A United Nations global warming conference in Glasgow is considered a crucial moment for efforts to address the threat of climate change. The conference is held annually but this year is critical because scientists say nations must make an immediate, sharp pivot away from fossil fuels if they hope to avoid the most catastrophic impacts of climate change. But China, Australia, Russia and India have yet to make new pledges to cut their pollution, and it’s not clear that they will before the summit. Meanwhile, only a few wealthy countries have allocated money to help poor and vulnerable nations cope with the impacts of climate disasters that they have done little to cause. Those two factors make the likelihood of success at the conference, known as COP26, uncertain. Some 20,000 people are preparing to attend these climate talks starting at the end of the month. Here are some key facts to know before they go.
By Lisa Friedman. New York Times. October 21, 2021.
