#15 The puzzle of global climate policy: reflections on COP26 with Raul Salas Reyes

Welcome to our 2nd COP26 episode where we’re speaking with researchers involved in the climate science and policy landscape. For this episode we’re speaking with Raul Salas Reyes. Raul, who attended this year’s COP, is a senior PhD candidate in the Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences at UTSC. He is currently researching the evolution of the differential treatment norm in the international climate policy regime. This norm is embedded within the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities (CBDR) under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, UNFCCC. Raúl has been working in climate governance and transparency issues for more than a decade where he has assisted developing and developed countries in meeting their obligations under the UNFCCC.

COP26 received a huge amount of media attention and climate change awareness is at an all time high. In this episode, we take a look at the history of international climate change policy and how we got to where we are now. Raul also shares his perspective on this year’s COP - on the successes, for example the strong role that science played at this COP, and the disappointments, such as the last-minute revision of the coal phase-out commitment. He also discussed what he sees as emerging issues that will likely be front-and-centre at COP27.

Raul's Twitter: @raul_climate