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What was agreed at COP26?

<h3>After several frantic hours of diplomatic negotiations between delegates, the final text (called the ‘cover decision’) of the <a href="https://unfccc.int/documents/310475" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Glasgow Climate Pact</a> was published on the evening of Saturday 13th November 2021.</h3>
In the days preceding this, several previous drafts had been published iteratively and were picked meticulously by industry experts and the media. Working through Friday night and most of Saturday, negotiators moved between huddles of representatives for each country to ensure their preferred wording made its way from the draft texts to the final version.
Pushback from various countries <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-59280241" target="_blank" rel="noopener">resulted in softening of language</a> in some places compared to what had been in previous drafts. Just an hour or so before the final text was due to be announced, crucial passages, such as the paragraph concerning the need to reduce reliance on fossil fuels, were still being amended, with last-minute changes being made in order to persuade some reluctant countries to sign the agreement. Although there were noticeable omissions of key phrases found in some of these drafts from the final text, there were also some welcome and surprising inclusions. 
In this post, which is the penultimate post of our COP26 series, we’re taking a look at what was agreed to in the final wording of the Glasgow Climate Pact.

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The paragraph that drew the most attention was one containing the first ever mention of fossil fuels in the text of a COP agreement. It seems extraordinary that fossil fuels had never been mentioned in any previous COP agreement given <a href="https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg1/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the clear scientific consensus</a> that we need to phase them out as quickly as possible.
An early draft of the cover decision had called upon countries to “accelerate the phasing-out of coal and subsidies for fossil fuels” (our emphasis). The final version phrased this less strongly, calling instead for parties to accelerate towards “the phasedown of unabated coal power and phase-out of inefficient fossil fuel subsidies”. Many doubted that some countries which rely on fossil fuels would agree to sign an agreement that mentioned fossil fuels at all, so the fact that this softer phrasing was agreed to <a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/cop26-key-outcomes-agreed-at-the-un-climate-talks-in-glasgow" target="_blank" rel="noopener">is a step, however small, in the right direction</a>.

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China’s acceptance of the final text, especially passages about fossil fuels and limiting warming to 1.5°C, may have been influenced by their long and detailed discussions with the USA that had unexpectedly resulted in <a href="https://www.state.gov/u-s-china-joint-glasgow-declaration-on-enhancing-climate-action-in-the-2020s/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a rare joint statement</a> reaffirming their commitments to combating climate change and implementing the Paris Agreement.
The strengthened diplomatic relationship shown in the final days of COP26 came as a surprise to many, especially given <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-59125188" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the strong words of US President Joe Biden</a> condemning Chinese President Xi Jinping’s absence from the conference, which came only days before the two countries issued their joint statement. The joint statement showed their intent, as <a href="https://ourworldindata.org/contributed-most-global-co2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">two of the world’s biggest emitters</a>, to put aside their many political differences and use their considerable resources to not only cooperate on climate action but also work to limit warming to 1.5ºC.

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The paragraphs in the Glasgow Climate Pact that follow the text about pursuing efforts to limit temperature increase to 1.5°C also include some notable wording. Paragraph 16 of the cover decision explains the change in language in the previous paragraph, describing the recognition by the Parties that the “impacts of climate change will be much lower at the temperature increase of 1.5°C compared to 2°C”. This point was emphasised by some smaller nations throughout COP26, with the Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley, telling delegates that 2°C of warming will be a death sentence for island nations. 
<iframe title="Speech: Mia Mottley, Prime Minister of Barbados at the Opening of the #COP26 World Leaders Summit" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PN6THYZ4ngM?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Paragraph 17 states that Parties recognise that “rapid, deep and sustained reductions in global greenhouse emissions” are required to keep 1.5°C in reach. This statement follows the <a href="https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg1/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change</a> (IPCC) which calculated that global carbon dioxide emissions must be reduced “by 45% by 2030 relative to the 2010 level and to net-zero around mid-century” in order to keep global average temperature rise below 1.5°C. This inclusion, encouragingly, suggests Parties are now thinking about measurable mitigation measures, rather than just vague targets. Only time will tell whether this change in words is followed by the actions necessary to achieve these reductions. 
The pressure to act with greater ambition and speed was highlighted in the final few days of COP26 by Climate Action Tracker, which published their findings that countries’ current pledges <a href="https://climateactiontracker.org/global/cat-thermometer/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">would only limit temperature rise to 2.4°C</a>. While the ratchet mechanism of the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) will push countries to take increasingly impactful actions to limit global temperature change, it is clear that more needs to be done in the very short-term to keep 1.5°C within reach, <a href="https://ukcop26.org/cop26-goals/">which was the overarching aim of COP26</a>.

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Completing the ‘Paris Rulebook’ was another of the key goals of COP26. Having signed up to the Paris Agreement in 2015, and following years of discussions on the topic subsequently, countries still had no clear framework for how some of the provisions in that agreement would be achieved when their delegates arrived in Glasgow &#8211; particularly with regard to the <a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/in-depth-q-and-a-how-article-6-carbon-markets-could-make-or-break-the-paris-agreement" target="_blank" rel="noopener">operation and rules surrounding international carbon markets</a>. Without universally agreed-upon guidelines, it would have been very difficult to reach targets on reducing carbon emissions globally.
Fortunately, in the final days of the conference, <a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/cop26-key-outcomes-agreed-at-the-un-climate-talks-in-glasgow" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the ‘Rulebook’ was completed</a>, and we now know how countries will be held to account as they deliver on their commitments. A key part of this negotiation was the infamous Article 6 provision within the Paris Agreement. This is a framework that allows countries to trade carbon credits through the UNFCCC under a “cap-and-trade” system. It allows countries that find it more difficult or expensive to set up projects that reduce global carbon emissions to pay other countries to do these emissions reductions on their behalf. With this mechanism formalised, a number of issues surrounding this process, including the threat of double-counting of emissions reductions and issues surrounding transparency, have now been resolved.

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The final text also makes a subtle reference to the need to reduce emissions of all greenhouse gases &#8211; not just carbon dioxide. In the first few days of COP26, 110 countries signed up to the <a href="https://www.globalmethanepledge.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Global Methane Pledge</a>, committing to reducing methane emissions <a href="https://ecologi.com/articles/blog/what-happened-at-cop26" target="_blank" rel="noopener">by 30% by 2030 compared with 2020 levels</a>. However, there were a few notable omissions from the list of countries making this commitment, including big emitters such as China, India and Russia. Many would argue that the text in the final agreement does not adequately stress the importance of reducing emissions of all greenhouse gases. Instead, it “Invites Parties to consider further actions to reduce by 2030 non-carbon dioxide greenhouse gas emissions, including methane”. Considering the immediate action required to meet this relatively short-term goal, this language is very passive and is unlikely to inspire action from countries already reluctant to address this issue.

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A welcome announcement in the first couple of days of the Glasgow conference was the announcement of a <a href="https://ukcop26.org/glasgow-leaders-declaration-on-forests-and-land-use/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pledge to halt deforestation by 2030</a>, which now has over 140 signatories. Some are pessimistic that this commitment will be met, however, especially following <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/nov/05/indonesia-says-cop26-zero-deforestation-pledge-it-signed-unfair" target="_blank" rel="noopener">remarks from an Indonesian government official</a> about their country’s intentions to follow through with this pledge. This is also not the first time that countries have pledged to end deforestation &#8211; nor even the first time that 2030 has been set as the target year for doing so.
Protection, conservation and restoration of nature and ecosystems are the focus of the final paragraph of the section on mitigation, but there seems to be a bigger emphasis placed on protecting these ecosystems because of their value as carbon sinks rather than their intrinsic value to life on Earth. The only reference to the importance of maintaining these places for the sake of the life they support, human and otherwise, is <a href="https://unfccc.int/documents/310475" target="_blank" rel="noopener">in a paragraph in the first page of the Pact</a>, which appears to be an attempt to show that leaders have taken on board the impassioned pleas of civil society, especially those of Indigenous peoples whose lives are most directly affected by the destruction of these ecosystems. Whether “Noting the importance of ensuring the integrity of all ecosystems” has any effect on countries’ actions towards the natural world remains to be seen, but this Pact does not commit any of them to protecting the most threatened areas of the planet.

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Over the two weeks of COP26, several days were dominated by discussions surrounding finance owed by richer countries in the Global North to poorer countries in the Global South, and that <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/57975275" target="_blank" rel="noopener">which was promised but is yet to materialise</a>. While the text refers to the “deep regret” about the $100 billion USD promised annually between 2015 and 2020 having not been delivered, further conversations between countries in the Global North and the Global South appear to have encouraged further financial commitments from countries in the Global North. Representatives from countries in the Global South &#8211; which are most affected by the impact of climate change, least responsible for it and least equipped to adapt to it &#8211; explained clearly that, in many cases, <a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/cop/tuvalu-minister-stands-sea-film-cop26-speech-show-climate-change-2021-11-08/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">they are already suffering the effects of climate change</a>, and that without this additional financial support, their countries would continue to suffer further as temperatures continue to rise.
Despite acknowledging that “climate change has already caused and will increasingly cause loss and damage”, the text falls short of committing to a higher amount of financial support than the $100 billion USD already promised. Instead, it references pledges made during COP26 by some countries in the Global North to meet, and in some cases exceed, existing financial commitments, by saying it “welcomes the increased pledges made by many developed country Parties and the Climate Finance Delivery Plan: Meeting the US$100 Billion Goal”. Inevitably this text will have disappointed the countries that need more financial support and is indeed a disappointing outcome for the world as a whole, which will undoubtedly be poorer for the losses yet to come, which providing more money now would help to prevent.

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Following the publishing of the Glasgow Climate Pact, many media outlets published their analysis of the text within it. If you’d like to read more about what the Pact contains, and what it noticeably doesn’t, we’d recommend checking out these comprehensive articles from <a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/cop26-key-outcomes-agreed-at-the-un-climate-talks-in-glasgow" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Carbon Brief</a> and <a href="https://enb.iisd.org/Glasgow-Climate-Change-Conference-COP26-summary" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Earth Negotiations Bulletin</a>.
You can read more on <a href="https://ecologi.com/articles/blog/what-happened-at-cop26" target="_blank" rel="noopener">What happened at COP26</a> here.
<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://ecologi.com/plan" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="https://ecologi.com/plan" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">Sign up today to take real climate action with Ecologi</a>.

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Hopescrolling: The good news timeline

It’s not all bad. While there’s a lot of negative news about the climate, let’s not forget the good stuff. Find climate wins, reasons to be hopeful and plenty of positivity in our good news timeline.

The good news timeline

Ready to make a difference for our planet? Get in touch, and let’s chat about how we can help you on your climate journey. 

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Ecologi acquires Net Zero Now

In a landmark move set to reshape corporate climate action, we’re excited to announce that Ecologi, the UK&#8217;s most trusted climate action platform, has acquired <a href="https://netzeronow.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Net Zero Now</a>, the sector-specific carbon measurement and reduction platform for businesses.
The combined entity operating under the Ecologi brand will create a single solution for industry climate leadership towards net zero. The integration combines sector-specific carbon measurement and reduction with world class verified climate projects that supports businesses wherever they are on their net zero journey.

<h2>The game-changing impact of this acquisition</h2>
The strategic acquisition solves two fundamental challenges in corporate climate action: businesses have been forced to choose between fragmented solutions and generic ‘one size fits all’ approaches that ignore crucial sector-specific needs. By combining Net Zero Now&#8217;s sector-specific protocol expertise with Ecologi&#8217;s platform funding top-tier climate projects, we&#8217;re creating a tailored and complete solution helping businesses lead their industries towards net zero.

Reduce emissions.
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Measure Scope 1, 2 &amp; 3 emissions with sector-specific industry GHG protocols</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Set short term and long term reduction target emissions aligned to SBTi</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Tailored reduction plans for sector-specific emissions pathways</li>
</ul>
Restore our planet.
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Compensate for unavoidable emissions as you reduce them through 
funding verified, high-quality carbon avoidance and removal credits</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Contribute to global climate goals by funding climate Impact Funds for 
beyond value chain mitigation and/or as part of your products &amp; services</li>
</ul>
Report on progress.
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Corporate sustainability standards e.g. CSRD, SECR, SBTi, CDP, B Corp</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Sector specific standards e.g. Accountancy, Hospitality, Public Sector</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Custom climate impact reports and embeddable dashboards</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Communications toolkit for board and stakeholder engagement</li>
</ul>

Climate leadership starts here

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Neil Ross Russell, Managing Director of Net Zero Now, said:
<blockquote>Businesses want to take climate action, but they want to know they’re doing it right and what’s right for a restaurant business is not the same as what’s right for an accounting firm.  They need industry-specific guidance and clear pathways to climate leadership. By joining forces with Ecologi, we&#8217;re creating a platform that allows us to provide credible, simple and affordable, sector-specific, end-to-end climate solutions for businesses in our existing sectors and collaborate with industry partners on new sector-led solutions.</blockquote>

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The acquisition aligns with Ecologi&#8217;s mission to accelerate business climate action and grow our 24,000 strong customer base. Established sector protocols including hospitality and professional services will be the initial focus with plans to expand across additional industries throughout 2025.
With organisations under increasingly complex stakeholder and industry compliance demands for environmental accountability, this end-to-end solution also ensures streamlined reporting, monitoring progress, supply chain transparency, and voluntary disclosures. This transforms business leaders into climate leaders with the confidence to tackle their climate commitments head-on, communicating and meeting critical regulatory requirements like SECR, CSRD and SBTi.

<h2>More about Net Zero Now</h2>
Founded in 2021, Net Zero Now has developed a proprietary sector-led approach, which combines climate expertise alongside the sector knowledge and experience of relevant industry bodies, industry influencers and larger businesses to reach a consensus around what Net Zero means in practice for businesses in each sector. To date, the company has measured and validated 1.8 MtCO2e lifetime emissions supporting more than 50+ leading brands including Coca Cola Europacific Partners, L&#8217;Orèal, Heineken, Pernod Ricard, Subway, Hard Rock Cafe, Adnams, Edgbaston and James Cowper Kreston.

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4 hospitality companies leading the way on climate action

Sustainability is no longer a nice-to-have in the hospitality industry — it&#8217;s a business necessity. With increasing regulatory pressure, shifting customer expectations, and the growing impact of climate change, hospitality businesses are finding that taking action isn&#8217;t just about responsibility—it&#8217;s about resilience. This is particularly evident as 70% of Brits are now actively trying to live a more sustainable lifestyle (Nutritics, 2024), and 44% say sustainability is important in their choice of venue to visit (Morning Advertiser, 2023). From tackling food waste to cutting carbon emissions, the sector is facing both challenges and opportunities to drive meaningful change.
At the heart of this transformation is the food system. The hospitality industry relies on farming—a sector responsible for nearly 20% of global greenhouse gas emissions and one that is increasingly vulnerable to climate disruption. Rising temperatures, unpredictable weather, and supply chain instability are already affecting food availability and costs, making sustainability not just an ethical priority but a commercial imperative. This is reflected in consumer behavior, with 47% of consumers wanting more information about carbon footprints on menus, and 41% saying this information would influence their order (CGA Strategy, 2023).
Fortunately, forward-thinking hospitality businesses are stepping up, driven by clear market demand—34% of UK pub and restaurant goers are prepared to spend more in venues with strong sustainability credentials, increasing to 47% for Gen Z and Millennials (Sustainability Beat, 2023). This generational shift is significant, with consumers aged 18-34 being nearly twice as likely to pay more for sustainability than those aged 55+ (WaterAid, 2023).
As the food and beverage industry awakens to its environmental responsibilities, and with climate change threatening to fundamentally disrupt global food security, restaurants and food service enterprises are stepping up to take meaningful climate action. These pioneering businesses are demonstrating how sustainability can enhance business performance while making a positive environmental impact, even as they navigate the unique challenges of being both a contributor to and victim of climate change.
Read about four hospitality companies that are championing climate action, and explore how they are turning environmental challenges into business opportunities.
Whether it&#8217;s engaging employees, measuring carbon footprints, or developing new sustainable service offerings, these venues are setting the standard for a greener future in hospitality.
<ol>
<li>Hawksmoor: Leading Sustainability in Fine Dining</li>
<li>Freemans Event Partners: Pioneering Sustainable Event Catering</li>
<li>Lisini Pub Co: Family Legacy Meets Sustainable Innovation</li>
<li>The Assemblies: Pioneering Sustainable Hospitality in Bristol</li>
</ol>

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<h2>Hawksmoor: leading sustainability in fine dining</h2>
Key Improvements:
<ul>
<li> Achieved B Corp certification in September 2022</li>
<li>Comprehensive review of operational sustainability across all locations</li>
<li>Implementation of energy reduction initiatives</li>
<li>Enhanced waste management systems</li>
<li>Water conservation measures</li>
<li>Integration of sustainability into staff training programs</li>
</ul>
Hawksmoor&#8217;s journey exemplifies how restaurant groups can lead in sustainability within the hospitality sector. Their comprehensive approach includes setting ambitious net-zero targets for 2030 while focusing on immediate operational improvements. The restaurant group&#8217;s commitment is evidenced by their systematic review of day-to-day operations across their locations in London, Manchester, Edinburgh, and New York. What sets them apart is their holistic approach to sustainability: examining energy usage, waste management, and water consumption while maintaining their reputation for quality dining. Their structured approach to employee engagement includes a two-day intensive induction program that emphasises sustainability, making it a core part of their culture.
Ellie Besley-Gould, Head of Purpose at Hawksmoor, said:
<blockquote>We&#8217;ve been heavily involved with the Sustainable Restaurant Association since about 12 years ago&#8230; It&#8217;s a really important area for us to be stepping up the work in, looking at how we can inspire change.</blockquote>

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<h2>Freemans Event Partners: pioneering sustainable event catering</h2>
Key Improvements:
<ul>
<li>Achieved 38.4% reduction in emissions compared to projections</li>
<li>Implemented innovative &#8220;Zero Zone&#8221; testing area</li>
<li>Introduced shuttle buggies for reduced transport emissions</li>
<li>Deployed hybrid power generators</li>
<li>Established carbon menu labelling</li>
<li>Enhanced waste management through compostable solutions</li>
</ul>
Freemans Event Partners&#8217; journey demonstrates how large-scale event catering can embrace sustainability without compromising service quality. Their innovative approach at the British Grand Prix showcases their commitment to reducing environmental impact in high-pressure environments. The company&#8217;s dedication is evidenced by exceeding their initial 5% emissions reduction target and implementing a groundbreaking &#8220;Zero Zone&#8221; area for testing new sustainability initiatives. What sets them apart is their data-driven approach to sustainability: measuring and analysing emissions across all aspects of their operation, from food stalls to logistics and waste management.
Richard West, Sustainability Manager at Freemans Event Partners, said:
<blockquote>Through partnering we&#8217;ve realised that collaboration is key to making lasting and impactful environmental changes in the events catering industry. The process has been much more straightforward than we thought it would be and we look forward to setting even bigger reductions targets as we go forward.</blockquote>

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<h2>Lisini Pub Co: family legacy meets sustainable innovation</h2>
Key Improvements:
<ul>
<li>Reduced scope 1 and 2 emissions by 48% through renewable electricity</li>
<li>Won the Flor de Cana Rum Sustainability Award</li>
<li>Achieved lowest electricity demand in 10 years</li>
<li>Implemented LED lighting and sensor systems</li>
<li>Launched biodiversity project at Dalziel Park</li>
<li>Developed sustainable kitchen practices and menu innovation</li>
<li>Created venue-specific green teams</li>
</ul>
Lisini Pub Co&#8217;s journey demonstrates how family-owned hospitality businesses can transform their environmental impact while preserving their heritage. Their comprehensive approach combines traditional Scottish hospitality with modern sustainability practices across their venues, including the historic Angels hotel in Uddingston. What sets them apart is their innovative approach to sustainability: implementing competitive green teams across venues, achieving dramatic emissions reductions, and maintaining their commitment to quality service. Their structured approach includes both operational improvements and employee engagement, making sustainability a core part of their 45-year family legacy.
Siobhan Edwards, Director Lisini Pub Group, said:
<blockquote>It&#8217;s not until we&#8217;ve been working in the last year that we&#8217;ve really truly understood our carbon footprint. It&#8217;s the right thing to do, it&#8217;s the right thing for our customers, for our planet, for the environment, and actually it saves us money at the same time.</blockquote>

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<h2>The Assemblies: Pioneering Sustainable Hospitality in Bristol</h2>
Key Improvements:
<ul>
<li>Established 100-mile radius local sourcing policy</li>
<li>Implemented full venue LED lighting systems</li>
<li>Introduced reusable cups for music events</li>
<li>Developed nose-to-tail food waste reduction policy</li>
<li>Created vegetarian menu options to reduce emissions</li>
<li>Enhanced supplier partnerships for sustainability</li>
<li>Achieved an impressive 3-star rating in the Food Made Good Standard, scoring 92% overall and 91% specifically in environmental practices</li>
</ul>
The Assemblies&#8217; journey showcases how urban hospitality venues can lead in sustainability while building strong community connections. Since their inception in 2009, they&#8217;ve demonstrated that local sourcing and environmental responsibility can coexist with business success. What sets them apart is their data-driven approach to sustainability: analysing carbon ratings, implementing local sourcing policies, and creating innovative menu solutions. Their comprehensive strategy includes everything from sound system upgrades to waste reduction initiatives, making sustainability integral to their operation.
Anna Blightman, Brand Marketing Manager, said:
<blockquote>Something that our partnership has allowed us to do, is lay all the data out on the table so that we can actually look at it, and stand to analyse it and understand where we can make changes. If we don&#8217;t start now, when will we start?</blockquote>

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As these leading hospitality companies show, meaningful climate action can drive significant business benefits—from stronger customer and employee engagement to enhanced brand reputation and risk mitigation. By taking a thoughtful, transparent, and impactful approach, businesses can pave the way for a sustainable future.
Ready to take the lead in climate action? Book in a 30 minute discovery call with our Hospitality sector experts and find out more about partnering with Ecologi to measure your emissions, set reduction goals and fund high-quality climate action on the road to net-zero.

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