Good COP, Bad COP? The Hopeful News in COP26…and Beyond

This briefing by RMI discusses the role of non-state actors in narrowing the 'ambition gap' between current global emissions trajectories and the 1.5°C goal. It argues that while national pledges are currently insufficient, 'ambition loops'—cycles of leadership and followership among businesses, investors, and cities—can accelerate the adoption of climate solutions through collective action and positive feedback mechanisms.

• Current national emissions reduction pledges are insufficient to meet climate goals, with trajectories likely leading to a world 2.7°C warmer by 2100 compared to pre-industrial levels. However, voluntary commitments from non-state actors, such as cities, regions, investors, and businesses, are creating 'ambition loops' that can inspire broader public and private sector action to narrow this gap.
• In India, the Shoonya coalition is utilizing customer engagement and a verification and branding system to transition last-mile e-commerce deliveries to electric vehicles. The initiative aims to reduce cumulative CO2 emissions in the urban freight sector by 39 million tons by 2030 by encouraging consumers to choose certified electric deliveries.
• The Renewable Energy Buyers Alliance (REBA) demonstrated the power of demand aggregation in the United States. Between 2010 and 2020, US corporations increased voluntary renewable electricity purchases from 0.1 GW to over 10 GW, with corporate procurements accounting for 40 percent of all new carbon-free electricity capacity added in the US in 2020.
• The Poseidon Principles, launched in June 2019, use climate-aligned finance to decarbonize the shipping sector by coordinating lenders who represent one-third of global shipping finance. In its first year, the agreement saw over $1.2 billion in Poseidon-linked loans, using financial incentives and requirements to steer clients toward climate goals.
• National alliances of non-state actors, such as 'America Is All In' in the United States, advocate for federal climate policy while demonstrating existing voluntary action. This coalition represents two-thirds of the US economy and aims to show the federal government where intervention is most effective. Similar coalitions are emerging in Japan, Australia, and Argentina.

APA

RMI (2021). Good COP, Bad COP? The Hopeful News in COP26…and Beyond. https://rmi.org/resources/good-cop-bad-cop-the-hopeful-news-in-cop26-and-beyond/

Chicago

RMI. Good COP, Bad COP? The Hopeful News in COP26…and Beyond. 2021. https://rmi.org/resources/good-cop-bad-cop-the-hopeful-news-in-cop26-and-beyond/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=RMI |title=Good COP, Bad COP? The Hopeful News in COP26…and Beyond |date=2 November 2021 |url=https://rmi.org/resources/good-cop-bad-cop-the-hopeful-news-in-cop26-and-beyond/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{rmi2021good, author = {{RMI}}, title = {{Good COP, Bad COP? The Hopeful News in COP26…and Beyond}}, institution = {RMI}, year = {2021}, month = nov, url = {https://rmi.org/resources/good-cop-bad-cop-the-hopeful-news-in-cop26-and-beyond/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }