GLASGOW-COP26 - The Cop26 climate talks have agreed to get countries to strengthen their emissions-cutting targets for 2030 by the end of next year in a bid to limit dangerous warming.
Ministers and negotiators at the UN summit in Glasgow have also sent a signal on the shift away from the world’s dirtiest fuel, with a deal calling for efforts to escalate the "phase down" of unabated coal, as well as the phasing out of inefficient fossil fuel subsidies.
The Glasgow Pact was watered down at the last minute – following a push by India and China – from escalating the “phase out” of unabated coal, to “phase down”, prompting angry responses from European and vulnerable countries.
President of the climate conference, Alok Sharma, said on Saturday he was "deeply sorry" for how the gathering concluded with last minute changes on the wording about coal.
His voice breaking with emotion after hearing from vulnerable nations which expressed their anger over the changes to the text, he said: "May I just say to all delegates I apologise for the way this process has unfolded and I am deeply sorry."
"I also understand the deep disappointment but I think as you have noted, it's also vital that we protect this package."
In the wake of the summit, UN secretary general Antonio Guterres told young people, indigenous communities and women leaders – "all those leading the climate action army" – that he knew many of them were disappointed.
He said: "Success or failure is not an act of nature. It’s in our hands. The path of progress is not always a straight line. Sometimes there are detours. Sometimes there are ditches."
And he said: "We won't reach our destination in one day or one conference. But I know we can get there. We are in the fight of our lives."
He urged: “Never give up. Never retreat. Keep pushing forward. I will be with you all the way."
First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon has tweeted in reaction to the Cop26 agreement.
She said: "Far from everything it should be, but many positives that must be built on.
"Limiting warming to 1.5 degrees now agreed imperative, movement on finance and (far too weak) wording on fossil fuels…"
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said of the agreement at Cop26, that "there has been modest progress toward the challenges we face – which is important.
"But we have seen too many promises for tomorrow, not the action that the climate emergency demands today. Boris Johnson bears some responsibility for that.
"Glasgow has been a missed opportunity – a summit too often of climate delay not climate delivery".
Scottish Government minister Patrick Harvie said that Cop26 is a "failure".
Mr Harvie, Scottish minister for zero carbon buildings, active travel and tenants’ rights, said: "The failure of governments to deliver an agreement that puts the planet on course for a 1.5C rise is shameful.
"The influence of fossil fuel companies is clear. We know that fossil fuel companies had more representation at this summit than any single nation, and the outcome has reflected that."
Teen climate activist Greta Thunberg was unimpressed, tweeting: "The #COP26 is over. Here’s a brief summary: Blah, blah, blah.
"But the real work continues outside these halls. And we will never give up, ever."
