COP26 president Alok Sharma has said the conference must involve new commitments on public and private finance to support the countries most vulnerable to climate change.
In a speech today at the Unesco World Heritage Centre in Paris, Sharma will ask world leaders must come together to deliver on promises made in Paris when they descend on Glasgow for the UN conference at the start of next month.
“COP26 is not a photo op or a talking shop,” he is expected to say. “It must be the forum where we put the world on track to deliver on climate. And that is down to leaders. It is leaders who made a promise to the world in this great city six years ago. And it is leaders that must honour it.”
Although urging every country to “step up” to make commitments on mitigating climate change, Sharma will say leaders must take the lead on action from those countries most vulnerable to climate change.
These countries have called for G20 countries to make more ambitious 2030 climate action plans.
Sharma will also lay out the steps needed to make COP26 a success, namely these 2030 climate plans and how they will be achieved, honouring the $100bn pledge, and for leaders to reach an agreement on outcomes.
