With the last-minute changes in the wordings of the climate deal about netzero emissions and coal crisis, as Britain's president of the COP26 climate conference, Alok Sharma emotionally apologised saying that he was ‘deeply sorry’ for this, the delegates couldn’t stop cheering for him and the room clapped for him for a record few minutes until he thanked them with cloudy eyes and continued.
Sharma said, "May I just say to all delegates I apologise for the way this process has unfolded and I am deeply sorry. I also understand the deep disappointment but I think as you have noted, it's also vital that we protect this package." "The negotiations have been far from easy. Each and every one of you and the nations you represent have stepped here in Glasgow, agreeing to do what it takes to keep 1.5 alive,” said COP26 President Alok Sharma. What’s being touted as a ‘dramatic last-minute intervention’, India and China significantly watered down commitments on fossil fuels, securing the change of a single word to ensure the pact calls for coal power generation to be “phased down” rather than “phased out”, The Independent reported.
More than 100 countries signed a pledge at the summit to cut methane emissions by 30% by 2030. China committed to declining its greenhouse gas emissions to net-zero by 2060, and India which is heavily reliant on coal, promised net zero emissions by 2070. A move that was heavily critiqued by world audiences, but the size and economic state of the country became parameters worth pondering for the said timeline by PM Narendra Modi at Glasgow while he was given a warm welcome by the Indian community in the UK. Holding back his tears, Sharma said, "I wouldn't describe what we did yesterday as a failure - it is a historic achievement." Terming it as a fragile win, he also urged China and India to "justify" their actions to nations that are more vulnerable to the effects of global warming
