COP26 was intended as the moment at which countries revisited climate pledges made under the 2015 Paris Agreement. The issues related to equity in the global energy transition were forcefully raised by a number of country delegations at COP26. While some observers felt the COP26 agreement represented the start of a breakthrough, some of the Global South felt not enough progress was made. Parties agreed that countries will meet next year to pledge further cuts to emissions of greenhouse gases, to try to keep temperature rises within 1.5C.
The 2021 Annual Meeting focused on the outcomes of COP26 and the outlook for new producers of oil and gas. The meeting, which was held online, brought together officials from all member countries, representing petroleum, finance, planning and environment agencies, as well as national oil companies. It also included representatives from the oil and gas industry, multilateral development banks, and subject matter experts. Both sessions were structured as dynamic panel discussions, without presentations. The sessions were held under Chatham House Rule of non-attribution, to allow for frank exchanges.