Introduction
Addressing environmental threats is a priority for all countries underpinned by international efforts coordinating activity. They are mainly presented by the organization of conferences, such as COP26, that are intended for making a global change for guaranteeing a safe future for new generations. Therefore, this paper aims to examine the principal indicators in achieving improvements in climate change prevention and the current results of programs.
The Meaning of NDC
The discussion of critical issues related to climate change during COP26 is generally accompanied by the considerations of nationally determined contributions (NDC). This term refers to the efforts of all countries in the world to combat the threat mostly by reducing emissions, and it is taken into account when reflecting on the results of their activity. Thus, for example, the negotiations under the considered event showed that the successes of different regions in this respect differ as China and India do not comply with common objectives met by others (Quiñones, 2021). In this way, unity is yet to be achieved for the benefit of the world population in the long run.
The situation in Canada concerning its NDC is reflected in the recent report published by the UN Climate Change on their website. According to this document, the country’s updated contributions include the target to reduce emissions by 40-45% below the level reported in 2015 within the next decade (The UN Climate Change, n.d.a). This source also contains information about the intention of the Canadian government to guarantee net-zero emissions by 2050 (The UN Climate Change, n.d.a). These plans seem extremely ambitious, and they are complemented by previous successes in different areas, such as reducing short-lived climate pollutants (The UN Climate Change, n.d.a). The experience of this country proves that a global shift is possible only if initiatives are continuously implemented and updated by all participants.
Key Outcomes of COP26
The reports on COP26 published throughout November 11-15 on websites of organizations involved in the process of discussing the environmental situation in the world serve as evidence of actual achievements. Thus, according to the information provided by the UN Climate Change (n.d.), the previously set goals can be analyzed by their outcomes. The focus of this event was on succeeding in establishing a global net zero, protecting communities, mobilizing finance, and promoting cooperation between countries (The UN Climate Change Conference UK 2021, n.d.). By now, the summit showed that the willingness of participants to contribute to the performance of corresponding tasks does not lead to substantial results.
This claim can be justified by several circumstances that were revealed during the conference. First, the commitments to the specified directions of work are supported by 151 countries, and their climate plans are primarily connected to reducing emissions by 2030 (The UN Climate Change, n.d.b). Second, it was confirmed that the target of limiting the rise of temperature to 1.5 degrees C is needed, while this measure is insufficient for fully eliminating the accompanying risks (The UN Climate Change, n.d.b). Third, the alleged impossibility of complying with these regulations led to the necessity for introducing new methods for addressing the problems since the existing ones are not enough (The UN Climate Change, n.d.b). In other words, by the end of this event, the results were the agreement of countries to reconsider their policies and their understanding of the dramatic consequences of failures in this respect.
Conclusion
To summarize, the NDCs of participants during COP26 demonstrated the idea of developing more effective approaches to reach higher goals. In turn, the outcomes of this event were unsatisfactory from several perspectives, including previous results of elaborated programs and their insufficiency for making a global change. Thus, further work is to be performed concerning the growing threats in the context of limited resources.
References
Quiñones, L. (2021). COP26 closes with ‘compromise’ deal on climate, but it’s not enough, says UN chief. The United Nations. Web.
The UN Climate Change. (n.d.). Canada’s 2021 nationally determined contribution under the Paris Agreement. Web.
The UN Climate Change. (n.d.). Glasgow climate change conference – October-November 2021. Web.
The UN Climate Change Conference UK 2021. (n.d.). COP26 goals. Web.