We explore the things we can do to help save our planet, from a giant shield of space mirrors to cool down the planet to - closer to home - tackling the cause of climate change by reducing CO2 emissions.

We've been hearing about a last-minute change, led by India, in the final text of the COP summit deal.

This changed a pledge to "phase out" coal - to "phase down".

So what's the distinction? Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Patricia Espinosa, explains:

"In my view, it's one of those diplomatic solutions, textual solutions which is intended to mean: 'OK, we're not yet saying that we need to get absolutely 100% rid of coal, but rather we need to reduce the amount of coal that we will be using.'

COP26 President Alok Sharma says the last minute deal change to "phase down" coal is not a failure.

He tells BBC One's Andrew Marr Show: "I wouldn’t describe what we did yesterday as a failure – it is a historic achievement.

"We kept the 1.5C target within reach, we closed off the Paris agreement – which for six years had eluded the world – we did that under a UK presidency, we’ve ensured more money for climate vulnerable countries.

"I think we can say we are on the way to consigning coal to history."

Emphasising that this is the first time ever there has been language about coal in a COP decision, he says: "At the end of the day, China and India are going to have to explain themselves to the most climate vulnerable countries in the world – and you saw the reaction of those most vulnerable countries to that change [in the deal]."

Asked about how he broke down on stage in the event's final moments, he explains: "We managed to get an enormous amount over the line and, on a personal level, I have invested an enormous amount over the last two years... and, of course, I’d had about six hours sleep in the previous 72 hours – it was an emotional moment."

As we've been reporting, the reaction to the COP26 climate deal last night has been mixed, to say the least:

• Switzerland expressed "profound disappointment" last night at the last-minute changes to the wording of the deal on coal. On Sunday, its environment minister said: "The #COP26, external is history - but we did not write history in #Glasgow, external. In view of the expectations, one cannot really be satisfied with the result. But we have achieved something on individual points."

• Climate activist Greta Thunberg tweeted that the outcome amounted to blah blah blah, but that she would never give up:

• But it's not all bad news, says Richard Black from the Climate Intelligence Unit - coal and fossil fuels did get a mention in the final document:

The goal of limiting global warming to 1.5C is “definitely still alive”, insists UN executive secretary, Patricia Espinosa.

Speaking on BBC One's Andrew Marr Show, she says the conference resulted in a "very complete package of decisions" that allows the world to say: "Yes, we are still on track for that".

Many island nations - which are among those countries most immediately affected by climate change - have expressed disappointment in the deal reached yesterday.

But Espinosa says it still allows those nations "to be hopeful that we will accelerate the transformation that needs to take place".

She says: "This decade is absolutely crucial – we need to get to 2030 with at least 45% reductions."

Asked about the last minute change to commit to "phase down" instead of "phase out", she emphasises: "The huge step forward in our negotiation was that - for the first time in this context - we mentioned coal and fossil fuels.

"We have to remember there are millions of people who depend on fossil fuel industry.

"On one hand, we have clarity that that is a very big source of emissions and we need to get rid of that – on the other hand, we need to also balance out the social consequences for so many people around the world, especially in poor countries."

We're reporting reaction to a landmark climate deal struck at the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow following almost two weeks' of intense negotiations.

A number of aspects of the deal are being seen as significant developments in the battle against climate change:

• Re-visiting emissions-cutting plans next year to try to keep 1.5C target reachable
• The first ever inclusion of a commitment to limit coal use
• Increased financial help for developing countries

Under the Paris Agreement of 2015, countries were asked to make changes to keep global warming "well below" 2C - and to try to aim for 1.5C - in order to prevent a climate catastrophe.

The goal is to keep cutting emissions until they reach net zero in 2050:

But currently the world is still getting warmer:

Image source, Reuters

Many of the countries most immediately affected by climate change are island nations, and some of their representatives have been vocal about their disappointment in the deal reached last night:

Image source, Reuters

Meanwhile, Labour's shadow business secretary Ed Miliband has been heaping praise on COP26 President Alok Sharma - who he says "has done an amazing job" after a deal was struck at the Glasgow summit.

Speaking to Sky News, the former Labour leader says: "I think he’s impressed people around the world with his diligence, his commitment and his integrity."

But referring to countries agreeing to "phase down" rather than "phase out" coal, Miliband says: "I wish the last minute change hadn’t been made."

"I think there’s wider lesson here though – we need to do more to put pressure on all of the big emitters – that includes India, China - and Australia.

"We’re doing a trade deal with Australia and we’ve agreed to drop the Paris temperature agreements from this trade deal - Australia is a real laggard on climate."

The Andrew Marr Show

BBC One's Andrew Marr Show has begun for viewers in the UK - you can watch on TV, on the BBC iPlayer and by clicking play at the top of this page.

We're expecting to hear from COP26 President Alok Sharma - as the deal struck at the Glasgow summit dominates the headlines this morning.

It’s been a long two weeks of wrangling at COP26 in Glasgow to reach a deal.

If you haven’t followed every twist and turn, here are the standout moments from the last fortnight.

Image source, Getty Images

We're bringing you key reaction to the climate change deal struck last night:

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the agreement was “a big step forward” but there was still a huge amount of work to be done.

COP26 President Alok Sharma said it was important a deal was done – but fought back tears as he spoke about the watering down of a commitment on coal.

US climate envoy John Kerry said it was always unlikely the summit would result in a decision that “was somehow going to end the crisis” but that the “starting pistol” had been fired.

However, poorer countries had been calling for funding through the principle of loss and damage – the idea that richer countries should compensate poorer ones for the climate change effects they are unable to adapt to.

Lia Nicholson, delegate for Antigua and Barbuda, and speaking on behalf of small island states, said “the final landing zone” was “not even close to capturing what we had hoped.”

Jennifer Morgan, executive director of Greenpeace International, said: "It's meek, it's weak and the 1.5C goal is only just alive, but a signal has been sent that the era of coal is ending - and that matters.”

The last-minute watering down of the UN climate deal is called a "coal climbdown" by the Sunday Telegraph, external.

The Sun says, external it is "a climate fudge", and the Mail on Sunday, external labels it a "Cop out".

The Sunday Times suggests , externalIndia and China thwarted the deal.

But the Scottish Mail on Sunday is very upbeat, hailing it as the "most ambitious deal ever seen".

Read more from the papers here.

The Andrew Marr Show

COP26 President Alok Sharma is among the guests on BBC One’s Andrew Marr Show this morning.

Also appearing are Labour’s deputy leader Angela Rayner and UN climate change chief Patricia Espinosa.

We’ll bring you all the developments when the show kicks off at 09:00 GMT or, for viewers in the UK, you can watch on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. You can also watch by clicking the play button at the top of this page.

Evasive words but deal shows progresspublished at 08:11 Greenwich Mean Time 14 November 2021

08:11 GMT 14 November 2021

Matt McGrath
Environment correspondent

Image source, EPA

While the Glasgow Climate Pact is an ambitious attempt to rein in rising temperatures, the last-minute row over coal has undoubtedly cast a shadow over the deal.

India was joined by China in pushing for a watering down of this key commitment, insisting on "phasing down" rather than "phasing out".

It was a brazen display of geo-political muscle that left developing countries and island states with little choice but to go along with the changes.

The new pact comes just a few days after another notable Chinese achievement.

Last Wednesday, the Xinhua news agency trumpeted the fact that the country produced more coal than ever before on a single day.

Seen in that light, the agreement reached here after extended negotiations looks like a limp sticking-plaster for the deep wound that's threatening life on this planet.

Read more from Matt.

Image source, Reuters

The deal agreed in Glasgow has a number of significant elements – but for some there are also disappointing omissions.

It includes:

• Asking countries to republish their climate action plans, with more ambitious emissions reductions targets for 2030, by the end of next year
• Emphasising the need for developed countries to increase the money they give to those already suffering the effects of climate change, beyond the current $100bn annual target
• But a previously agreed goal to double funds for adaptation to climate change now just refers to an increase
• A commitment to “phase down” coal – the first time this is explicitly mentioned in a climate deal – although this was watered down from a pledge in a previous draft to “phase out” coal

You can read more about what was agreed at COP26 here.

Image source, Getty Images

After some last-minute wrangling countries have struck a new global climate deal at the COP25 summit in Glasgow.

The Glasgow Climate Pact is the first-ever climate deal to explicitly plan to reduce coal, the worst fossil fuel for greenhouse gases.

The deal also presses for more urgent emission cuts and promises more money for developing countries to help them adapt to climate impacts.

But there was disappointment from some after a commitment to "phase out" coal, which was included in earlier drafts, was changed to “phase down”, following opposition from India and China.

We’ll be bringing you all the latest reaction and analysis, making sense of what the deal means for the world.