Global South priorities for COP26 set out at Glasgow climate talks

Mairi McAllan

Participants included communities impacted by the climate crisis, governments, non-governmental organisations, charities, and universities from countries including Malawi, Sri Lanka, Rwanda, Tanzania, Bangladesh, Uganda, Colombia, Uruguay and Tonga.

The communiqué sets out a series of recommendations for COP26, including that:

• the COP26 presidency and the UNFCCC learn from the impact of Covid on Global South participation and take action to ensure equitable access and participation
• developed countries meet their $100 billion annual climate finance promise and use COP26 to significantly increase the financial support reaching the most impacted people and communities
• the injustice of climate change induced loss and damage to people, particularly young people, women, and the marginalised, is addressed
• a global just transition is required to meet the Paris Agreement goals, based on the UNFCCC principles of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities and the right to development
• The communiqué will be discussed during an online global launch event held on Thursday 30 September, featuring speakers in Tanzania, Malawi and Bangladesh, and promoted during COP26.

Rhoda Boateng, program coordinator, International Trade Union Congress – Africa, who participated in the Glasgow Dialogues, said: “The climate crisis reiterates the need for collaboration, to find sustainable and inclusive solutions for climate action.

“By providing a platform to amplify the voices of the Global South, the Glasgow Climate Dialogues speaks to the spirit of solidarity which is much needed in combating the climate crisis today.

“We hope that in the same light, COP26 would provide grounds for both developing and industrialised countries to arrive at decisions that will strengthen the much-needed adaptive capacities of developing countries from climate impacts, as well as push countries to raise climate ambitions in line with the required climate targets. Realising this would be great progress towards climate justice.”

Land reform minister Mairi McAllan said: “We are determined to do everything we can to ensure a successful outcome at COP26. That means we must be an ally to the nations that are already feeling the impact of climate change, despite having done the least to cause it.

“I am proud that Scotland has been able to play a role in facilitating these discussions and this statement of hope and expectation for COP26. I look forward to continuing to work with our friends and partners to make good on these ambitions.”