That such a small change could cause such a big impact also illustrates the tightrope-walking that’s needed to strike a global accord on climate, even as the world speeds toward warming that’s closer to 2.4 C than the 1.5 C target. The International Energy Agency says investment in new fossil fuel production and unabated coal power plants must end this year to put the world on a path to zero out greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The switch from phase 'out' to phase 'down' also runs counter to expert analysis.

“This will not bring us closer to 1.5 but make it more difficult to reach it,” Sommaruga said. Switzerland’s environment minister Simonetta Sommaruga warned that the change would imperil humanity’s goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius - a benchmark scientists say is necessary to stave off the worst of the threats wrought by rising seas, deadly heat and extreme storms. And it underscored the challenge world leaders face in trying to mount a collective response to climate change. But the switch left many delegates and activists disappointed. The last-minute suggestion ultimately was accepted by the nearly 200 countries gathered for the summit - in large part because not doing so might have meant no deal at all. Rather than aim to phase “out” coal power, the proposal sought to phase “down” the carbon-intensive fossil fuel.

And two weeks of work at the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference nearly fell apart. Then India’s top negotiator, Bhupender Yadav, suggested a one-word change. GLASGOW, Scotland - The biggest climate conference of the year appeared all but finished Saturday night as delegates here who had hardly slept for days goaded one another to accept the final agreement, warts and all.

Is a 26 on the act good