What has happened on the ‘last’ day of COP26 - new draft and protests

After a fortnight that has seen world leaders jet in, Boris Johnson make a brief train trip to urge ambition and protests, marches and debate, COP26 is entering the endgame.

Here’s what happened on the last official day of the UN climate talks.

– A new day, a new text

Delegates in the Cairn Gorm plenary room during the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow. PA Wire

The new draft of the “cover decision”, the main deal that could come out of Glasgow was published this morning.

Immediately obvious was some weaker language on accelerating a phase-out of coal and subsidies for fossil fuels – but they were still in there.

Whether the references survive into the final text remains to be seen, but plenty of countries in the afternoon’s plenary supported action on fossil fuels being in the decision.

– An urge or a request?

Lists of words that can be used in UNFCCC texts PA Wire

The curse of the single word reared its head again. Back in Paris in 2015, the whole deal nearly fell over on a dispute over “shall” or “should”.

In Glasgow, the debate was less dramatic – over whether a change in the new draft from “urging” countries to come back with stronger action plans by next year to “requesting” was a strengthening of the text or a weakening.

The answer? Request is a directive whereas urging is just a strong form of encouraging. A UN Climate Change document on “Choosing verbs” puts requests above urges in terms of strength, and the Paris Agreement used “request”. So that is that settled.

– Walking out and climbing in

A protester tries to climb over the fence into COP26. PA Wire

As the clock ticks down on the climate talks, protests continue, with hundreds of activists marching out of a gathering in one of the main halls, singing and chanting and led by indigenous people, to join a protest outside COP26.

They carried red ribbons to represent the red lines they say negotiators are crossing.

Two people tried to get into the venue by scaling the high fence that surrounds the conference centre, but were led away by police.

– World leaders and a world on fire

⏰ Time is ticking at #COP26, our ineffective fire-fighting world leaders must do everything in the next few hours to get the best possible deal.

We must bring down emissions & increase support to communities on the frontlines. Demand action now ➡️ https://t.co/CTsfaMY3is pic.twitter.com/gxAT7T2svn
— Oxfam (@oxfamgb) November 12, 2021

The “big heads” of world leaders have made another appearance at the COP, this time gathered round a 10-foot globe over a bonfire, with a smoke machine for added atmosphere.

They were dressed as firefighters – but Oxfam, which was behind the stunt, warned the “firefighting ineffective real world leaders” that this is not a drill.

– Bog Off

Working out your bog age at the peatland pavilion. PA Wire

Meanwhile, at the Peatland Pavilion, attendees were invited to work out their “bog age” – spanning from the Neolithic to the present day.

As those who have spent two weeks at COP26 – with the end not yet in sight – might feel some affinity with bog creatures this may prove a handy chart for many.

– The waiting game

Delegates walk past the neon light installation ‘Hurry Up Please It’s Time’ by artist Cornelia Parker during the COP26 summit. PA Wire

Despite COP26 President Alok Sharma’s best efforts, the timetable for a Friday 6pm finish slipped, perhaps predictably, with the conference going into the evening at the very least.

It’s got a long way to go to beat the longest overrunning conference – COP25 – which went into Sunday lunchtime, but all bets are off as to when this summit finishes.