随着COP26谈判进入第二周,the Times reports that “Boris Johnson is considering returning to Glasgow this week to try to rescue the UN climate conference amid growing concern that it will fail to do enough to prevent dangerous global warming”. It adds: “Negotiators at COP26 are sceptical of claims made last week that deals on forests, methane, coal and an emissions reduction pledge from India meant COP26 had already achieved Johnson’s main goal of ‘keeping alive’ the possibility of limiting warming to 1.5C…Downing Street is drawing up plans for the prime minister to make a last-minute trip to Glasgow if the talks remain deadlocked towards the end of the week. A government source pointed to François Hollande’s decision to reappear at the end of COP21 in Paris in 2015.”BBC Newscarries comments made by Johnson yesterday in which he said that ministers and negotiators at COP26 should “pull together and drive for the line” to secure ambitious action on climate change. TheDaily Telegraphquotes the UK’s lead negotiator Archie Young: “The mood is mixed, and I say that not in any pejorative sense. It’s really a reflection of the fact that it is tense right now.” A government spokesperson added that the negotiations were “incredibly complicated and notoriously hard”.

Climate Home Newsreports that financial support for vulnerable nations could “make or break” COP26, according to the Climate Vulnerable Forum blocks of nations. It adds: “The UK presidency has made adaptation, loss and damage the theme for Monday. But it’s unclear what wealthy nations will bring to the table. Unlike with days dedicated to finance and energy, no major announcements have been trailed in advance. Jennifer Tollmann, of thinktank E3G, told Climate Home News what happens on Monday could ‘make or break’ the deal.” In an attempt to get the day off to a positive start, the UK government has today pledged “£290m to help poorer countries cope with the impact of climate change”, according toBBC News. It says: “The majority of the money from the UK will go to help Asian and Pacific nations plan and invest in climate action, improve conservation and promote low-carbon development, the government said.” TheObserverhas a preview news feature focused on how “adaptation has long been an overlooked issue at the annual COP meetings”.

Bloombergsays that the “COP climate talks are about to get messier with negotiators bracing for all-night sessions”. It adds: “Top of their list to pin down: how to create a global carbon market and who will pay for the ravages of rising temperatures…There’s a longer list still of rules to write in the few days left, and talks are already behind schedule as energy ministers are set to arrive.” AnotherBloombergarticle says: “Talks at COP26 on international carbon markets are running into difficulties, as the US lines up behind the European Union with objections to a key demand from developing countries, according to people familiar with the situation.”Reuterssays: “One idea has gained traction: making countries review and, if necessary, update their emissions-cutting pledges every year, rather than on the current five-year schedule.” TheSydney Morning Herald还指出这种发展:“澳大利亚可能是pressured to improve its 2030 emissions reduction target as soon as next year, according to a summary of negotiating points released by COP26 presidency.”

TheTimesreports today that “developed countries including the UK face a legal claim of hundreds of billions of pounds to compensate poorer nations for damage from storms and rising seas caused by climate damage”. It continues: “A coalition of island nations, led by Antigua and Barbuda and Tuvalu, is preparing to launch a case at the International Court of Justice in the Hague…Molwyn Joseph, environment minister of Antigua and Barbuda, who is representing the Alliance of Small Island States at COP26, said that his islands faced worse hurricanes and were entitled to compensation, not charity.” ASunday Timesarticles says that “a ‘greenwashing’ watchdog is being set up by the United Nations to name and shame companies that fail to deliver on net-zero commitments…The panel will draw up rules for judging the environmental credentials of ‘non-state actors’.”

In other COP26 news, theWashington Postcarries an investigation which it says shows that “many countries underreporttheir greenhouse gas emissions in their reports to the United Nations”.BBC Newssays analysis by Global Witness shows that “there are more delegates at COP26 associated with the fossil fuel industry than from any single country”. TheFinancial Times说:“巴拉克•奥巴马(Barack Obama)南希•佩洛西(Nancy Pelosi)和数十个of members of Congress will converge on Glasgow this week, as COP26 enters its final few days, without any prospect of the US passing key climate-focused legislation before it ends”. TheDaily Mailcarries the views of a “whistleblower” who says he has revealed the “sickening scams in the UN’s green grants”. And theSouth China Morning Postsays that “Greenpeace has accused the oil-rich kingdom of Saudi Arabia of trying to block the negotiations at the COP26 world climate conference in Glasgow”, adding: “Government representatives from Riyadh opposed the ‘cover decision’ for the final text on Friday evening, Greenpeace International Executive Director Jennifer Morgan complained on Sunday.”

Several publications carry assessments of how the first week at COP26 has gone, with the Guardian’s Jonathan Watts saying: “Inside the main conference centre, the mood is cautious. The UK organisers are relieved that major slip-ups have been avoided. The African group of nations is optimistic that progress has been made. Everyone is aware that there is still a big credibility gap between the more ambitious long-term promises and short-term actions.” He adds: “The big battles lie ahead – on the climate rulebook, on carbon credit trading systems, on questions of loss and damage, and most of all on climate finance – whether the rich nations largely responsible for the climate crisis will provide sufficient funds for poor, vulnerable and developing nations to switch to renewable energy and cope with the rising storm to come. There has been progress this week, but not nearly enough.” Thei newspapersays that “a pledge on deforestation looked to be the biggest win of the first week while announcements on bank financing and coal were less good than billed”. Looking to week two, it concludes: “On balance, it seems likely that there will be some kind of agreement to increase emissions targets more often than the current system of every five years, not least because the summit needs some kind of agreement to show the world.”BBC News概述了马特·麦格拉思说:“作为一个吗participant explained it, the first week of COP26 was all sugar rush, the second will be about sobering up and getting down to business…There will…be detailed and tough discussions around finance, around the question of adaptation, and loss and damage. There is likely to be a real standoff over the question of how cash for climate change is spent.” ThePress Associationcarries the views of veteran COP negotiator Pete Betts (who is now isolating with Covid-19), who says there is “nothing like enough progress”. TheDaily Telegraph‘s analysis of the first week concludes that the “truth” is that the various pledges made largely added up to “hot air and ‘greenwash’”. TheGuardian’s environment correspondent Fiona Harvey looks at how the UK “is trying to frame COP26 as a success” and has asecond pieceon what is still to be resolved in the second week.

There is widespread coverage of the various climate marches that took place around the world over the weekend. BBC News reports that “about 100,000 people marched in Glasgow to demand more action on the climate crisis, organisers have said”. It adds: “The protest was the biggest so far during the COP26 summit and took place alongside hundreds of similar events around the world. Greta Thunberg joined the march but did not speak, leaving activists such as Vanessa Nakate to address a rally. Police arrested 21 scientists who chained themselves together and blocked a road bridge over the River Clyde…About 100 climate change demonstrations were held in other parts of the UK while events were also taking place in a further 100 countries including Kenya, Turkey, France, Brazil, Australia and Canada.” TheGuardiansays that in Glasgow “the Scottish morning saw heavy rain, but the early mood was one of cheerful acceptance”. It continues: “Despite the dreich weather, the atmosphere was electric as each bloc made itself heard with live music and chants such as ‘system change not climate change’ and ‘world leaders at COP26 your inaction makes us sick’.”Associated Presssays the “frustrated marchers [were] increasingly dismissive of the talks and demanding immediate action instead to slow global warming”.Reuters指出,“一群青年与bullho——一些rns – blamed companies for the climate crisis and chanted calls in favour of socialism while punching their fists in the air”.

The middle Saturday at COP26 saw a focus on nature and land-use. The i newspaper reports that the UK and 44 other governments pledged more than £3bn to make farming in the developing world greener and more resilient to climate change and to help protect valuable land from agricultural development. The outlet adds: “The money is made up of various funds for many projects and includes a £500m contribution from the UK to help protect 5m hectares of rainforests from deforestation, an area equivalent to 3.5m football pitches. Hundreds of millions of pounds will also be spent on agricultural innovation, including the development of climate resilient crops and ways to improve soil health – and helping make these techniques and resources affordable and accessible to hundreds of millions of farmers around the world.”Reuterssays that “backers [of the pledge] include major economies led by the US, Japan and Germany and developing nations such as India, Indonesia, Morocco, Vietnam, Philippines, Gabon, Ethiopia, Ghana and Uruguay”. They would “step up protection of nature and overhaul farming to cut greenhouse gas emissions”.Global Newsin Canada says that the nation has allocated “20% of its climate funding to tackle biodiversity loss”.

Meanwhile, theGuardiancarries the views of Thomas Vilsac, the US secretary of agriculture, who has told the newspaper: “I do not think we have to reduce the amount of meat or livestock produced in the US. And a significant percentage is exported. It’s not a question of eating more or less or producing more or less. The question is making production more sustainable.”

The Times reports the comments of George Eustice, the UK’s environment secretary, who has said that ministers are drawing up plans for a carbon border tax that would affect imports from polluting countries. The newspaper adds: “Eustice said the proposed tax on imports from countries with poor environmental records would protect green businesses in the UK. He said that the proposals were being examined by the Treasury and Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. They would take several years to implement and ideally would happen in collaboration with other governments, he said. His comments could cause a cabinet row. Sources at the Treasury and the business department said that their officials were not looking at the tax.” TheGuardianalso picks up on his comments: “On Sunday, George Eustice insisted he was not in favour of a domestic meat tax to help reduce global heating and that such a proposal had ‘never been on the cards’. But, in an interview with the BBC’s Andrew Marr, he said that in the long term a CO2 border tax – a levy on imports related to the amount of CO2 generated by meat production – might be necessary because otherwise emission trading schemes would not work…He said the logic of emission trading schemes – imposing caps on the emissions allowed by producers – made a CO2 border tax inevitable.”

Meanwhile, in other UK news, theTimessays that landlords across the UK will be “barred from letting out their properties unless they make them more energy-efficient — at an average cost of £5,000 a time — under government plans to hit net-zero emissions from 2050”. It adds: “The government is poised to announce legislation which will require all privately rented homes to be rated EPC-C, the third-highest level of energy efficiency. Those who let out homes that do not meet the target will face fines of up to £15,000. The Times has been told that the rule will apply to all new lettings from 2026, a year later than originally planned, and all existing lettings from 2028.”BBC Newssays that Rolls Royce will announce this week that a consortium of investors will back plans for a new smaller nuclear reactor project: “As part of its 10-point green energy plan, the government has already announced it would provide £210m in funding if that could be matched by private capital. An announcement that money has been raised could come as soon as Tuesday.”

Separately, theTimesreports that “The impacts of extreme rainfall in the UK could be more frequent and severe than previously thought and the north of England and Scotland would be worst affected, according to the Met Office”. It adds: “In Glasgow, which is hosting COP26, there could be 3.5 times as many days by the 2070s in which 30mm (1.2 inches) or more of rain is recorded in an hour than in the 1990s if countries fail to deliver on promises to cut emissions. In London, there could be 2.5 times as many days with 30mm an hour, the level that typically triggers warnings of flash floods.” TheSunday Telegraph新的投票委托b的结果y “centre-right thinktank” Onward which shows that “less than half the population is willing to pay thousands of pounds to make their homes greener and help meet Boris Johnson’s net-zero goals”. TheSunday Timeshas a news feature by its political editor Tim Shipman, which says that Boris Johnson “imbued with the zeal of a convert…is on the brink of clinching a Glasgow summit victory”.

Many US outlets cover the passing by the US House of Representatives of President Joe Biden’s $1tn infrastructure bill late last week. The New York Times says it is the “largest amount of money ever spent by the US to prepare the nation to withstand the devastating impacts of climate change” The newspaper continues: “The $47bn in the bill designated for climate resilience is intended to help communities prepare for the new age of extreme fires, floods,storms and droughts that scientists say are worsened by human-caused climate change. The money is the most explicit signal yet from the federal government that the economic damages of a warming planet have already arrived. Its approval by Congress with bipartisan support reflects an implicit acknowledgment of that fact by at least some Republicans, even though many of the party’s leaders still question or deny the established science of human-caused climate change…But still in limbo on Capitol Hill is a second, far larger spending bill that is packed with $555bn intended to try to mitigate climate change…House Democratic leaders on Friday came to the cusp of bringing that bill to the floor for a vote, but ultimately had to scrap the plans because they did not have enough support in their own caucus to pass it. They hope to attempt a vote before Thanksgiving.”

An editorial in theFinancial Timessays “the effects of new money for US roads, rail, ports, rural broadband, water supply and the build out of an electric car charging network will start to be felt early next year”, adding: “[It] will deliver the largest investment in renewable energy in US history. Though it has been stripped of its most effective climate change provision, which would have accelerated the electricity sector’s transition from fossil fuels, what remains is substantive.” TheWashington Postcarries an opinion piece by columnist Christine Emba headlined: “Even at COP26, Democrats struggle to overcome [Senator Joe] Manchin’s stalling on climate.”

The climate pledges made during the first week of COP26 were “encouraging”, says a Guardian editorial, but are “far from sufficient, and must be viewed as part of a continuing process”. There is “a sense of momentum in Glasgow”, the paper says, but still many “challenges” to overcome in the days ahead. One example is ensuring “the plans put forward by governments, known as nationally determined contributions, are not built on wishful thinking. Years of delays mean that the timetable is incredibly tight. Leaders cannot afford to be passive”. Once commitments have been made, “mechanisms must be developed to measure and report on progress”, the paper warns, adding: “This is an enormous task that will not be completed at the first attempt.” In other editorials, theIndependentsays “we are halfway through a summit that appears to be likely to make it halfway to where the world needed it to be”. While the outlet says it wants to be “optimistic”, it also “[has] to be blunt about how far this summit is falling short of the hopes once invested in it”. However, it adds, “we would not go so far as Greta Thunberg…who called it ‘a global north greenwash festival’. There is a danger in such language that it will discourage and demotivate the radical spirit needed to press for change. But we need to be realistic about the limits to what can be achieved over the final week of this summit”. Tackling climate change is “a huge and complex whole world task that can only ever be one long arduous negotiation”, the editorial says: “It will never be enough, and it will never be finished, but it can be done. That is why we salute all the people making their voices heard on the streets of Glasgow, London, Bristol and cities around the world.” Elsewhere, theIrish Timeswarns against “environmental anxiety”, which “becomes unhealthy when it spirals into catastrophic thinking, and paralyses us from taking the steps that could avert the perils that aroused it”.

Meanwhile, the UK’s right-wing media run a series of opinion pieces attacking various aspects of climate action. Nick Timothy, former chief adviser to ex-PM Theresa May, uses his column in theDaily Telegraphto argue for “calm, rational debate about what climate change entails”. He claims that “we do not know exactly how climate change will change our world” and notes, for example, that “we do not know how so-called feedbacks will work”. He then proceeds to explain exactly how one feedback will work: “As ice melts, for instance, the world will heat up faster, further reducing the remaining ice, contributing to more global warming.” These uncertainties mean we “ought to be engaged in a serious debate about the choices we face in deciding how we respond”, says Timothy, who asks why “we have to rush into policies early”. (He is perhaps overlooking that the first IPCC assessment report on climate change was published 31 years go.) Motoring journalist Jeremy Clarkson uses his column in theSunday Timesto attack Greta Thunberg. Clarkson – who has his own television show about farming despite not know anything about farming – criticises Thunberg for having “no knowledge of how the world works, no manners and no letters after her name”.Sunday Telegraphcolumnist Zoe Strimpel complains that activists “do not just want to avert climate change, they want to berate, denigrate and control humanity, beating their chests, showing their virtue, wailing at the moon and – crucially – ruining things for everyone else”. Janet Daley – also aSunday Telegraphcolumnist – complains that “doom-laden COP26 reporting is more moralising than journalism”. And, finally, Steve Hilton – former director of strategy for ex-PM David Cameron – rants in theDaily Mailabout how the “seemingly interminable frenzy of sanctimonious virtue-signalling, histrionic fear-mongering and shameless environmental hypocrisy is certainly doing its best to make the 12 days of the COP26 climate change conference in Glasgow feel like 12 years”.

Several outlets carry comment pieces focused on China’s role at COP26. The New York Times has a comment piece by Angel Hsu, an assistant professor of public policy and the environment at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. She writes: “We must have a more considered approach when judging China’s actions before crying foul. The leadership in Beijing almost certainly knowsthat issuingtop-level orders to reopen coal mines on the eve of the most significant climate summit since the 2015 Paris talks, is, to put it lightly, less than ideal.But what might come across as climate contradictions may actually be evidence of China’s very real and ongoing commitment. They demonstrate the enormous challenges that a country so reliant on fossil fuels to power its economy faces in going green and Beijing’s blueprint for moving forward. Energy experts have likened shifting away from a fossil-fuel economy, as China has pledged to do by 2060, to turning a giant ship: It must overcome significant inertia before generating sufficient momentum in the other direction. And China’s ship is still turning. Since Beijing began in earnest to tackle its climate emissions just over a decade ago, it has slowly been weaning itself off coal – going from more than 70% of its total energy consumption in 2009 to around 57% in 2020.” She concludes: “In my experience, even Chinese climate negotiators hesitate to call their country a climate leader, always saying it is still learning. The recent struggles to decarbonise are evidence of that — not of the country’s waning dedication to mitigating the climate crisis. It’s important to give the ship time to turn.”

A “big read” in theFinancial Timeslooks at Xi’s absence from COP26 and says that, “for many experts, Xi’s decision to stay at home since the start of the pandemic reflects a deeper shift: China, responding to acute domestic pressures and mounting hostility abroad, appears to be turning inward”.South China Morning Postcolumnist Wang Xiangwei writes: “Xi’s no-show at global summits [G20 and COP26] does not mean China is retreating from the world stage.”Bloombergsays “it’s hard to make progress on climate change when the biggest polluter doesn’t show up”. In theSunday Times, climate-sceptic columnist Dominic Lawson argues that “COP26 has been a gift to our geostrategic rivals” and that “Presidents Xi and Putin are laughing at us”.

Meanwhile,Reutersreports that “China’s daily coal output hit 11.93m tonnes last week, a multi-year high as more capacity returned to operation”. AndCNBCnotes that new data shows that “China imported nearly twice as much coal in October as it did a year ago”.

A new study finds that the Earth’s tropopause – the atmospheric boundary between the troposphere and stratosphere – rose continuously to higher altitudes over 1980-2020. The authors use radiosonde balloon observations in the northern hemisphere to determine the height of the tropopause, and find that their results show “good agreement” with existing satellite and radiosonde records. The study finds that changes in the height of the tropopause are primarily driven by warming in the troposphere (the lower layer of the atmosphere). These findings provide “further observational evidence for anthropogenic climate change”, the authors conclude.