This year’s COP is particularly important because it is the 5th conference since leaders signed the Paris Accord in 2015. That agreement commits the 197 signatory nations to work together to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees and nearer 1.5 degrees. The accord also covers adaption to the impacts of climate change and making the money available to deliver these aims.

Countries agreed to return every 5 years with an updated plan for how they will deliver emissions reduction or Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) setting out how much they plan to reduce their emissions. COP26, delayed by a year because of COVID 19 is the first such 5 yearly review. A successful COP, with credible NDCs from all the major nations is vital to getting the international effort to reach Net Zero by the middle of the 21st century on track.

COP 26 and Transport – What is being discussed?

The UK is using its COP 26 presidency to pursue a small number of objectives. This includes a goal of accelerating the transition to zero emission vehicles. The UK wants governments of advanced economies to ensure that all car and van sales are zero emission by 2035 (and 2040 in the rest of the world. In parallel it is pressing vehicle manufacturers to commit to selling only zero emission vehicles by 2035 or sooner, and fleet owners to commit to zero emission fleets by 2030.

The UK is also looking to catalyse a transition from coal to clean power and promote global action on reforestation and ecosystem protection.

COP 26 will also have a focus on adaptation to climate change, running alongside the efforts to strike global agreements on emissions reduction. Commitments around planning and financing more resilient infrastructure, developing early warning systems and improving flood defences could all have significant implications for the transport sector.

What does CIHT Think

CIHT supports this goal but continues to remind government that the analysis of its own advisor, the Climate Change Committee (CCC), shows that on its own technology will not get the UK or the world to Net Zero. The Institution is heartened that the Department for Transport’s recent Transport Decarbonisation plan recognises this fact and embraces the need for action to reduce the demand for travel and to shift journeys to more sustainable modes. Transport Professionals will have a vital role in achieving those goals in a whole range of areas including logistics planning, urban design and developing public transport infrastructure. You can read CIHT’s analysis of DfT’s plan here.

More information relating to COP26 and our other supporting activities can be found at www.ciht.org.uk/route2netzero