The Latest: EU pledges $116M to climate adaptation fund

GLASGOW, Scotland (AP) — The Latest on the COP26 climate talks in Glasgow:

BRUSSELS — The European Union's executive arm has pledged 100 million euros ($116 million) to the United Nations' fund for helping developing countries adapt to climate change.

The European Commission said the additional contribution from the EU budget is by far the biggest pledge to the fund made by donors at the U.N. climate conference in Glasgow.

Frans Timmermans, the EU Commission vice-president in charge of the European Green Deal, said in Glasgow: “Financing adaptation is critical. We all repeated that mantra endlessly. But the rhetoric, sadly, is not followed by action. We all need to get cracking, and we all need to do it now.”

According to the 27-nation EU, the adaptation fund has committed nearly $868 million for climate change adaptation and resilience projects and programs since 2010.

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GLASGOW, Scotland — Russia said protecting its forests is a key element of the country’s effort to stop adding carbon to the atmosphere by 2060.

Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Overchuk said Tuesday that Moscow wants to achieve that carbon reduction target by cutting greenhouse gas emissions while simultaneously “managing and improving greenhouse gas absorption capabilities of our natural ecosystems.”

Overchuk said at the U.N. climate talks in Glasgow that Russia was “focusing on improving our forest management practices, enhancing wildfire prevention response capabilities, increase wilderness areas, introducing new farming practices, as well as engaging in transformation toward cleaner energy.”

Russia may even reach carbon neutrality before 2060, he said.

In the meantime, the country “will remain a reliable supply of energy to international markets...