How to make COP26 a success? Talk about plastics

Plastic waste and pollution washed up on the remote beach of South Ham on Muckle Roe in Shetland, UK. Alan Morris / Alamy Stock Photo

It’s nearly 30 years since the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change was signed at the Rio Earth Summit, but the subsequent annual gatherings, or Conference of Parties (COP), have rarely been truly memorable. What would make COP26, this year’s gathering in Glasgow, a success? And how do we rate COPs anyway?

The second question may be easier to answer than the first. At the very least, a successful COP must end with a clear commitment or some tangible achievement. By this tough standard, just five make the list.

Read on at https://www.opendemocracy.net.