COP26 has concluded in Glasgow with nearly 200 countries agreeing the Glasgow Climate Pact to keep 1.5C alive and finalise the outstanding elements of the Paris Agreement.

Climate negotiators ended two weeks of intense talks on Saturday with consensus on urgently accelerating climate action this decade.

However, while the Glasgow Climate Pact, means that 1.5C remains in sight - it will only be delivered with concerted and immediate global efforts. A statement released by COP26 said:

“Current policies would leave us on a path to a devastating temperature rise. But work done by independent experts Climate Action Tracker show that with the full implementation of the fresh collective commitments could hold temperature rise to 1.8C.”

Reflecting on the task ahead, COP26 President Alok Sharma said:

We can now say with credibility that we have kept 1.5 degrees alive. “I would say, however, that this is a fragile win…..its pulse is weak and it will only survive if we keep our promises and translate commitments into rapid action…

“From here, we must now move forward together and deliver on the expectations set out in the Glasgow Climate Pact, and close the vast gap which remains. Because as Prime Minister Mia Mottley told us at the start of this conference, for Barbados and other small island states, ‘two degrees is a death sentence’.

“It is up to all of us to sustain our lodestar of keeping 1.5 degrees within reach and to continue our efforts to get finance flowing and boost adaptation. After the collective dedication which has delivered the Glasgow Climate Pact, our work here cannot be wasted.”

All countries agreed to revisit and strengthen their current emissions targets to 2030, known as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), in 2022. This will be combined with a yearly political roundtable to consider a global progress report and a Leaders summit in 2023.

The Paris Rulebook, the guidelines for how the Paris Agreement is delivered, was also completed today after six years of discussions. This will allow for the full delivery of the landmark accord, after agreement on a transparency process which will hold countries to account as they deliver on their targets.

This includes Article 6, which establishes a robust framework for countries to exchange carbon credits through the UNFCCC.

However, the agreement saw a commitment to phasing out fossil fuels substituted by a commitment to “phase down” fossil fuels.

There were also commitments to significantly increase financial support through the Adaptation Fund as developed countries were urged to double their support to developing countries by 2025.

COP26 also agreed a commitment to protect natural habitats, with 90% of the world’s forests covered by a pledge from 130 countries to end deforestation by 2030.