At the conclusion of three weeks of mid-year climate talks conducted online due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Patricia Espinosa urged countries to set aside their differences and collaborate in the months leading up to the crucial COP26 negotiations in Glasgow. Despite the challenges of virtual communication, she stated that governments had effectively participated and made advancements in various areas, such as establishing common timeframes for emissions reduction goals and enhancing transparency in reporting climate action. However, disagreements still exist regarding the regulations governing global carbon markets, requiring higher-level political guidance according to the UN climate body. Espinosa emphasized the ongoing efforts to make significant progress before COP26, highlighting the importance of the situation. "I am encouraging all of us to rise up to the challenges of our time, to complete the tasks at hand, to overcome our differences, and to keep our promises." The talks in June marked the first official UN climate negotiations since the end of 2019, as the pandemic had caused delays. The COP26 summit's main objective is to finalize the rules for the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change in order to fully implement the pact, according to UN officials. Espinosa emphasized the importance of achieving success at COP26, stating that it is a crucial test of credibility in our fight against the climate crisis, essential for a green recovery, and a demonstration of the importance of multilateralism during these challenging times. Many countries have not yet submitted stronger climate action plans as required by the Paris agreement last year, due to the pandemic. The emissions reductions promised by governments are still far from what is necessary to meet the Paris goals of limiting global warming. Wealthy nations failing to fulfill climate finance pledges to help vulnerable countries is hindering progress. The pandemic has further complicated matters, with developing nations facing challenges in accessing vaccines and uncertainty about attending the COP26 summit in person. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, as the host of the conference, stated this month that his government is discussing with the United Nations how to provide COVID-19 vaccinations to accredited delegations who may not be able to access them otherwise. Diann Black-Layne of Antigua and Barbuda, representing the Alliance of Small Island States, expressed concerns about the impact of COVID-19 on the upcoming COP26 conference. She also highlighted the need for significant progress on climate finance, calling for a new financial goal for climate-vulnerable nations at COP26. Sonam P Wangdi of Bhutan, who leads the group of least developed countries at the UN talks, emphasized the importance of delivering on climate finance for the success of the conference. Wealthier nations have faced criticism for not meeting their commitment to raise $100 billion annually from 2020 to assist poorer countries in addressing climate change. Criticism was directed at G7 leaders for not providing a clear plan on how they would fulfill their pledge at a recent summit, despite Germany and Canada committing additional funding. The UN climate talks held this month were unable to make official decisions due to being conducted virtually, which caused technical difficulties for some delegates. In an effort to accelerate progress, Alok Sharma, the UK official overseeing COP26, intends to convene ministers from over 40 countries in London in late July. Britain's lead climate negotiator, Archie Young, acknowledged the need for more clarity on issues such as vaccinations and logistics for COP26. Sharma stated that London is collaborating with partners to develop a plan to offer vaccines to all accredited COP26 delegates, including government officials, representatives of environmental organizations, and media personnel, with more details expected to be released soon.