What are key goals for the 2021 UN Climate Conference?

The UN Conference of Parties 26 (COP26) summit will bring parties (nations) together to accelerate action towards the goals of the Paris Agreement and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).The Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) is a non-governmental organization officially designated to send observers to meetings of the bodies of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

The United Kingdom is the host country for this year’s Conference of Parties. According to the official COP26  briefing document– there are four core goals:

Secure global net zero by mid-century and keep 1.5 Degrees within reach. Countries are being asked to come forward with ambitious 2030 emissions reductions targets (NDCs) that align with reaching net zero by the middle of the century. To deliver on these stretching targets, countries will need to accelerate the phase[1]out of coal, encourage investment in renewables, curtail deforestation and speed up the switch to electric vehicles.

Adapt to protect communities and natural habitats. The climate is already changing, and it will continue to change even as we reduce emissions, with devastating effects. At COP26 we need to work together to enable and encourage countries affected by climate change to protect and restore ecosystems, build defenses, put warning systems in place and make infrastructure and agriculture more resilient to avoid loss of homes, livelihoods and lives

Mobilize finance. To realize our first two goals, developed countries must deliver on their promise to raise at least $100bn in climate finance per year. International financial institutions must play their part and we need to work towards unleashing the trillions in private and public sector finance required to secure global net zero

Work together to deliver. We can only rise to the challenges of climate change by working together. At COP26 we must finalize the Paris Rulebook (the rules needed to implement the Paris Agreement). And, we have to turn our ambitions into action by accelerating collaboration between governments, businesses and civil society to deliver on our climate goals faster.