In what is believed to be the world’s best last chance to fully curb the effects of climate change, COP26—the 26th iteration of the Conference of Parties—began on October 31st, 2021 in Glasgow. With the alarm on climate change sounding louder than ever, this two-week-long conference will be a pivotal moment for the coming decade as world leaders, business officials, and government ambassadors converge to negotiate the future of the environment.

The Paris Agreement, the first time all countries agreed on a treaty to combat climate change, was adopted in 2015. However, the treaty had limited effectiveness and is now being re-examined at COP26. This re-negotiation includes four key goals:

1. Reaching net zero by 2050
2. Adapt and protect natural habitats and ecosystems
3. Mobilize finance
4. Foster global cooperation

Needless to say, these proposed goals are all extremely ambitious. If agreed upon, developed countries would be expected to pledge a minimum of $100 billion in funding to tackle climate change per year; deforestation would also have to end by 2030. Keeping the temperature rise to less than 1.5° C above pre-industrial levels, as outlined by the first goal, would also require nations to invest heavily in renewable energy sources and eliminate the reliance on fossil fuels and coal. For context, global temperature levels have already risen 1.1° C since the late 19th century. Even a 1.5° C rise in temperatures would cause a 2-3 meter sea level rise, massive increase in natural disaster rates, and increased prevalence of heatwaves, disrupting livelihoods worldwide.

After world leaders concluded their summit in the first few days of the conference, government representatives and environmental experts are intensely negotiating the details to make the conference a step forward for the world. Even under COVID-19 restrictions, which delayed the conference from November 2020, 25,000 officials are expected to attend COP26 throughout the two-week period.

Despite the ambitious plans outlined during the conference, it is still unclear how successful COP26 will be. Previous conferences, including the 2009 iteration held in Copenhagen, have led to further division. Even the landmark Paris Agreement yielded restricted results in curbing climate change, partly due to the lack of binding terms and the ability for nations to free ride on the contributions of others without contributing anything of their own. Even the UN, US, and UK have already conceded that it is not entirely realistic that COP26 will satisfy all demands against climate change. Nonetheless, with historical precedence to build upon and in a time of unparalleled urgency, COP26 may emerge as a triumph—the last fighting chance for the world.