Coming to terms at COP26: Reflections from CATF Executive Director Armond Cohen

CATF Executive Director Armond Cohen outlines the organization's efforts at COP26 to prioritize methane emissions reductions and the deployment of next-generation carbon-free technologies. Key achievements include the launch of the Global Methane Pledge and the inclusion of methane and coal 'phase down' language in the final COP26 text. The document emphasizes that meeting net-zero targets requires an expanded suite of technologies beyond renewables, including carbon capture, hydrogen, and advanced nuclear energy.

• The Global Methane Pledge was launched at COP26 by U.S. President Joe Biden and EU President Ursula von Der Leyen, with over 100 world leaders committing to a collective reduction of methane emissions by 30% below 2020 levels by 2030.
• For the first time in a COP agreement, the final text of COP26 included language to "phase down" coal and explicitly mentioned the importance of cutting methane emissions.
• The International Energy Agency (IEA) indicates that 75% of the emissions reductions required to reach net-zero will depend on technologies that are not yet mature.
• CATF advocated for a diverse set of carbon-free technologies to decarbonize the global energy system and hard-to-electrify sectors, including carbon capture and storage, hydrogen, ammonia, advanced nuclear energy, and superhot rock geothermal energy.
• Several initiatives were launched or amplified at COP26 to signal market demand for decarbonization, including the First Movers Coalition for heavy industry, the Coalition of Zero-Emissions Vessels (coZEV), and the 24/7 Carbon Free Energy Compact.

APA

Cohen, A. (2021). Coming to terms at COP26: Reflections from CATF Executive Director Armond Cohen. Clean Air Task Force. https://www.catf.us/2021/11/cop26-reflection/

Chicago

Cohen, Armond. Coming to terms at COP26: Reflections from CATF Executive Director Armond Cohen. Clean Air Task Force, 2021. https://www.catf.us/2021/11/cop26-reflection/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Cohen |first1=Armond |title=Coming to terms at COP26: Reflections from CATF Executive Director Armond Cohen |publisher=Clean Air Task Force |date=18 November 2021 |url=https://www.catf.us/2021/11/cop26-reflection/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{cohen2021coming, author = {Cohen, Armond}, title = {{Coming to terms at COP26: Reflections from CATF Executive Director Armond Cohen}}, publisher = {Clean Air Task Force}, year = {2021}, month = nov, url = {https://www.catf.us/2021/11/cop26-reflection/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }