Cop president Alok Sharma and UNFCC executive secretary Patricia Espinosa
Cop26 presidency lays out four goals for talks
Keeping 1.5°C pathway within reach and mobilising more finance are vital, according to Cop president Alok Sharma
The leaders of around 120 countries gathered in Glasgow on Monday at the start of Cop26 to begin negotiations on a deal that it is hoped will keep the world on a 1.5°C pathway and operationalise parts of the Paris Agreement not yet in action. There are four key goals for the two-week negotiating process, according to the UK presidency. These are to ensure nations’ 2030 commitments keep the 1.5°C pathway within reach; improve adaptation to the effects of climate change; mobilise $100bn/yr of finance promised by developed countries to developing countries; and make sure the Paris agreement is being implemented properly—including Article 6, which enables transfers of emissions reductions betwee
Also in this section
28 November 2025
The launch of the bloc’s emissions trading system in 2005 was a pioneering step, but as the scheme hits 21 its impact as a driver of decarbonisation is still open to debate
18 November 2025
Vicki Hollub, president and CEO of Occidental, has been selected as the 2026 recipient of the Dewhurst Award, the highest honour bestowed by WPC Energy. The Dewhurst Award celebrates exceptional leadership, groundbreaking innovation and a lifetime of significant achievements in sup-port of the development and advancement of the energy industry.
11 November 2025
Transition policies must recognise that significant industrial demand for carbon will continue even as economies hit net zero
6 November 2025
After years of pursuing ideologically driven climate leadership, Western powers are now stepping back under mounting political pressure and rising populist opposition—prompting concern essential climate action could be sidelined
