Top Bangladeshi scientist Saleemul Huq, director of the International Centre for Climate Change and Development in Dhaka, has attended every one of the 26 COP meetings held since the first in Berlin, in 1995. This year, at COP26, Huq doesn't see a lot to like, and he's angry.
Emissions cuts promised by the world's biggest climate polluters so far will add up to a dangerous 2.7-degree Celsius rise in average global temperatures - far above the more ambitious 1.5C goal of the Paris deal, backed by scientists.
Wealthy countries that promised to deliver $100 billion a year in funding from 2020 to help poorer, vulnerable nations grow cleanly and adapt to climate threats - an urgent priority this decade - now say they will not meet that goal until 2023.
"That's like saying there's a cheque in the mail that we'll get in 2023. It's a farce," Huq said.
UK, the host government of COP26, he noted, is licensing new oil field exploration and reducing taxes on passenger flights - an important driver of climate change - even as it calls on other countries for swifter emissions reductions. That doesn't add up to the kind of atmosphere needed for COP26 to deliver on its goal to "keep 1.5 alive", to protect countries like his already being battered by storms, floods, droughts and sea-level rise, Huq said.
"My sense is this will be worse than Copenhagen," he warned of the expected COP26 outcome. "I'm predicting failure."
"Young people are out in the street with Greta, and old people are here in the Blue Zone giving speeches and so far letting down their children and grandchildren," he said. "Hopefully over time that will change."
Bangladeshi veteran of climate talks fears COP26 will fail poorest (trust.org)
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