COP26: UK launches international fund to support Latin American cities to reach net zero CO2 emissions by 2050 | Policeman 26

During the 26th United Nations Climate Conference (COP26) on Thursday (11), the United Kingdom announced a program to support cities in developing countries most affected by climate change to reduce carbon dioxide emissions to zero by 2050 and grow in a sustainable way.

British Minister Eddie Hagels said that the fund, called “Urban Climate Action,” has 27.5 million pounds sterling, which will be allocated to cities in Africa, Asia and Latin America as part of the United Kingdom’s international commitment to climate finance.

The cities in Latin America that will receive investments, according to Hugels, will be: Bogota and Medellin in Colombia; Guadalajara and Mexico City, Mexico; Lima, Peru.

The penultimate day of the conference was devoted to the topic of how to combat the effects of climate change in cities, such as the occurrence of extreme weather events that we have witnessed in recent years, and the importance of decarbonizing these areas by 2050.

Among the measures that the Fund will finance in these cities, the British government indicated:

• Developing public transportation systems with low gas emissions;
• Renewable energy generation.
• Sustainable waste management;
• Construction of smart buildings.
• Planning to confront future climate risks.

40% of global emissions

United Nations Executive Director Inger Andersen reported Thursday that more than half of the world's population, or 55%, lives in cities. Furthermore, buildings and construction are responsible for 40% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

According to the United Nations, to date, more than 1,000 cities and regions around the world, equivalent to more than a fifth of the world's urban population, have committed to reducing emissions to zero by 2050.

The aim of COP26 is to make commitments to achieve the Paris Agreement goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C by 2100. This number is crucial to slowing climate change and its impacts. Since pre-industrial times, the factory temperature has risen by 1.1°C due to human intervention.

To achieve this goal, all countries must adopt radical reductions in emissions of carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas produced by burning fossil fuels – as well as others such as methane – and reach what is called Climate neutralitywhen all emissions are offset by reforestation or technology to capture carbon from the atmosphere.