Glasgow Climate Pact

Positions at a glance

Supporters

It is notable as the first COP decision to explicitly reference fossil fuels. The text calls on parties to accelerate "efforts towards the phasedown of unabated coal power and phase-out of inefficient fossil fuel subsidies." The original draft language used "phase-out" for coal; it was changed to "phasedown" in the final plenary at the insistence of India, with support from China, prompting a visible apology from COP President Sharma.

Opponents

The Pact was accompanied by finalisation of the Paris Rulebook, including rules for Article 6 (carbon markets) and common transparency reporting timeframes. Critics, including small island states and many NGOs, argued the Pact fell short of what 1.5°C requires, while supporters described it as keeping 1.5°C "alive."

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At COP26 in November 2021, India's last-minute intervention changed the Glasgow Climate Pact's language on coal from "phase-out" to "phasedown," drawing criticism from the EU and small island states.

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Positions at a glance

Supporters

Opponents

Research it like a delegate

The Glasgow Climate Pact is the cover decision adopted by consensus on 13 November 2021 at the conclusion of the 26th Conference of the Parties (COP26) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), held in Glasgow, Scotland under the UK presidency of Alok Sharma.

Key elements of the Pact include:

A request that parties revisit and strengthen their 2030 Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) by the end of 2022, rather than waiting for the standard five-year cycle, to align with a 1.5°C pathway.
Recognition that limiting warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels requires global greenhouse gas emissions to be cut by roughly 45% by 2030 relative to 2010 levels, and to net zero around mid-century.
A call on developed countries to at least double their collective provision of adaptation finance to developing countries from 2019 levels by 2025.
An expression of "deep regret" that the $100 billion per year climate finance goal, originally promised by developed countries by 2020, had not been met.
Establishment of a work programme on the Global Goal on Adaptation and a dialogue on loss and damage finance (the "Glasgow Dialogue").

The Pact was accompanied by finalisation of the Paris Rulebook, including rules for Article 6 (carbon markets) and common transparency reporting timeframes. Critics, including small island states and many NGOs, argued the Pact fell short of what 1.5°C requires, while supporters described it as keeping 1.5°C "alive."

Frequently asked questions

Is the Glasgow Climate Pact legally binding?

It is a COP decision adopted by consensus under the UNFCCC and Paris Agreement. Like most COP cover decisions, it is politically binding and procedurally authoritative but does not create new treaty-level legal obligations on emissions.

Why was 'phase-out' changed to 'phasedown' for coal?

India, supported by China, objected to 'phase-out' in the final plenary on 13 November 2021. To preserve consensus, the presidency accepted 'phasedown of unabated coal power,' a weaker formulation that still marked the first explicit COP reference to coal.

What did the Pact say about climate finance?

It expressed deep regret that the $100 billion per year goal had not been met by 2020, urged developed countries to deliver it urgently through 2025, and called for at least a doubling of adaptation finance from 2019 levels by 2025.

Research Glasgow Climate Pact like a delegate

Positions at a glance

Supporters

Opponents

Research it like a delegate

Ask a follow-up about Glasgow Climate Pact

Go deeper than the definition

Take Glasgow Climate Pact beyond the glossary

Research Glasgow Climate Pact like a delegate

Positions at a glance

Supporters

Opponents

Research it like a delegate

Ask a follow-up about Glasgow Climate Pact

Frequently asked questions

Is the Glasgow Climate Pact legally binding?

Why was 'phase-out' changed to 'phasedown' for coal?

What did the Pact say about climate finance?

Go deeper than the definition

Take Glasgow Climate Pact beyond the glossary

Frequently asked questions

Is the Glasgow Climate Pact legally binding?

Why was 'phase-out' changed to 'phasedown' for coal?

What did the Pact say about climate finance?