COP26 president Alok Sharma close to tears as he is forced to water down fossil fuel text
Political leaders, activists and big NGOs expressed disappointment at the lack of ambition on phasing out fossil fuels and climate finance, but there was general consensus that 1.5C is still within reach.
Alok Sharma, the Cop26 President was close to tears when he was forced to water down language on fossil fuels.
After bringing the gavel down, he said: “We can say with credibility that we have kept 1.5C within reach but its pulse is weak and it will only survive if we keep our promises, if we translate commitments into rapid action and if we deliver on the expectations set out in this Glasgow Climate Pact to increase ambition to 2030 and beyond.”
He said the “vast gap that remains” must be closed and quoted remarks from the Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley, who earlier told the conference that for Barbados and other small island states a rise of 2C is a “death sentence”.