Glasgow Meetings Ends on a Positive Note

For two weeks the nations have met and negotiated. The 26th meeting of the Conference of the Parties, called COP-26 in Glasgow, Scotland has closed. Limiting temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius remains  on the table despite the last minute change by China and India to "phase down" the use of carbon fuels rather than "phase out" coal. COP26 ends with global agreement to accelerate action on climate this decade. In truth, the world looks closer to 2.4 C rise than the 1.5 C target.

Though, the accomplishments were weak, all countries agreed to revisit and strengthen their current emissions targets for 2030, known as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), in 2022. This will be combined with a yearly political roundtable to consider a global progress report and a Leaders summit in 2023.

The Paris Rulebook, the guidelines for how the Paris Agreement is delivered, was also completed after six years of discussions. All the parties came to an agreement on a transparency process to hold countries to account as they deliver on their targets. This includes Article 6, which establishes a framework for countries to exchange carbon credits through the UNFCCC.

As stated above for the first time, the COP agreed action on phasing down fossil fuels, though not phasing them out. There were also commitments to significantly increase financial support through the Adaptation Fund as developed countries were urged to double their support to developing countries by 2025. 

The United States participation in the Paris Agreement has been done by Executive Order. If you recall, we joined by President Biden's signature, announce our exit under President Trump and rejoined under President Biden. If we are to be held accountable to the commitments made at Glasgow, it is time for the Senate to approve this treaty. 

“The United States Constitution provides that the president "shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two-thirds of the Senators present concur" (Article II, section 2). Treaties are binding agreements between nations and become part of international law. Treaties to which the United States is a party also have the force of federal legislation, forming part of what the Constitution calls ''the supreme Law of the Land.''

The Senate does not ratify treaties. Following consideration by the Committee on Foreign Relations, the Senate either approves or rejects a resolution of ratification. If the resolution passes, then ratification takes place when the instruments of ratification are formally exchanged between the United States and the foreign power(s).”