Describe the major outcomes of the 26th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). What are the commitments made by India in this conference? (Answer in 250 words)

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The 26th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP26) held in Glasgow in 2021 concluded with key decisions aimed at keeping the 1.5°C Paris goal alive, while reaffirming the principle of Common But Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR-RC).

Major Global Outcomes of COP26

The Glasgow Climate Pact achieved a breakthrough by becoming the first UNFCCC pact to explicitly mandate the "phase-down" of unabated coal power and the phase-out of inefficient fossil fuel subsidies.

Parties finalised the Paris Rulebook by resolving guidelines for Article 6, establishing clear norms for international carbon markets, avoiding double counting, and operationalising the Enhanced Transparency Framework.

Key multilateral pledges included the Glasgow Leaders’ Declaration on Forests and Land Use to halt deforestation by 2030 and the Global Methane Pledge to reduce methane emissions by 30% by 2030. On climate finance, the conference expressed deep regret over the failure of developed nations to deliver the promised $100 billion annual fund by 2020, urging them to at least double adaptation finance by 2025.

Commitments Made by India

India announced an ambitious five-point agenda termed "Panchamrit":

First, expanding non-fossil energy capacity to 500 GW by 2030. Second, meeting 50% of its energy requirements from renewable energy by 2030. Third, reducing total projected carbon emissions by one billion tonnes from then until 2030. Fourth, reducing the carbon intensity of its economy by 45% by 2030 over 2005 levels. Fifth, achieving the long-term target of Net-Zero emissions by 2070.

While COP26 established robust mitigation roadmaps, the overarching implementation challenge remains bridging the climate finance deficit to support developing countries' transition.

Describe the major outcomes of the 26th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention…

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