Cop26 news – live: Reactions to agreement as Alok Sharma apologises for coal move triggered by India

Watch: Alok Sharma makes tearful apology for last-minute changes to Cop26 deal

The Cop26 climate summit finally concluded on Saturday after countries agreed to an historic deal aimed at reducing global warming, with the talks in Glasgow running into more than 24 hours of extra time.

An emotional Alok Sharma broke down on stage in the event’s final moments following a last-minute change, by China and India, to water down language in the final text on coal – revising it to “phase down” on unbated coal power instead of the stronger “phase out”.

The deal has been met with a mix of disappointment and pragmatism, with activists, vulnerable smaller states and non-governmental organisations in particular describing it as “weak” and lacking “the urgency and scale required” in the face of the climate crisis.

Despite many countries disagreeing with the last-minute change to the wording on coal, the Cop26 president Mr Sharma said it was vital that the deal remained on the table and announced it would be pushed through regardless. Before doing so, he paused to collect himself and – visibly upset – apologised for the “way this process has unfolded”.

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Cop26: Nations announce landmark Glasgow climate pact after last-minute weakening on coal

Cop26: 10 key takeaways from the final deal agreed in Glasgow

Cop26: ‘Meek and weak’ climate pact blasted for lack of urgency on emission cuts

Key Points
Nations announce landmark climate pact in Glasgow...
...as Alok Sharma breaks down and apologises for events at Cop26
Countries express anger at last-minute watering down of coal commitment
UN calls out failure of negotiators to ‘overcome deep contradictions’
Politicians react to news of ‘modest’ Cop26 agreement
Watch: Sharma gets emotional during summit’s final moments

UK must do more work to ‘set example' to world on climate action, says Angela Rayner
09:44 , Emily AtkinsonThe deputy Labour leader has said that the UK has a “responsibility” to support poorer countries in the fight against climate change - adding we must do more to “set an example” to the world.Angela Rayner then went on to praise the work done by the Cop26 president, Alok Sharma, for doing his “utmost” in securing the Glasgow Climate Pact.This was followed by condemnation for Boris Johnson, whom she criticised for his “do as I say, not as I do” attitude. “There is so much more we can do as a country to set an example to the world,” she added.“We have a responsibility to support the poorer countries.”It comes after the Shadow Business and Energy Sectary, Ed Miliband, said that the government’s decision to cut the international aid budget was the ‘”single worst decision” in the build up to the UN climate summit in Glasgow.

1.5C target in ‘intensive care’, says Ed Miliband
09:22 , Emily Atkinson

Ed Miliband: UK’s decision to slash the international aid budget ahead of Cop26 was a ‘scandal’
09:08 , Emily AtkinsonThe Shadow Business and Energy Sectary has said that the government’s decision to cut the international aid budget was the ‘”single worst decision” in the build up to the UN climate summit in Glasgow.Set to continue until at least 2024, the government reduced its annual aid budget from 0.7% of gross national income to 0.5 per cent. This represents a cut of between £4nb and £5bn.Speaking on Sky News this morning, Ed Miliband said: “Cutting the aid budget was the single worst decision in the build up to Cop26.“The money is an essential starting point for the costs developing countries are going to face.“It’s a scandal.”Questioning then turned on the government’s controversial decision to fund the Cambo oil field. He said: “It should not go ahead. No prevarication.“We need clarity and strength when it comes to the climate emergency.”

10 key takeaways from the final deal agreed in Glasgow
08:31 , Emily AtkinsonIn case you missed it...Cop26: 10 key takeaways from the final deal agreed in Glasgow

The Glasgow deal is not nearly enough, and yet it is so much better than a failure would have been
08:24 , Emily AtkinsonIn the end, it was better that something was agreed in Glasgow rather than nothing agreed. As we feared, the final text was not enough to ensure that the aim of restricting the rise in global average temperatures to 1.5 degrees will be met, although it has not yet been definitively missed either.The full editorial is available via the Independent Premium:The Glasgow deal is not nearly enough, and yet it is so much better than failure

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Nations announce landmark Glasgow climate pact after last-minute weakening on coal
07:50 , Emily AtkinsonIn case you missed it...The Cop26 climate summit has finally concluded after nations agreed to a landmark deal aimed at preventing catastrophic global warming.Talks dragged on for more than 24 hours after the Glasgow conference was due to end amid intense negotiations over contentious issues like fossil fuel subsidies, emission-reduction timelines and climate finance for developing nations.Louise Boyle, Daisy Dunne and Andrew Woodcock have the full story here:Cop26: Nations announce landmark climate pact in Glasgow

Australian government won't amend targets after Cop26 deal
07:16 , Arpan RaiSpeaking on Sunday after the conclusion of COP26, Australian ministers said that their target of reducing greenhouse emissions by 28 per cent by 2030 has been “fixed” and will not be amended in the wake of the summit. Foreign minister Marise Payne and energy minister Angus Taylor said that “Australia’s 2030 target is fixed and we are committed to meeting and beating it,” in a joint statement. Australia’s health minister and former environment minister Greg Hunt was asked in an interview on ABC’s Insiders programme if the Australian government will update its target. In an indirect response, Mr Hunt said the country has set its target but “what we’ll continue to do is update our projections”. When prodded to explain, the minister paraphrased Shakespeare’s Henry IV to suggest Australia planned to beat the 28 per cent emissions cut but would not commit to it now.“I never promised to pay thee, but now that I’m here, I’ll pay thee double”, the minister said.“It means under-promise and over-deliver.”

Watch: COP26: Alok Sharma insists Glasgow climate summit 'delivered' - but it's claimed 1.5C warming goal is now in 'intensive care'

Reactions pour in to ‘meek and weak’ Cop26 agreement
06:46 , Arpan RaiEnvironmental ministers and activists have called the final outcome of Cop26 disappointing, as they cited the ongoing destruction in their communities as a result of global warming. “Even if leaders stuck to the promises they have made here in Glasgow, it would not prevent the destruction of communities like mine. Right now, at 1.2 degrees Celsius of global warming, drought and flooding are killing people in Uganda,” said Fridays for Future activist Vanessa Nakate. Nakate, who is from Uganda, said that “only immediate, drastic emissions cuts will give us hope of safety”. Maldives’s environment minister Shauna Aminath, while noting the incremental progress, said that the outcome of COP26 does not “bring hope to our hearts”.And Jennifer Morgan, the executive director of Greenpeace International, said: “It’s meek, it’s weak and the 1.5C goal is only just alive, but a signal has been sent that the era of coal is ending. And that matters. “Glasgow was meant to deliver on firmly closing the gap to 1.5C and that didn’thappen, but in 2022 nations will now have to come back with stronger targets.“The only reason we got what we did is because young people, Indigenous leaders, activists and countries on the climate frontline forced concessions that were grudgingly given.”

Why India objected to coal pledge
06:30 , Adam WithnallThere has been a lot of attention on the fact India objected to the Cop26 deal promising to "phase out" coal, instead amending the language to "phase down", and the country will inevitably face criticism in the coming days for its stance.But experts also note that, with as much as 70 per cent of India's energy currently coming from coal, such a commitment was seen by New Delhi as putting an unfair constriction on the country's ability to develop and bring its citizens out of poverty. Ulka Kelkar, climate programme director at the World Resources Institute India, explains this stance and the next steps for the country after Glasgow: “India will be affected by COP26 asking countries to phase out polluting coal power and withdraw inefficient fossil fuel subsidies. India will also have to join other countries to escalate emission reduction actions more frequently. This will not be easy for a lower-middle income country that is trying to lift millions of people out of poverty. “India’s battle against climate change will be led by scaling up renewable energy, which will be the foundation of our net zero future; by industry, who will fight to stay competitive in the global economy; and by states and cities, who will need to urbanise with respect for nature. “Now that COP-26 has finalised the rules of carbon trading, India will be able to sell more than a million carbon credits from previous years, and can also create a domestic market for carbon trading.”

The Glasgow Climate Pact at a glace
Saturday 13 November 2021 22:40 , Ella GloverThe wording of the new Glasgow Pact might not seem controversial to the uninitiated, but they have been subject to months - and in some cases years - of legal wrangling.Here are some of the key elements of the agreement:Expresses “alarm and utmost concern” at the fact human activities have caused around 1.1C of warming, and that the Earth’s remaining “carbon budget” consistent with 1.5C is being “rapidly depleted”.Stresses the “urgency of enhancing ambition and action” in the 2020s to have any hope of meeting the goals of the Paris Agreement.
Calls up parties to “phase down” unabated coal power and inefficient fossil fuel subsidies.
Invites parties “to consider” further action to cut greenhouse gas emissions, including methane, at a greater rate by 2030.
Expresses “deep regret” that the goal of developed countries to mobilise 100 US dollars a year by 2020 for developing countries to tackle climate change has not been met.
Urges developed countries to fully deliver on the 100 billion US dollars goal urgently and through to 2025.
A new post-2025 long term finance goal for climate finance for developing countries will be negotiated from 2022 and set in 2024 under the proposals.
Reiterates the “urgency of scaling up action and support, including finance” to developing countries to help them “avert, minimise and address” loss and damage associated with climate change.
Emphasises the importance of “protecting, conserving and restoring nature and ecosystems” to achieve the goal of the Paris Agreement of limiting warming to 1.5C and well below 2C.
Recognises the role of “indigenous peoples, local communities and civil society, including youth and children” in addressing and responding to climate change.
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Cop26 was not ‘the finish line,’ says John Kerry
Saturday 13 November 2021 22:24 , Ella GloverAddressing the audience at Cop26, John Kerry said that Glasgow was “not the finish line,” but the “start of the race.”The US climate envoy said that the Glasgow Climate Pact has brought us “closer than we have ever been before to avoiding climate chaos and securing cleaner air, safer water and a healthier planet.”Comparing the Pact to the Paris Agreement he said: “Paris was…not a guarantee that we would be able to hold the earth’s temperature rise to well below 2C, let alone 1.5C.“But now, here in Glasgow, we have 65 percent of global GDP committed to real plans.”Addressing the issue of coal, he said: “As a result of what took place here with nations who had never considered even having the word coal in a plan, it remains even today after what took place, the phasedown of coal is on the books.“You have to phase down coal before you can ‘end coal,’ so this is the beginning of something.”

The reaction to the Glasgow Climate Pact has been highly critical, here’s what people have to say
Saturday 13 November 2021 22:05 , Ella GloverThe Glasgow Climate Pact has garnered much disappointment from politicians, NGOs and countries themselves after last-minute talks led to the wording on coal being watered down.Our reporters Andrew Woodcock, Louise Boyle and Daisy Dunne have the full breakdown:‘Meek and weak’ climate pact blasted for lack of urgency on emission cuts

More campaign groups react to the Glasgow Climate Pact
Saturday 13 November 2021 21:52 , Ella GloverA number of charities and NGOs have reacted to the Glasgow Climate Pact, with many expressing disappointment at the outcome of Cop26. GreenpeaceJennifer Morgan, executive director of Greenpeace International, said: “It’s meek, it’s weak and the 1.5C goal is only just alive, but a signal has been sent that the era of coal is ending - and that matters.“While the deal recognises the need for deep emissions cuts this decade, those commitments have been punted to next year.“Young people who’ve come of age in the climate crisis won’t tolerate many more outcomes like this. Why should they when they’re fighting for their futures?”WWFTanya Steele, chief executive at WWF, said: “This summit has seen the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5C become the North Star guiding us all but a clear pathway is far from certain and we still have a long way to go.“We are encouraged by the recognition that nature must be an integral part of tackling the climate crisis and by commitments on curbing coal and fossil fuel subsidies.”She added: “We now need to see delivery with rapid, deep and ongoing emissions cuts alongside support for vulnerable countries facing current and future climate impacts.”OxfamGabriela Bucher, international executive director of Oxfam, said: “Clearly some world leaders think they aren’t living on the same planet as the rest of us.“It seems no amount of fires, rising sea levels or droughts will bring them to their senses to stop increasing emissions at the expense of humanity.”But she welcomed the decision to strengthen 2030 reduction targets by next year: “Big emitters, especially rich countries, must heed the call and align their targets to give us the best possible chance of keeping 1.5 degrees within reach.”Friends of the EarthRachel Kennerley, climate campaigner at Friends of the Earth, said: “The road to 1.5 just got harder when these talks should have cleared the way to making it a whole lot easier.”“The UK government cunningly curated announcements throughout this fortnight so that it seemed rapid progress was being made.”She added: “Here we are though, and the Glasgow get-out clause means that leaders failed to phase out fossil fuels and the richest countries won’t pay historic climate debt.”PA

The wealthiest countries most responsible for climate change ‘have failed,’ says advocacy group
Saturday 13 November 2021 21:38 , Ella GloverSome more reactions to the final deal are in, this time from advocacy group Global Citizen.Michael Sheldrick, Chief Policy and Government Affairs Officer at Global Citizen, said: “The wealthiest countries who are responsible for and now continue to worsen climate change, have failed.And it is the poorest communities that will continue to suffer loss and damage, which continues to go unaddressed.Global Citizen calls for wealthy countries to meet their obligations, reach the $100bn per year in climate finance now not in 2023, provide financial support for loss and damage, annually update their Nationally Determined Contributions and move from pledges to the policies and legislation needed to avoid greater than 1.5C temperature rise.”

Watch: Sharma gets emotional in Cop26’s last moments
Saturday 13 November 2021 21:02 , Sam Hancock

Emotional Sharma apologises as coal phase out text ‘watered down’
Saturday 13 November 2021 20:16 , Sam HancockHere’s Ella Glover with more detail on the moment Cop26 president Alok Sharma broke down on stage at the climate summit.Emotional Alok Sharma apologises as coal phaseout text in Cop26 deal ‘watered down’

Countries continue to express anger at last-minute change to coal wording
Saturday 13 November 2021 20:15 , Sam HancockMany island states, including the representative for Fiji, criticised the last-minute proposed change to call on parties to “phase down” rather than “phase out” coal.He told the Cop26 climate summit in Glasgow: “What we would like to express was not just our astonishment but our immense disappointment in the manner in which this has been introduced.”He said days before they were warned against making “last-minute” changes to the text and said “due process” had not been followed.Meanwhile, EU executive vice-president Frans Timmermans said that despite his disappointment over the change, he still believed the outcome of Glasgow would help the world shift away from the use of fossil fuel.He said: “[The EU] is going to work bloody hard on getting rid out of of coal, and I believe this conclusion will help us work in that direction.“The European Union will be strongly committed to that not just within the European Union, but also with our partners worldwide.“And for us the model we have found together with the United Kingdom, United States, Germany and France on South Africa should be the template of how we help other coal producing countries to rid themselves of this fossil.”

Nations announce landmark climate pact in Glasgow
Saturday 13 November 2021 20:05 , Sam HancockThe Cop26 climate summit has finally concluded after nations agreed to a landmark deal aimed at preventing catastrophic global warming.Talks dragged on for more than 24 hours after the Glasgow conference was due to end amid intense negotiations over contentious issues like fossil fuel subsidies, emission-reduction timelines and climate finance for developing nations.China and India made a last-minute intervention to water down language in the final text on coal, changing it to “phase down” on unbated coal power instead of the stronger “phase out”.Our climate correspondents Louise Boyle and Daisy Dunne report:Cop26: Nations announce landmark climate pact in Glasgow

Countries condemn last-minute change to coal language
Saturday 13 November 2021 19:44 , Sam HancockThe EU has said the last-minute revision to language around coal should not stop a deal being reached at Glasgow, and insists “phasing down” will still help to lessen the harmful impact of burning coal. Meanwhile, the representative of the Marshall Islands expresses “bitter disappointment” with the change.

India proposes changing coal wording from ‘phase out’ to ‘phase down'
Saturday 13 November 2021 19:39 , Sam HancockOver to the Indian representative now, who has proposed altered wording to the Cop26 UN climate summit in Glasgow, changing a call on parties to “phase out unabated coal power and inefficient fossil fuel subsidies” to “phase down”.The representative for Switzerland - who also represents the Environmental Integrity Group - strongly criticises the proposed change, calling it “watered down”, but says the group would not oppose this in order to prevent leaving Glasgow without a deal.“This will not bring us closer to 1.5C but will make it more difficult to reach it,” she says.

Final plenary session begins
Saturday 13 November 2021 19:35 , Sam HancockAlok Sharma has said it is “decision time” as the final plenary session gets underway at Cop26.The president of the summit acknowledges that talks “have not been easy” as other countries begin having their say.

China says deal has been struck at Cop26
Saturday 13 November 2021 19:22 , Sam HancockA final climate deal has been struck at Cop26, according to China’s top climate envoy.Speaking through a translator, Xie Zhenhua told a Reuters reporter: “We have a deal.” He gave a thumbs up signal as he spoke, the news agency added.

India, China, US and EU hold last minute talks on phasing out of coal
Saturday 13 November 2021 18:30 , Ella GloverRepresentatives from India, China, the United States and the European Union were meeting Saturday evening to discuss details of an agreed phaseout of coal as nations pushed for a deal at the UN climate conference in Scotland, according to a member of the Indian delegation.Assuming the draft won’t change, the final wording on coal, from the published agreement reads:“Calls upon Parties to accelerate the development, deployment and dissemination of technologies, and the adoption of policies, to transition towards low-emission energy systems, including by rapidly scaling up the deployment of clean power generation and energy efficiency measures, including accelerating efforts towards the phase-out of unabated coal power and inefficient fossil fuel subsidies, recognizing the need for support towards a just transition.”Additional reporting by PA

Iran unhappy with fossil fuels language
Saturday 13 November 2021 18:20 , Ella GloverIran has joined the list of nations unhappy with the part of the agreement that refers to a phase-out of coal and fossil fuel subsidies. “We need to use fossil fuels for economic development. We request you modify this paragraph,” says the representative.China, India and South Africa have also criticised this part of the text.

Final texts ‘fully consistent’ with goals of Paris Agreement and Cop26, Alok Sharma says
Saturday 13 November 2021 18:00 , Ella GloverThe final texts are “fully consistent with the goals of the Paris Agreement and the ultimate objective of the convention,” Cop26 President Alok Sharma has said.However, he warned against upsetting the current “delicate balance” and said he hoped countries could leave the conference “united…as one.”He said: “There is a fine and fragile green thread which is weaved around this balanced package. And I do think that if any of us tug, it will unravel all too easily.”He added: “I do think these texts are fully consistent with the goals of the Paris Agreement and the ultimate objective of the convention.“So I do hope that we can leave this conference united, having delivered something significant for our people and planet - together as one.”

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Watch: Banners remain outside Cop26 venue in Glasgow
Saturday 13 November 2021 17:35 , Sam Hancock

Cop progress ‘not in line with urgency and scale required’ - Maldives
Saturday 13 November 2021 17:02 , Sam HancockAndrew Woodcock, our political editor, has more detail on the climate talks:More from world leaders’ closing remarks now, the representative of the Maldives warned that the Glasgow agreement would not be enough to save the Indian Ocean island state.The progress achieved in the past fortnight was “not in line with the urgency and scale required,” she said.“What is balanced and pragmatic to other parties will not help the Maldives adapt in time. It will be too late for the Maldives.“For us, this is a matter of survival.”Urging swifter action, she added: “The difference between 1.5 and 2 degrees is a death sentence for us.”

Marshall Islands appeal to emotional side of world leaders
Saturday 13 November 2021 16:55 , Sam HancockOur senior climate correspondent Louise Boyle has the following:The representative of the Marshall Islands made an emotional statement to fellow negotiators at Cop26. The Marshall Islands sit barely six feet above sea level in the middle of the Pacific Ocean and its people are among the most vulnerable in the world to severe climate impacts. The country’s representative noted that the Glasgow summit had represented “real progress” but there was much work to do, particularly on loss and damage - the issue of financial compensation for countries already facing a heavy burden.“At the end of the Cop in Madrid I had to go back home and say to my children that I’m afraid that we did not deliver. I cannot afford to do that again,” she said.You can read more on some of the complex challenges facing the Marshall Islands here:The stolen climate crisis babies: US politician jailed for selling children

Cop26 delivered ‘strong message of hope,’ says Tuvalu
Saturday 13 November 2021 16:45 , Sam HancockOur political editor Andrew Woodcock reports:Seve Paeniu, the climate minster of the South Sea island state of Tuvalu, said that the Glasgow summit had delivered “a strong message of hope, a strong message of promise, a strong message of ambition”.Holding up a photograph of his three grandchildren, Mr Paeniu said: “I will be able to tell them that Glasgow has made a promise to save their future. That will be the best ever Christmas gift I will present to them .”

Watch: Oxfam stages protest urging world leaders to ‘put out flames’
Saturday 13 November 2021 16:35 , Sam Hancock

‘For heaven’s sake, don’t kill this moment’ – EU
Saturday 13 November 2021 16:19 , Sam HancockOur climate correspondent Daisy Dunne reports the following from Glasgow:Frans Timmermans, vice-president of the European Commission, just took the floor at Cop26 to make an impassioned plea for countries to agree to reach a final deal today.“For heaven’s sake, don’t kill this moment by asking for more texts or different texts,” he told delegates.“I please implore you: embrace this text so [we] can bring hope to the hearts of our children and grandchildren. They will not forgive us if we fail them today.”But he also conceded that “we are only at the beginning of what we need to do” on issues of providing finance for the loss and damage caused by the climate crisis, a major focus point for developing world countries. Earlier in the week, a large coalition of developing countries and island states came forward with a plan for a “Glasgow financial facility for loss and damage”. If created, this would be the first ever pot of money set aside specifically to help communities around the world that have been devastated by climate impacts such as rising seas and deadly droughts.But as negotiations wore on, the US and EU pushed back strongly against the idea, and the text that emerged on Saturday morning contained no reference to the facility at all.

‘Unsustainable lifestyles and wasteful consumption’ to blame for climate crisis, says India’s Cop representative
Saturday 13 November 2021 16:01 , Emily AtkinsonAs the Cop26 summit came down to the wire and countries made their inventions, India’s representative said that “consensus remains elusive”, blaming “unsustainable lifestyles and wasteful consumption” as having caused the climate crisis, reports Louise Boyle.“Climate-friendly lifestyles and climate justice enshrined in the Paris Agreement are key to solving climate crisis,” he noted. He went on to say that developing countries must be allowed to deal with their own domestic issues of poverty and economic development. “Developing countries have their right to fair share of carbon budget [and] responsible use of fossil fuels,” he said.“There is still a lack of balance in the text,” he said. India also criticized the call for countries to revisit emissions-reduction targets, known as “nationally determined contributions, in 2022. “There is a well-defined cycle for NDCs and no need to deviate from it,” he said.

‘We should meet each other halfway,’ says China
Saturday 13 November 2021 15:43 , Emily AtkinsonThe world’s largest annual greenhouse gas emitter China has just had the floor during an eleventh-hour plenary at the Cop26 summit, Daisy Dunne reports.China said the latest Cop26 draft was “improved over previous versions” and that it had no intention to “revisit” texts again.However, the country took issue with two paragraphs in the draft agreement, including a critical section mentioning the need to move away from unabated coal power and “inefficient” fossil fuel subsidies. “We should meet each other halfway,” China’s representative said, adding that the country was “ready to work with partners to provide constructive proposals and ideas” to reach a “balanced” final outcome.

Sharma appeals for nations to seal deal in ‘moment of truth’ for world
Saturday 13 November 2021 15:33 , Emily AtkinsonClimate change summit president Alok Sharma has appealed to almost 200 nations gathered in Glasgow to agree a new deal to rein in global warming, telling them: “This is the moment of truth”.After last-minute wrangling which delayed the scheduled end of the two-week United Nations Cop26 summit, Mr Sharma said that a “clean” text for a final agreement had been reached and said he aimed to get it formally signed off later in the day.More to follow from Louise Boyle, Daisy Dunne and Andrew Woodcock.Sharma appeals for nations to seal Cop 26 deal in ‘moment of truth’ for world

XR conduct ‘funeral’ for ‘failed’ climate summit
Saturday 13 November 2021 15:11 , Emily AtkinsonExtinction Rebellion climate activists have conducted a funeral ceremony for the Cop26 in Glasgow they say has “failed all of us.”The so-called red and blue rebels led a procession across Church Lane Bridge, known locally as The Bridge of Sighs, to Glasgow Necropolis - before lying down between rows of headstones.One activist, draped in a black cloak labelled ‘Cop26’, was lowered into the ground by their fellow members.An XR spokesperson, identified as Karen, said: “We are here grieving for a planet that has been sacrificed by the failure and stupidity of Cop26.“The bare minimum needed from Cop26 were commitments to leaving oil in the ground and an immediate halt to fossil fuel funding.“Anything less than that is idiocy.“As intelligent life on this planet we are already extinct. We know exactly what we need to do and we’re not doing it.”