Protestors took to the streets during the recent COP26 meeting in Glasgow, Scotland, pressing negotiators for stronger climate action. (Photo by Toby Parkes/Shutterstock)
Bold action plans eluded participants at the recent COP26 climate conference, which concluded with conflicting vows to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions 45% by 2030 and to phase coal down but not out. For small Latin American and Caribbean countries already experiencing severe weather events, the conference offered little concrete assurance of the massive international support they urgently need for climate-change adaptation. But the underwhelming outcome also reflected the ambivalence of some of the region’s larger countries, particularly those with a stake in oil, gas and coal production. Conferees at the summit, held Oct. 31-Nov. 12 in Glasgow, Scotland, did make progress on some strategies with importance to Latin America. For instance, a side agreement was struck to create rules for carbon markets in which countries and companies purchase emissions credits from nations that have lowered greenhouse-gas output more than they pledged. Expansion of such markets could generate... [Log in to read more]
