This year’s UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) will bring parties together to accelerate action towards the goals of the Paris Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. The UK will host the Conference in Glasgow on 31 October – 12 November 2021.
What do we need to achieve?
- Secure global net zero by mid-century and keep 1.5 degrees within reach
Countries are being asked to come forward with ambitious 2030 emissions reductions targets that align with reaching net zero by the middle of the century. To deliver on these stretching targets, countries will need to: accelerate the phase-out of coal; curtail deforestation; speed up the switch to electric vehicles; encourage investment in renewables.
- Adapt to protect communities and natural habitats
The climate is already changing and it will continue to change even as we reduce emissions, with devastating effects. At COP26 we need to work together to enable and encourage countries affected by climate change to: protect and restore ecosystems; build defences, warning systems and resilient infrastructure and agriculture to avoid loss of homes, livelihoods and even lives.
- Mobilize finance
To deliver on our first two goals, developed countries must make good on their promise to mobilise at least $100bn in climate finance per year by 2020. International financial institutions must play their part and we need work towards unleashing the trillions in private and public sector finance required to secure global net zero.
- Work together to deliver
We can only rise to the challenges of the climate crisis by working together. At COP26 we must: finalise the Paris Rulebook (the detailed rules that make the Paris Agreement operational); accelerate action to tackle the climate crisis through collaboration between governments, businesses and civil society.
As the UN specialized agency promoting inclusive and sustainable industrial development, UNIDO is committed to enabling a paradigm shift in industrialization in developing countries as a means to build low-emission climate-resilient societies.
UNIDO's projects directly contribute to achieving the targets and goals set by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Paris Agreement as well as the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. To enhance knowledge sharing and identify possible areas of cooperation, UNIDO will showcase some of these projects during a series of COP26 side events. All times in are indicated GMT.