Key Contacts: Steve Morris & Begonia Filgueira
Author: Sadie Vidal
More than 100 world leaders have already made landmark commitments to tackle the climate crisis after just two days of the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow.
Today 110 world leaders, representing countries that collectively contain around 85% of the world’s forests, have reached two important agreements – they have:
- committed almost £14bn of public and private funds to a promise to end and reverse deforestation by 2030 in the climate summit’s first major deal. Funding will partly be spent on restoring degraded land and supporting the rights of indigenous communities who live in rainforests around the world. Prime Minister Boris Johnson hailed the move as “A really significant breakthrough… with today’s unprecedented pledges, we will have a chance to end humanity’s long history as nature’s conqueror, and instead become its custodian.”
- agreed to reduce methane emissions following a UN report earlier this year stating that urgent steps on such reduction are necessary to keep within previously agreed limits on global warming.
This pledge has real consequences for businesses in the UK. It backs up the UK’s Environmental Bill’s obligation for business to carry out due diligence on products and ingredients that have been produced in countries where there is a high risk of deforestation and urges businesses to be mindful of methane production in the coal, oil and gas industries.
Speak to our Planning Partner Steve Morris or Environmental Partner Begonia Filgueira for more information on how we can help you navigate the new climate regulatory challenges.
For news and updates as the Conference progresses, keep an eye on the COP26 Press Office
