September 24, 2021 - ESG and Climate News

In just over five weeks, world leaders will gather in Glasgow for COP26, and, at the risk of hyperbole, have our future in their hands. As outlined in the Washington Post, there is a furious push to act quickly as success depends on efficient, advanced work.

A Pivotal UN General Assembly on the Road Towards COP26

World leaders came together this week to speak to the UN General Assembly. Chinese leader Xi Jinping announced that China will cease building coal-fired power plants overseas. While this news was particularly welcomed given China has been one of the biggest financiers of coal infrastructure in developing countries, he sidestepped the issues of curbing emissions from China’s domestic power generation.

The New York Times provided some color on these negotiations, highlighting presidential envoy for climate and John Kerry’s simple pitch of “do what the science tells us” to save the planet. As a former United States secretary of state, presidential candidate, and senator, Kerry is very equipped to negotiate a strong climate pact.

Accountability in Focus

Leaders at the COP meeting also mentioned that major oil companies like BP and Shell will have a lower profile than tech and consumer companies that have been named as “principal partners.” While this is understandable, it’s also a risk because we need energy companies to be essential as we transform the basis of our global economy over the next 30 years. I outlined this, as well as a number of other reasons why we need to work with fossil fuel companies in this week’s Energy Thinks Podcast.

Read the full column here.

Missed our previous edition of ESG & Climate News? Check it out now and stay in the know: September 17, 2021.