What should we expect COP26 to achieve for climate change?

Stakes are at their highest for this year’s UN climate change summit, COP26. Despite warnings that countries have less than a decade to reduce emissions enough to keep global warming below 1.5 degrees Celsius, the world remains on track to reach 3 degrees this century, with unprecedented climate-induced catastrophe in the meantime. COP26, which will be held in Glasgow during the first two weeks of November, is where decisions to change this course of direction will be made – or not.

Will countries commit to keeping fossil fuels in the ground and curbing greenhouse gases? What role will carbon markets play in these commitments? Will strategies that harness the powers of nature to mitigate climate change finally be given real support? And from where will the money come to fund all that needs to be done?

To prepare for this historic COP, this GLF Live featured COP expert and lawyer Stephen Leonard on the most urgent points of discussion for Glasgow, what the possible outcomes could be and what this means for the future of our planet.

Stephen Leonard is an international lawyer and climate law and policy advisor to multiple organizations including UN agencies and civil society. He has more than a decade of experience in the UN climate negotiations and expertise in climate finance, specializing in forests and ecosystems and the Green Climate Fund. He is the founder of international consulting firm, Rationale Advisors and sits on the board of multiple climate justice focused legal organizations.