COP26 Regional Ambassador O’Flaherty travels to Guatemala

Ambassador O’Flaherty is including Guatemala in a global tour to several countries vulnerable to climate change as part of the UK’s vigorous diplomatic efforts to follow up on the commitments of the Glasgow Climate Pact, achieved last year at COP26 in Scotland.

The Regional Ambassador will focus on helping meaningfully efforts to build resilience to climate change, to curb greenhouse gas emissions and to provide the necessary finance for both.

The Ambassador will stress the importance of reducing the gap between existing emission reduction plans and what is required to reduce emissions, such as Guatemala’s commitments to tackle deforestation and promote the use of renewable energies. He will also discuss the importance for Guatemala to support initiatives to phase down unabated coal power and inefficient subsidies for fossil fuels.

For that purpose, the Regional Ambassador will meet with senior representatives of the Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Energy and the National Council of Protected Areas. He will also learn about private sector efforts to promote sustainable development, and other active projects being implemented in Guatemala by environmental organizations.

During his trip, the Regional Ambassador will also highlight the need for nations to reaffirm their duty to comply with contributing 100 billion dollars annually from developed to developing countries. The UK has already committed US$20 million through its Biodiverse Landscapes Fund, which will help Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and Belize cope with the impacts of climate change, reduce poverty and protect biodiversity in environmentally rich areas of Mesoamerica.

The 26th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), COP26 took place November 1-12, 2021, in Glasgow, UK. The UK holds the Presidency until COP27 in Egypt later this year and will aim to ensure promises on emission reductions are fulfilled to keep 1.5C alive; commitments on adaptation and loss and damage are honoured; commitments to get finance flowing are kept and that its inclusive Presidency continues.