Boris Johnson praises climate conference: "Glasgow has rung the death knell for coal energy"

Enlarge image

Achieved so much?

According to Boris Johnson, the new climate pact is "not the final solution"

Photo: Daniel Leal / AP

At the World Climate Conference in Scotland, more than 200 countries agreed to say goodbye to coal.

Inefficient subsidies for fossil fuels are to be abolished according to the "Glasgow Climate Pact".

Although the formulation was watered down at the last minute due to pressure from China and India, host Boris Johnson draws a positive balance.

The Prime Minister of Great Britain said at a press conference with COP26 President Alok Sharma: "The world is undeniably on the way in the right direction."

Above all, Johnson praised the decision of the participating states to put an end to coal energy: “Glasgow has rung the death knell for coal energy.” At the same time, he admitted that not all goals were achieved: “This is not the final solution, and it could be never be. "

According to his own statements, COP President Sharma even feared that the conference might fail in the last few meters.

In an emotional moment he felt "the burden of the world" on his shoulders, according to Sharma.

No exit, just a gradual dismantling agreed

Before the declaration was passed on Saturday, Sharma even had to fight back tears for a short time.

That’s totally atypical for him.

"Some people describe me as 'no-drama sharma,'" said the Tory politician.

Otherwise he conducted the negotiations with determination and sober.

Now he has a bitter aftertaste: China and India will have to explain to the developing countries why they urged at the conference to water down the formulations on the coal phase-out, Sharma said on Sunday: "You will have to explain yourself on this issue."

The conference with 40,000 registered participants should actually end on Friday.

Because of hours of heated debates, it finally lasted until Saturday evening.

Only then was there a compromise.

Instead of an exit from coal (phase-out), there is now only talk of a gradual reduction (phase-down).

This leaves an open question as to whether both states will ever want to forego coal-based electricity altogether.

Accordingly, some environmental activists viewed the agreement critically.

Greta Thunberg tweeted: “Here is a short summary: blah, blah, blah.” UN Secretary General António Guterres also expressed himself disillusioned: “It's an important step, but it's not enough.

It's time to go into emergency mode. "

The German Environment Minister Svenja Schulze praised the agreement as historic.

"The fossil fuel age is coming to an end, the energy transition is becoming a model worldwide," said the SPD politician.

apr / dpa / Reuters