COP26: Ireland must target 'luxury emissions' 

Consumption by unnecessary SUVs, the second biggest contributor to recent global emissions growth, must be treated differently to the likes of home heating

We face into the Glasgow conference despite many Paris signatories failing to submit updated plans for emission cuts. And many world leaders will not attend.

Halloween marks the opening of the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference, or COP26, in Glasgow — with pressure on all countries, including the EU and Ireland, to deliver on their pledges.           

This COP is the first round of the “ratchet mechanism” in the Paris agreement. Pledges made for nationally determined contributions in the 2015 deal by themselves are not enough to meet targets. Signatories are meant to bring to the table plans for bigger emission cuts.