In short
Nearly 200 countries gathered in Glasgow in November 2021 for COP26, the UN's 26th annual climate conference, to negotiate binding commitments on cutting greenhouse gas emissions. The summit produced the Glasgow Climate Pact, which included language on coal phase-down and carbon market rules-marking the first time coal was explicitly mentioned in a major climate agreement. Success was mixed: while procedural progress occurred, the final deal fell short of what many nations and climate scientists said was needed to limit warming to 1.5°C.
How it unfolded.
The five-minute version
What actually happened.
Glasgow Climate Summit COP26 Convenes (2021) - United Kingdom.
As it was happening
17 voices, 15 days.
One beat at a time. Click any dot on the timeline to jump, press play for autoplay, or use the arrow keys to step.
COP26 opens in Glasgow
Nearly 200 nations convene at the Scottish Event Campus for the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change's 26th annual conference. Alok Sharma of the UK chairs negotiations.
Voices from this moment (4)
Interview and social media, October 2021
Oct 31
“COP26 is just blah blah blah.”
The Guardian
Oct 31
“COP26: World leaders gather in Glasgow for crunch climate…”
Der Spiegel
Oct 31
“Klimagipfel in Glasgow - Letzte Chance fur die Welt?”
COP26 opens in Glasgow
Oct 31
“Nearly 200 nations convene at the Scottish Event Campus for…”
As it was happening
17 voices, 15 days.
Day 0 · October 31, 2021
COP26 opens in Glasgow
Nearly 200 nations convene at the Scottish Event Campus for the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change's 26th annual conference. Alok Sharma of the UK chairs negotiations.
“COP26 is just blah blah blah.”
- Interview and social media, October 2021, Oct 31
“COP26: World leaders gather in Glasgow for crunch climate…”
- The Guardian, Oct 31
“Klimagipfel in Glasgow - Letzte Chance fur die Welt?”
- Der Spiegel, Oct 31
“Nearly 200 nations convene at the Scottish Event Campus for…”
- COP26 opens in Glasgow, Oct 31
Day 1 · November 1, 2021
First week of negotiations
Delegates debate emissions reduction targets, climate finance for developing nations, and procedural rules for carbon markets under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.
“We have a narrow window of opportunity to keep 1.”
- COP26 Opening Ceremony, November 1, 2021, Nov 1
“Current policies are putting us on track for 2.”
- IEA Climate Outlook, November 2021, Nov 1
“COP26: What you need to know about the Glasgow climate…”
- BBC News, Nov 1
“At Glasgow Climate Summit, Nations Aim for Breakthrough on…”
- The New York Times, Nov 1
“COP26 Glasgow: The Key Issues Explained”
- Sky News, Nov 1
“Delegates debate emissions reduction targets, climate…”
- First week of negotiations, Nov 1
Day 2 · November 2, 2021
Youth and civil society mobilize outside
Thousands of climate activists, including Greta Thunberg, gather at Glasgow Green to protest insufficient pledges and call for stronger action.
“Glasgow will be judged by whether the government delivers…”
- Labour party statement, November 2021, Nov 2
“Thousands of climate activists, including Greta Thunberg,…”
- Youth and civil society mobilize outside, Nov 2
Day 8 · November 8, 2021
Coal language emerges as sticking point
Negotiators clash over whether final text should call for 'phase-out' or 'phase-down' of coal. India and China push back on stronger language.
“The real test is whether countries follow through on…”
- Climate Innovation Forum remarks, November 2021, Nov 8
“Negotiators clash over whether final text should call for…”
- Coal language emerges as sticking point, Nov 8
Day 10 · November 10, 2021
Article 6 carbon markets agreement
After six years of deadlock, nations finalize rules for international carbon trading mechanisms, allowing countries to buy and sell emissions credits across borders.
“After six years of deadlock, nations finalize rules for…”
- Article 6 carbon markets agreement, Nov 10
Day 13 · November 13, 2021
Glasgow Climate Pact adopted
Conference concludes with adoption of final agreement. Text calls for 'phasing down' coal (first explicit coal language in COP history) and includes commitments on adaptation finance and NDC strengthening by 2022.
“Conference concludes with adoption of final agreement.”
- Glasgow Climate Pact adopted, Nov 13
Day 15 · November 15, 2021
Analysis reveals ambition gap
UN Environment Programme releases assessment: combined national pledges would lead to approximately 2.7°C of warming by 2100, far exceeding the 1.5°C Paris target.
“UN Environment Programme releases assessment: combined…”
- Analysis reveals ambition gap, Nov 15
Afterward
What followed
- 2022 - Extreme heat and flooding across Europe and Asia. The summer following COP26 brought record-breaking temperatures and unprecedented flooding. Pakistan experienced catastrophic monsoon floods affecting 33 million people, while Europe endured repeated heat waves that contributed to thousands of deaths and massive wildfires in Greece and France.
- 2023 - COP28 negotiation on 'loss and damage'. At the Dubai climate summit, nations finally established a dedicated fund to help developing countries cope with climate disasters, an outcome that many traced back to the failure of COP26 to adequately address adaptation financing and the growing physical evidence of climate impacts.
- 2023 - IPCC special report on global warming impacts. The IPCC reported that the world was on track for approximately 2.7°C of warming by 2100, confirming that the COP26 climate pledges—even if fully implemented—were insufficient to meet the Paris Agreement's 1.5°C target.
- 2024 - Widespread coral bleaching and marine ecosystem collapse. The world experienced its most severe coral bleaching event on record, with the Great Barrier Reef and Caribbean reefs suffering unprecedented damage. Scientists attributed the acceleration partly to the delayed implementation of climate commitments following COP26.
The visual record.
Front pages.
3 outlets carried the story: The Guardian, BBC News, The New York Times.
Media coverage
What the world was reading.
5 pieces, ranked by how much they shaped the discourse.
The Guardian
Newspaper · United Kingdom · Oct 31, 2021
"COP26: World leaders gather in Glasgow for crunch climate summit"
The UN climate conference opens in Scotland with world leaders converging to negotiate binding commitments on carbon emissions and global warming targets. Nations face pressure to toughen pledges ahead of the critical two-week summit.
- Nov 1, 2021
The New York Times
Newspaper · United States
"At Glasgow Climate Summit, Nations Aim for Breakthrough on Carbon Emissions"
Synthesized from period reporting - As COP26 begins, delegates from nearly 200 countries convene to accelerate climate action and bridge a widening gap between climate pledges and the cuts needed to meet global warming targets.
- Nov 1, 2021
BBC News
TV · United Kingdom
"COP26: What you need to know about the Glasgow climate summit"
Synthesized from period reporting - The BBC breaks down the key issues, delegates, and negotiating positions ahead of the summit, explaining why Glasgow matters for the Paris Agreement's 1.5-degree warming limit.
- Oct 31, 2021
Der Spiegel
Magazine · Germany
"Klimagipfel in Glasgow - Letzte Chance fur die Welt?"
DE: 'Klimagipfel in Glasgow - Letzte Chance fur die Welt?' / EN: 'Climate Summit in Glasgow - Last Chance for the World?' Der Spiegel examines whether COP26 represents a final opportunity for meaningful global climate action before catastrophic warming becomes irreversible.
- Nov 1, 2021
Sky News
TV · United Kingdom
"COP26 Glasgow: The Key Issues Explained"
Synthesized from period reporting - Sky News provides analysis of the central negotiating points at the Glasgow summit, from fossil fuel phase-out language to climate finance commitments from wealthy nations.
At the cinema, on the charts.
While the world watched Dune, MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name) topped the charts.
The world it landed in
What was on the radio, the screen, and everyone's mind.
MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name) - Lil Nas X
Dominant pop hit and cultural moment throughout 2021
Good 4 U - Olivia Rodrigo
Rodrigo's breakthrough single; album 'SOUR' released May 2021
drivers license - Olivia Rodrigo
Viral debut single preceding album release
Stay - The Kid LAROI and Justin Bieber
Chart dominance throughout latter half of 2021
Dune (2021)
Denis Villeneuve's adaptation released October 2021, during COP26
No Time to Die (2021)
Final Daniel Craig Bond film released September 2021
Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
Released December 2021; major box office success
Eternals (2021)
MCU film released November 2021
Squid Game
Netflix series released September 2021; became global phenomenon by October-November
Succession
Season 3 aired October-December 2021
The Morning Show
Apple TV+ season 2 aired October-November 2021
Dexter: New Blood
Reboot premiered November 2021
Same week, elsewhere
COP26 occurred during a period of pandemic recovery and return to in-person events, cultural dominance of streaming platforms and Korean media, and rising awareness of climate change among Gen Z audiences—though mainstream entertainment remained largely insulated from the summit's negotiations.
Then and now.
4 measurements then and now - the deltas the event left behind.
Then & now
The world the event landed in vs. the one it left behind.
Global CO2 emissions (gigatons per year)
36.5
2021
37.5
2024
Emissions continued rising despite COP26 commitments; IEA data shows no year-on-year reduction since the summit
Countries with net-zero emissions targets
131
2021
195
2024
Targets proliferated but enforcement and concrete policy mechanisms remained weak
Average global temperature increase above pre-industrial levels
1.1°C
2021
1.3°C
2023
Trajectory suggests 1.5°C threshold will be breached within the decade
Annual climate finance from developed to developing nations (billions USD)
72
2021
89
2023
Still falls short of the $100 billion annual commitment pledged at Copenhagen in 2009