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 meetings, governments were able to effectively participate and make strides in various areas, such as establishing common timeframes for emissions reduction goals and enhancing transparency in reporting climate actions. 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 need for continued efforts to make significant progress before COP26, stressing the importance of the upcoming negotiations. "There is a lot at stake," stated the top UN official. "I encourage us to meet the challenges of our time, to complete the work, to reconcile our differences, to keep our promises." The June discussions were the initial official UN climate negotiations since the end of 2019, as the pandemic caused delays. The COP26 summit is responsible for finalizing regulations for the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change so that the agreement can be fully enforced, according to UN officials. "We need to succeed at COP26," Espinosa informed reporters on Thursday. "It is a test of our credibility in combating the climate crisis - it is crucial for a sustainable recovery and it demonstrates commitment to multilateralism when it is most needed." Stumbling blocks remain as many nations have not yet submitted stronger climate action plans required under the Paris accord last year, which were delayed by the pandemic. Emissions reductions promised by governments are still far from what is necessary to meet the Paris goals of limiting global warming to below 2 degrees Celsius, according to the United Nations. Failure by wealthy nations to fulfill longstanding climate finance pledges to assist poorer countries transition to renewable energy and adapt to climate change impacts is also hindering progress. The pandemic has further complicated matters as developing nations struggle to secure access to vaccines, potentially affecting their ability to attend the COP26 summit in person. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, as the host of the conference, stated this month that his government is working with the United Nations to provide COVID-19 vaccinations to accredited delegations who may not have access to them otherwise. Diann Black-Layne of Antigua and Barbuda, representing the Alliance of Small Island States, expressed concerns about the ongoing impact of COVID-19 on the road to COP 26, as well as the need for progress on climate finance. Sonam P Wangdi of Bhutan, chair of the group of least developed countries at the UN talks, emphasized the importance of fulfilling climate finance commitments for success. Rich nations have faced criticism for not meeting their promise to raise $100 billion annually from 2020 to support poorer countries in addressing climate change. Criticism was directed at G7 leaders for not providing a clear plan on how they would meet their pledge at a recent summit, despite Germany and Canada committing additional funds. The virtual UN climate talks this month did not result in formal decisions due to technical difficulties. Alok Sharma, the UK official overseeing COP26, intends to convene ministers from over 40 countries in London in late July to accelerate progress. Britain's lead climate negotiator, Archie Young, acknowledged the need for more clarity on issues such as vaccinations and logistics for COP26. Sharma announced that London is working on a plan to offer vaccines to all accredited COP26 participants, including government officials, environmental group representatives, and media personnel, with details to be released soon.