What Does a Successful COP26 Summit Look Like?

URSULA VON DER LEYEN, PRESIDENT, EUROPEAN COMMISSION: So, for me, a success of COP 26 would be, first of all, concrete proposals how to limit to 1.5 degrees Celsius first of all, concrete proposals, how to limit to 1.5 degrees Celsius, concrete, because we…

(CROSSTALK)

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR: Of which there are none right now.

VON DER LEYEN: Well, we have to see what’s going to come within the next two weeks. These must be the negotiations, really a clear road map towards at most 1.5 degrees Celsius global warming.

AMANPOUR: But, with respect, even China and India and the others, they haven’t even changed their pledges or ideas since Paris.

VON DER LEYEN: And, therefore…

AMANPOUR: I mean, there are no concrete plans in the last — since COP 21.

VON DER LEYEN: Some of them have stepped up enormously. But, indeed, let’s see what’s going to happen in those next two weeks, because this is the crunch time where you negotiate, finally. Secondly, indeed, the $100 billion climate finance for the vulnerable countries has to be achieved. And this has to be set in stone. And the third part is pretty complicated. It’s the rule book. But it’s important, because it is about accounting. It is about being clear about the figures, so all these percentages and different years you compare to, that we have a clear accounting of what does really mean reduction of emissions and cutting CO2 emissions. And these three points, 1.5 degrees Celsius, $100 billion climate finance, and the rule book, would be a success.

AMANPOUR: And President Biden is obviously a completely different character than former President Trump, who pulled out of the Paris climate accords. And President Biden, like you, have basically built their policies on building back better, building back greener. And he is facing a lot of pushback at home, even from within his own party. How does that affect the eventual success of something like this, when, again, the world’s now second biggest polluter, the United States, is unable, despite two houses of Congress and the presidency, to actually get the most ambitious targets through?

VON DER LEYEN: Well, first of all, I must say that the United States are amazing, and President Biden and his leadership, really to push the topic. So we, the European Union, are very happy about having this alliance for a topic that is paramount for our survival on the planet. And then the second point is, I think citizens by now ask their governments for real action on the ground. Voters, citizens don’t accept any more that we postpone action, because they feel the consequences of global — climate change. The poorest feel it the most. And, therefore, we have a responsibility really to act now.