EU Commissioner Timmermans at climate summit: "Don't destroy the moment"

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EU Commissioner Frans Timmermans: "Don't destroy this moment"

Photo: YVES HERMAN / REUTERS

EU Commissioner Frans Timmermans has warned the delegates in Glasgow that the World Climate Conference would fail in the last few meters.

"For God's sake: don't destroy this moment," the Dutch EU Commissioner for Climate Protection called out to the representatives of around 200 countries in Glasgow.

Timmermans compared the COP26 with a marathon in which you stumble shortly before the finish line.

Heated discussions about details and questions about climate finance had dragged the world climate summit out before that.

Originally, the summit should have ended on Friday.

The British President of the world climate summit, Alok Sharma, had postponed the probably decisive plenary again.

Every nation has its own legitimate interests and he admits that many questions are still at the beginning, said Timmermans.

But: "I beg you to accept this text," said the 60-year-old with a view to the planned final declaration of the summit.

"I want each of us to think of a person who will still be there in 2030," Timmermans called on the plenary.

Everyone should ask themselves under what conditions this person will live if one loses sight of the desired goal of stopping the global warming at 1.5 degrees.

Scientists agree that greater global warming can have catastrophic consequences.

India not satisfied

The US special envoy for the climate, John Kerry, was seen discussing intensively with representatives from other countries at the conference on Saturday.

Groups of dozens of delegates formed several times and were talking excitedly with one another.

Indian Environment and Climate Minister Bhupender Yadav said consensus was difficult to achieve.

The draft texts are not balanced.

The developing countries would have the right to use the rest of the so-called global "carbon budget".

China, on the other hand, was more satisfied.

The current draft text is not perfect, but there is no intention of reopening negotiations.

Just forego "inefficient subsidies" for fossil fuels?

In the present text for the COP26 framework decision, a move away from coal and other fossil fuels is expressly included for the first time.

The states are called upon to accelerate "their efforts towards an exit" from the use of coal.

The only thing that should be avoided is "inefficient subsidies" for fossil fuels.

The wording has been weakened twice since the first draft decision.

The negotiating texts also strengthen the maximum target of the Paris Climate Agreement of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees compared to the pre-industrial age.

In addition, states should review their national climate protection goals, which are currently far from being sufficient to achieve this goal, by the end of next year, three years earlier than previously planned.

more on the subject

• The climate summit is being extended: the call to phase out coal is weakened in the draft

• Global cooperation: Why we need a world climate parliamentA guest contribution by Dennis Tänzler

• World Climate Conference: Germany's surprisingly lame role in Glasgow Susanne Götze and Gerald Traufetter report from Glasgow

• Forest fires, smog, dust storms: and suddenly the Russians are also interested in climate changeA guest contribution by Angelina Dawydowa, Saint Petersburg

• So it is about the final deal: The countdown from Glasgow From Glasgow reports Susanne Götze

According to UN data, the earth is currently heading for a warming of 2.7 degrees.

NGOs and activists had therefore demanded decisive resolutions from the negotiators in Glasgow to contain the climate crisis.

Germany is promising an additional ten million euros

Germany has meanwhile pledged ten million euros in additional support.

The money is to go to poor countries that have suffered damage and losses in the climate crisis.

The German Press Agency learned this from the German delegation.

Together with other European countries, a total of 35 million US dollars are being mobilized.

According to the latest draft of the final declaration, it is about "technical support" under the umbrella of the so-called Santiago network, for example after hurricanes, droughts or floods, and not about compensation for complete damage.

The promise should be a "sign of solidarity" in the crucial phase of the summit, it said.

slü / dpa / Reuters