The 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference, also known as COP26, was held from October 31 to November 13, 2021, in Glasgow, Scotland. Two hundred nations came together for two weeks to discuss climate change and to submit their plans to keep global warming well below 2°C by 2030. The end goal is to cut global warming to net zero by 2050. Also, many nations pledged to reduce the use of coal, which is the cause of 40 percent of greenhouse gasses. Unfortunately, the wording was changed from “phase out” to “phase down,” after last-minute interventions by a couple of coal-dependent countries.
The US and China are two of the biggest polluters on the planet. China’s share of global emissions is 27 percent, while the US share is 11 percent. These
two countries came to an agreement by pledging to cooperate more over the next decade to reduce methane emissions and promote clean energy.
Other agreements include financial institutions investing US$130 trillion to fundrenewable energy projects and shift from fossil fuels in areas such as electricity generation, heavy industry, and transportation. Over 100 countries, which account for 85 percent of global forests, also promised to stop deforestation by 2030. Environmental organizations say that all these promises are great, but they’ve heard them before. Countries have to make their pledges real, which will be the true test for the parties of the negotiations.
1. Which of the following is NOT an end goal of COP26?
(A) Keeping global warming below 2°C.
(B) Cutting down on the consumption of coal.
(C) Getting global warming to net zero by 2050.
(D) Making Glasgow a hot tourist destination.
2. Why did COP26 use the term “phase down” instead of “phase out” on their pledge about coal?
(A) Two nations asked for the change.
(B) Coal is making a remarkablecomeback.
(C) There are fewer coal mines now than there were two decades ago.
(D) Phasing down coal will help cut greenhouse gases more than phasing it out.
3. How do the environmental agencies feel about COP26?
(A) They were happy to join the conference.
(B) They want to see concrete action enforced.
(C) They know the countries will keep their promises.
(D) They want to punish countries for not giving out enough money.
