Colum Eastwood laments 'missed opportunity of COP26

He said the deal announced at the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow did not go far enough in its commitments to eliminate fossil fuel burning.

Mr. Eastwood was speaking after hundreds of countries signed the Glasgow Climate Pact and agreed to revisit and strengthen their current emissions targets to 2030.

Alok Sharma, President for COP26, said the goal of limiting temperature rises to 1.5C was still alive.

However, Mr. Eastwood expressed disappointment that the pact included a pledge only to 'phase down' rather than 'phase out' coal-fired power generation. He blamed India and China for forcing the change of wording.

The Foyle MP said: “While a number of welcome measures have been agreed following COP26 I cannot help but feel the overall sense emerging from the conference is one of failure, frustration and missed opportunity.

"The decision to concede to India and China’s demand to phase down, rather than phase out coal is inconceivable. Burning fossil fuels is one of the key contributors to the climate crisis due to the amount of carbon emissions they produce. While stopping using them completely won’t be easy, it’s the only choice we have if we are going to save our planet.

“This COP also failed to adequately address the destruction taking place in our poorer and developing countries as a result of the climate crisis. If we are going to get to grips with tackling these issues then our leading nations must provide support to those with less resources and major corporations must adopt climate friendly practices or face the consequences."

Mr. Eastwood said the chance for world leaders to agree 'a radical worldwide plan to tackle the climate crisis has been blown' but insisted all hope is not lost.

"It's been heartening to see the strength of will that exists to tackle this issue, particularly from our young people. For too long our politicians have ignored the climate crisis raging all around us and COP26 has put it at the centre of public discourse.

"Real climate action won’t be easy, we will all be required to change the way we live, but there is no alternative and we must take the wins that were secured in Glasgow and push for further movement ahead of COP27 in Egypt.

“The SDLP will continue to fight to ensure that the climate crisis remains the uppermost concern at both Westminster and in the Assembly. I am currently bringing forward a bill at Westminster which will force the British government to declare a climate emergency, bring forward the date to achieve net zero emissions, introduce a strategy to achieve new green jobs, guarantee a just transition and create a green corporate levy on large companies to help fund climate action.

"It’s a matter of deep regret that the North is currently the only part of these islands without dedicated climate change legislation and targets and that must be immediately addressed.”