COP26: Leaders vow to protect forests, plug methane leaks

World leers promised to protect world's forests, cut methane emissions and help South Africa wean itself off coal at UN climate summit Tuesday — part of a flurry of deals intended to avert catastrophic global warming.

Britain hailed commitment by over 100 countries to end deforestation in coming dece as first big achievement of conference in Scottish city of Glasgow, known as COP26 — but experts noted such promises have been me and broken before.

UK government said it has received commitments from leers representing more than 85 per cent of world's forests to halt and reverse deforestation by 2030. Among m are several countries with massive forests, including Brazil, China, Colombia, Congo, Indonesia, Russia and United States.

More than USD 19 billion in public and private funds have been pledged toward plan.

“With today's unprecedented pledges, we will have a chance to end humanity's long history as nature's conqueror, and inste become its custodian,” British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said.

“Let's end this great chainsaw massacre by making conservation do what we know it can do, and that is deliver long-term sustainable jobs and growth as well.” Experts and observers said fulfilling pledge will be critical to limiting climate change, but many noted that such grand promises have been me in past — to little effect.

“Signing declaration is easy part,” UN Secretary-General António Guterres said on Twitter.

“It is essential that it is implemented now for people and planet.” Alison Hoare, a senior research fellow at political think tank Chatham House, said world leers promised in 2014 to end deforestation by 2030, “but since n deforestation has accelerated across many countries.” Forests are important ecosystems and provide a critical way of absorbing carbon dioxide — main greenhouse gas — from atmosphere.

But value of wood as a commodity and growing demand for agricultural and pastoral land are leing to widespre and often illegal felling of forests, particularly in developing countries.

“We are delighted to see Indigenous Peoples mentioned in forest deal announced today,” said Joseph Itongwa Mukumo, an Indigenous Walikale and activist from Congo.

He called for governments and businesses to recognise effective role Indigenous communities play in preventing deforestation.

Luciana Tellez Chavez, an environmental researcher at Human Right Watch, said agreement contains “quite a lot of really positive elements.” EU, Britain and US are making progress on restricting imports of goods linked to deforestation and human rights abuses, “and it's really interesting to see China and Brazil signing up to a statement that suggests that's a goal,” she said.

But she noted that Brazil's public statements don't yet line up with its domestic policies and warned that deal could be used by some countries to “greenwash” ir image.

Brazilian government has been eager to project itself as a responsible environmental steward in wake of surging deforestation and fires in Amazon rainforest and Pantanal wetlands that sparked global outrage and threats of divestment in recent years.

But critics caution that its promises should be viewed with skepticism, and country's president, Jair Bolsonaro, is an outspoken proponent of developing Amazon.

founder of Amazon — company, not rainforest — announced separately that his philanthropic fund is devoting USD 2 billion to fight climate change through landscape restoration and transformation of agricultural systems.

"We must conserve what we have, restore what we've lost, and grow what we need in harmony with nature,” Jeff Bezos said.

About 130 world leers are in Glasgow for what host Britain says is last realistic chance to keep global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels — goal world set in Paris six years ago.

Increased warming over coming deces would melt much of planet's ice, raise global sea levels and greatly increase likelihood and intensity of extreme wear, scientists say.

On Monday, leers heard stark warnings from officials and activists alike about those dangers, and British government said it saw positive signs that world leers understood gravity of situation.

On Tuesday, ministration of US President Joe Biden launched a plan to reduce methane emissions, a potent greenhouse gas that contributes significantly to global warming.

announcement was part of a broer effort with European Union and or nations to reduce overall methane emissions worldwide by 30 per cent by 2030.

Clamping down on methane flaring and leaks from oil wells and gas pipelines — focus of Biden plan — is considered one of easiest ways to cut emissions. Reducing methane produced from agriculture, in particular by belching cows, is a trickier matter.

Helen Mountford, a climate expert at World Resources Institute, said agreement “sets a strong? floor?in terms of? ambition we need globally.” Separately, United States, Britain, France and Germany announce a plan to provide funds and expertise to help South Africa phase out coal, a major source of greenhouse gas emissions.

South Africa, which gets about 90 per cent of its electricity from coal-fired plants, will receive about USD 8.5 billion in loans and grants over five years to roll out more renewable energy.

announcements were not part of formal negotiations taking place in Glasgow, but rar a reflection of efforts by many countries to meet previously agreed targets.

But campaigners say world's biggest carbon emitters need to do much more. Earth has alrey warmed 1.1 degrees Celsius (2 degrees Fahrenheit). Current projections based on planned emissions cuts over next dece are for it to hit 2.7C (4.9F) by year 2100.

Climate activist Greta Thunberg told a rally outside high-security climate venue that talk inside was just “ blah blah blah" and would achieve little.

Image: AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali