The FGH team on the ground in Glasgow had these key takeaways from the first two days of COP26.

• The conference hasn’t been smooth. COP26 is the first international conference of this scale in the age of COVID. Long lines have led to missed meetings and other delays in the conference program.

• India commits to net zero. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi made arguably the biggest headlines by promising to zero out pollution by 2070. This is the boldest statement of intent ever by the world’s third-largest emitter. 

• Boris Johnson and the British hosts pulled out the big guns. Famed naturalist David Attenborough helped kick off the proceedings in Scotland. Then, Prince Charles called for a war-like approach to tackle climate, and Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth urged leaders to “rise above the politics of the moment” “for our children.”

• President Biden strikes an optimistic tone. In his speech, he said the world had an “opportunity to reshape the way humans live in better harmony with nature” and announced plans for $3 billion of support for poorer countries to adapt to climate change. 

• But many eyes are still on Capitol Hill. International delegates absolutely noticed Senator Manchin’s press conference yesterday where he stressed his remaining objections to President Biden’s Build Back Better legislative framework that the Biden administration is touting in Glasgow.