COP 26 Outcomes

The UNFCCC COP 26 Climate Conference was held in Glasgow, UK, in November 2021. Many world leaders including President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke at the Conference.

According to UNFCCC, the main outcomes of the Conference were:

Mitigation: 

• Over 90% of world GDP is now covered by net zero commitments.
• 153 countries put forward new 2030 emissions targets (NDCs). 
• Countries agreed to come back next year with new strengthened commitments and a new UN climate programme on mitigation ambition
• Countries finalised the Paris Rulebook, agreeing the ‘enhanced transparency framework’ (common reporting of emissions and support), a new mechanism and standards for international carbon markets, and common timeframes for emissions reductions targets.
• There were commitments to move away from coal power, halt and reverse deforestation, reduce methane emissions and speed up the switch to electric vehicles.

Adaptation & Loss and Damage: 

• 80 countries are now covered by either Adaptation Communications or National Adaptation Plans to increase preparedness to climate risks.
• The Glasgow - Sharm el-Sheikh Work Programme on the Global Goal on Adaptation was agreed. 
• Record amounts of adaptation finance have been pledged, including committing to doubling 2019 levels of adaptation finance by 2025. This is the first time an adaptation specific financing goal has ever been agreed globally. 
• Nations have announced new partnerships to improve access to finance, including for Indigenous Peoples. 
• A new Glasgow Dialogue on Loss and Damage funding arrangements was created. 
• The Santiago Network on Loss and Damage was brought to life through clear functions and funding.

Finance: 

• Developed countries have made progress towards delivering the $100
• billion climate finance goal and will reach it by 2023 at the latest. 
• 34 countries and five public finance institutions will stop international
• support for the unabated fossil fuel energy sector next year. 
• Private financial institutions and central banks are moving to realign trillions towards global net zero. 
• Developed countries committed significantly increased funding to vital funds such as the Least Developed Countries Fund.

Collaboration: 

• The Glasgow outcomes will accelerate collaboration between governments, businesses, and civil society to deliver on climate goals faster, whilst collaborative councils and dialogues in energy, electric vehicles, shipping and commodities will help deliver on commitments.

Amendments proposed to the Forest Conservation Act

 What are the amendments proposed to the Forest Conservation Act and their implications?

On October 2, 2021, MoEFCC released a proposal to amend several aspects of the Forest Conservation Act, 1980 (FCA). 

In the Godavarman v Union of India case, the Supreme Court had in 1996 expanded the definition and scope of forest land to include all areas recorded as forest in any government record, irrespective of ownership, recognition and classification. Previously, the Act had applied largely to reserve forests and national parks. The court also expanded the definition of forests to encompass the “dictionary meaning of forests”, meaning that a forested patch would automatically become a “deemed forest” even if it is not notified as protected. The order was also to plantations in non-forest land.

The proposed amendments seem to change the Court’s definition of forest. The general thrust of the changes is to deregulate forest resources so that they can be exploited even more than now for the sake of ‘development’. The proposed key amendments are:

• All land acquired by the Railways and Roads Ministries prior to 1980 will be exempted from the Act. These Ministries will no longer need clearance for their projects, nor pay compensatory levies to build there.
• For individuals whose lands fall in the category of forest as defined by the Act and the Court Order, the amendment will allow “construction of structures for bona fide purposes’’ including residential units up to 250 sq m as a one-time relaxation.
• Defence projects near international borders will be exempted from forest clearance.
• Oil and natural gas extraction from forested lands will be permitted, but only if technologies such as Extended Reach Drilling are used.
• Levies for non-forestry purposes during the renewal of a lease will be scrapped, the argument being that the double levy at the time of awarding of the lease and the renewal is “not rational”.
• Strip plantations alongside roads that would fall under the Act will be exempted.

Environmentalists and activists have these concerns:

• The creation of exceptions to the requirement of forest clearances goes directly against the legal requirement that forest rights be recognized and the consent of the gram sabha be obtained before the conversion of a forest.
• The relaxation of forest rules will facilitate corporate ownership and the disappearance of large tracts of forests.
• With the exemption of forests on private land, many forests will disappear. For instance, 4% land in Uttarakhand falls under private forests.