Did you watch the final session of COP26 on TV? \u00a0Did you see the last few seconds ambush by India (and their Chinese pals)? \u00a0The trouble with carrying out skulduggery in public is that everyone can see. \u00a0All very unsubtle. \u00a0So we're officially phasing coal down and not out; so be it. \u00a0It's the same difference and the Indians know it: coal's days are numbered. \u00a0Even Australia must see it by now as it considers its stranded assets.<\/p>\n
I've rather changed my mind about COPs. \u00a0Hitherto I've viewed them as slow and expensive circuses and thought there must be better ways of doing this. \u00a0Well, maybe there isn't. \u00a0The sight of representatives of small (island) states standing up to bullies I thought was rather inspiring. \u00a0The UK innovation of having\u00a0side deals on international finance, coal, electric vehicles and deforestation seems to have been very effective; these could make progress because they did not need unanimity. \u00a0I read that these were the idea of Claire Perry O\u2019Neill, the former climate minister, who had a dim view of UN processes, and said so once too often and was sacked. \u00a0She said that the Glasgow COP should focus on making progress in the real economy. \u00a0When Alok Sharma took over he kept her plans. \u00a0Because these real-world deals are in place important messages are sent about getting on with it.<\/p>\n