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The direct reference to "the phasing out of coal and fossil fuel subsidies" in the final text of COP26 has caused an intense diplomatic struggle in the countdown to the summit that is due to conclude on Friday in Glasgow. "I trust that this will not fall because it has been very important for the British presidency," stressed the Vice President of the Government and Minister for the Ecological Transition, Teresa Ribera.

In the same terms, the vice president of the European Commission Frans Timmermans expressed himself: "That language has to remain in the conclusion, because having to remove it would send an extremely bad signal." The UN Secretary General, António Guterres, also insisted on the importance of that point: "The promises will be empty

if the fossil fuel industry continues to receive billions in subsidies

."

The direct mention of fossil fuels in Glasgow would already be an advance over the Paris Agreement, which set the goal of an increase in temperatures "well below 2 degrees" and "pursuing efforts to limit it to 1.5 degrees. degrees, but

avoiding express reference to coal, oil or gas

. Several producing countries, such as Saudi Arabia and Australia, have lobbied in recent hours to remove that part of the draft, but most of the nearly 200 countries present in COP26 have closed ranks.

"There is an immense social and political majority that is clear that we cannot dedicate economic resources to increase the great problem that we have to face," said Teresa Ribera, who highlighted how

the agreement between the United States and China to "work together"

before climate change "may drag other countries to follow in its wake." Frans Timmermans also acknowledged that the agreement announced on Wednesday has served to introduce "a positive dynamic" in the final stretch of the summit.

Ribera, for his part, defended the EU against criticism of the secondary role played in Glasgow. "

Europe played a key role during the tough years of the Trump Administration

and we got here with our homework done," said the Vice President of the Government. "In financial terms and international solidarity we are far ahead. And here we have been active on various fronts, such as adaptation, where we have been facilitators and with the vocation of building bridges."

The general feeling among delegations is that there

could be 'white smoke' in Glasgow on Friday afternoon

, according to the strict agenda imposed by COP26 President Alok Sharma.

However, the belief persists that the last session could last until Saturday, with the general feeling of having avoided the "fiasco" that some foresaw and have given an important boost to issues such as deforestation or methane emissions.

Eternal pending subject

The draft is still exposed to last minute tweaks, with fringes such as mechanisms to ensure "transparency" in emissions,

questioned by China and Saudi Arabia

. A final pronouncement is also expected on boosting international financing - both in mitigation and adaptation to climate change - and a call to raise the bar on climate ambition in 2022. The issue of carbon markets may be left at the end as an eternal unfinished business until the next high-level ministerial meeting.

Analysts agree that the announcement of the new cooperation between the United States and China, preceded by social pressure last weekend, was the turning point of a Summit in which 'premier'

Boris Johnson put his credibility at stake international

, in the midst of his struggle that does not stop with the EU and the open crisis on account of the corruption in his own party.

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