‘Disappointing end’: Canadian activists react to COP26 climate deal
Global News
``This final agreement is a small step but not the leap we need,'' one group said.
A last-minute deal reached at the United Nations climate talks Saturday drew a mix of discouragement and determination from environmental groups and politicians in Canada.
Almost 200 countries accepted the contentious climate compromise aimed at preserving a key target in the fight against global warming, which contained a final change that watered-down crucial language about coal.
Several countries, including small island states, said Saturday they were deeply disappointed by the edit promoted by India to “phase down” rather than “phase out” coal power, the single biggest source of greenhouse gas emissions.
The Sierra Club’s Canadian chapter said the deal marks a “disappointing end” to the two-week conference in Glasgow, Scotland, known as COP26.
“This final agreement is a small step but not the leap we need,” representatives said in a statement, calling the compromise “on trend with the divisive summit.”
“In the words of David Attenborough … ‘our motivation should not be fear but hope.”’
They and others cited the international goal to limit global warming to 1.5 C above pre-industrial times.
Climate Action Network Canada, which was also in attendance, warned Canadian politicians they will be held to the deal’s pledges.
