiel / “El Mercurio” from Chile, GDA

“It is true that global climate action has not always made great strides, but we are seeing some significant strides in the run-up to this summit.”Climate in Glasgow (the COP26), says, with a certain optimism, Frans Timmermans Executive Vice President responsible for the European Green Pact and Commissioner for Climate Action of the European Union (EU), who says he is committed to achieving a “agreement that guarantees the highest possible ambition”.

“When we get back from Glasgow, I hope we have an agreement that keeps the 1.5ºC target within reach.“As the maximum limit for the increase in temperatures of the planet with respect to pre-industrial levels, comments the climate envoy of the community bloc in this written interview for” El Mercurio “, part of the Grupo de Diarios América (GDA). “It will be difficult, but the price of not acting would cost much more”, He says.

For Timmermans the appointment that begins tomorrow (Sunday 31) in Scotland “it’s crucial“And stresses that the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (IPCC)”made it clear that the situation is worse than we thought and that we don’t have much time left”.

Among the guidelines that the EU will defend is that the 1.5ºC mark “remain a realistic possibility”, Something that was an aspiration of the Paris Agreement, where the commitment was to limit global warming to less than 2ºC. “Countries, and especially major emitters, should set national targets in line with that goal. The European Green Deal does exactly that in the European Union“, it states. The bloc also aims to reduce the gap in financing the fight against climate change – the EU “It is already the largest contributor (about a third) and has recently announced that it will add another 4 billion euros (about 5 billion dollars)”To the agreed fund of 100,000 million— and finalize the Paris normative code, the technical provisions of the agreement that will make it possible to verify compliance with national objectives.

– Recently, you asked China, the main global issuer, for greater clarity about your goals. How much does the summit’s success depend on Beijing’s actions in particular, and what specifically is required of China?

It is true that China’s role is very important. Currently, it accounts for about 27% of all global emissions, compared to about 15% for the United States and 8% for the EU. The targets already announced by China are positive steps: an end to overseas financing of coal, a date for reaching maximum emissions and a climate neutrality target by 2060. These steps make me think that China wants to contribute to the success of the Glasgow conference and to assume a global leadership role, just as it did in Paris. We are studying the details of the latest proposal communicated by China that provides more data on how they intend to achieve these goals (…) Moving from words to deeds is essential, and this is true for all countries.

“And of other powers?” China is the first emitter, but not the only one: the US, India, Russia, Japan and Germany, the main economy of the bloc, are also important emitters.

The main emitters have to adapt their economies and move towards the goal of net zero emissions by mid-century. For the European Union, this is not just a political orientation, it is already a legal requirement. Our Climate Law provides that the EU will be climate neutral between now and 2050 and that it will reduce its emissions by 55% between now and 2030. Since the EU announced its targets at the end of 2019, we have seen some really positive dynamics. A number of countries representing more than 60% of world GDP have committed to zero emissions.

Now the crucial question is how to go from words to deeds. For the EU, reaching a percentage of -55% in 2030 means a huge acceleration of our efforts in all sectors of the economy. That is why we presented just before the summer (boreal) a set of thirteen legal proposals to ensure that this goal is met by 2030. Other large emitters face a similar challenge. Goal setting is still relatively easy; what is difficult is to introduce changes in the economy and society in order to achieve them. Therefore, the policies that everyone applies to actually achieve their goals will determine the success of the global effort against the climate crisis.

—One of the priorities for the presidency of COP26 is to find a way to finance the changes necessary to mitigate the effects of climate change and stop global warming. What does the EU propose in this regard?

This is one of the key issues of the Glasgow Summit. Developed countries must close the gap in financing the fight against climate change. The EU has already increased its contribution (…). In my travels and meetings prior to COP26, I have appealed to other developed nations to also increase their funding in this regard. Having recently visited Antigua and Barbuda and witnessing the destruction caused by Hurricane Irma, I am also convinced that we must ensure that this funding goes to both mitigation and adaptation efforts. Many of the world’s most vulnerable countries are already facing the impact of the current climate crisis today and we must help them adapt to this reality.

—In general, Latin American countries are not big emitters, but they are big affected by climate change. What kind of collaboration does the EU hope to have in this area with the region?

The European Union has long maintained close cooperation with almost all the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean. The region is an important ally in the global fight against the climate crisis and we are ready to cooperate on various aspects of climate action at the national level. They have already assumed a leadership role, as indicated, for example, by the Chilean presidency of the last COP. Many countries in Latin America and the Caribbean have progressive climate policies similar to those of the European Union. So together we can really lead by example, especially if all the major emitters in the region join the task with ambitious targets and clear plans to meet them. Since we represent almost a third of all members of the United Nations, this can also have a real effect on multilateral negotiations.

– In what sectors is the EU interested in cooperating on climate issues in the region, for example, to help your countries reach the zero emissions target?

There are a number of important issues for our cooperation. In addition to general efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change and to set national targets in line with the Paris Agreement, it is also important to study the alignment of investment flows with climate ambitions, the energy transition and, in particular, promoting green hydrogen; and sustainable forestry, land use and agriculture. Our idea of ​​future cooperation will follow the three main pillars of the European Green Deal: climate change, loss of biodiversity and the circular economy.

Since 2017, the EU has supported Latin American countries under the Euroclima + program. The program, which has about 55 projects, accompanies Latin American countries in strengthening their climate governance and the design and implementation of climate policies. This program also supports the inclusion of civil society and the integration of the gender perspective and the participation of vulnerable groups in measures related to climate policies. We are now working on a new program that will build on the positive experiences with Euroclima +, but will also cover the Caribbean. Our new budget foresees 3.4 billion euros (about 3.9 billion dollars) for the region as a whole, and the ecological transition will be the first priority of that budget.

– Would the EU be interested in supporting fiscal, financial incentive programs or even debt swap programs in Latin America in exchange for these countries to carry out concrete decarbonization measures?

We are studying various options for financial aid to all countries that need it, also in Latin America. However, I cannot say much about the debt swap possibilities, as this is not something that the European Commission itself deals with, but depends above all on the EU Member States. One thing that we have done at the EU level that has been quite successful is the combination of public (EU) funds and private sector investment. It was used, for example, to support the creation of the Cerro Dominador concentrating thermosolar power plant in Chile. Public funds act as a lever to mobilize additional private funding and thus enhance the impact and effectiveness of those public funds. We are working to expand this procedure to cover the entire region.

—Experts and organizations warn of the “social consequences” of global warming, such as migration or even armed conflicts over resources: how urgent do you consider these issues and how can they be addressed from the EU and at COP26?

They are extremely urgent. If we do not act now, I am very concerned that our children and grandchildren will declare wars over water. It is also clear that the poorest and most vulnerable people will bear the brunt of the consequences of our inaction, in Europe and around the world. This is why the European Green Deal is also a social strategy, with funding to help transition in coal regions and funds to assist low- and middle-income families in isolating their homes or investing. in solar panels to produce their own energy. And that is also why the European Union is helping, in the first place, vulnerable countries around the world, by financing the fight against climate change and technical assistance both for mitigating climate change and for adapting to it; we have to avoid the worst and also prepare for the inevitable. Furthermore, the EU consistently contributes to making the voice of these countries better heard at the United Nations thanks, for example, to our cooperation with the High Ambition Coalition. The fight against the climate crisis is a global effort that requires the effort of each and every one of us.