COP26 2021: All you need to know.

CULTURE RADAR

By Sam Townson

COP26 – What is it?

Well, COP actually stands for ‘Conference of Parties’ and refers to the United Nations Conference on Climate Change. It is where representatives and world leaders from 197 nations and territories convene to negotiate how they cut carbon emissions and tackle climate change.

This year’s event marks the 26th of these conferences (hence the name COP26), and was held in Glasgow, Scotland in the UK. World leaders came together in what was known as the ‘Blue Zone’ - which was the negotiation area that only world leaders and delegates were allowed to enter - from the 31st October to 12th November 2021.

COP26 – What’s the fuss?

This COP was labelled one of the most important yet, as it was held in the wake of the ruinous report released by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

This report was prepared by 234 scientists from 66 different countries and brings together the latest scientific data. This year’s report highlighted the influence of human activity on the climate uncovering the unprecedented rates of climate change and warming. It made it clear that the current state of our planet ‘is a code red for humanity’, and that ‘it is unequivocal and indisputable that humans are warming the planet’. The report included statements such as ‘we must act decisively now, to keep 1.5°C alive’ which means that to prevent our climate warming to temperatures to over 1.5°C above pre industrial levels we cannot wait any long. However, there were glimmers of hope with other remarks such as ‘inclusive and green economies, prosperity, cleaner air and better health are possible for all, if we respond to this crisis with solidarity’.₁

These statements cause alarm bells to ring in my own head, and will for many across the globe, as well as highlight the importance that governments take immediate action. However, they also provide me with a sense of optimism. We are living in an era of opportunity. Right now we have the chance to alter the course of history by demanding change to a system which ensures human and environmental justice.

What happened?

You might have heard of the Paris Agreement or the Kyoto Protocol which are international treaties on climate change which were negotiated, crafted and adopted in 2015 at COP21 held in Paris. Countries and territories signed these agreements. The Paris Agreement meant signatories must commit to working to keep the rise in global temperatures to below 2°C (3.6°F) with a preference to limiting it to 1.5°C (2.7°F).₂

This year the agreement has been dubbed the Glasgow Climate Pact and included finalisations to the 2015 Paris Agreement.₃ This is about nations reconvening at COP27 in Egypt with improved targets for emissions which aim to bring 45% cuts to emissions by 2030.₄

Moreover, there were over 100 countries, including the USA, UK, Brazil and China (find the full list here), who have promised to end deforestation with 30 large financial companies also vouching to no longer invest in activities connected to deforestation.₅ This will mean ending whole host of varied practices, including forest clearing to allow for mass industrial agriculture. This is a huge step in the right direction with deforestation being a huge contributor to climate change as it drastically reduces the capacity of the world’s natural systems’ to sequester carbon (capturing and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide₆). It is also a key action in protecting the rights and lands of many indigenous communities. 

There were also agreements made on the use of fossil fuels making COP26 the first-time fossil fuels have been mentioned in a UN agreement. The final wording means delegates agree to ‘accelerate efforts towards the phase down of unabated coal power and inefficient fossil fuel subsidies’.₄ However, this wording was contentious as ‘phase down’ was originally ‘phase out’ – a subtle but important change. This came as China and India pushed for changes as the language would mean they must commit to a ‘phase out’ of their primary energy source.

Another key agreement has been that which commits wealthier countries to compensate vulnerable countries disproportionately impacted by climate change. This topic of ‘loss and damage compensation’ has been on the lips of many climate activists and vulnerable nations calling for climate justice. The agreement has fallen foul of the demands of these groups as they called for a dedicated loss and damage fund. There is also anger and frustration from those in the most vulnerable nations as past promises of $100 billion in climate finance have not been realised.₇

Finally, many have suggested COP26 has brought the concept of ‘net zero into sharp focus’₈  as 67 countries (including the UK, Sweden, and Finland) declare they are committed to becoming net zero along with many cities and corporations. This concept allows the trading of carbon emissions and allows the continuation of releasing carbon dioxide while ‘offsetting’. Offsetting includes the’ cancelling out’ of emissions through investment in projects which reduce or store carbon, such as tree planting or largely untested, small scale technologies. To be net zero the greenhouse gas emissions emitted by a party must be equalled by the amount sequestered as part of the project they have invested in. However, the 67 countries committed to net zero does not include any of the top five emitters - casting doubt on humanity's ability to slow climate change at the rate required. 

What does this mean and what have been the reactions?

The agreements, pledges and promises made at COP26 have been hailed by many as a failure. Among climate activists it has gained the trope ‘FLOP26’ and even the UN chief has said the outcomes are ‘not enough’.₉

Many have been left frustrated by the lack of a firm commitment to keeping warming to 1.5°C (2.7°F) and many have experienced enhanced feelings of climate anxiety as our fears that we, as humanity, will not act to avoid catastrophic climate breakdown come closer to being the reality.

The strong rhetoric centred around net zero, which lots of scientists and campaigners see as a flawed concept, has also sparked disappointment. The issues with net zero are that many solutions mean further commodification of nature and the selling of land held by many indigenous peoples to large corporations. This strategy also means emissions will be allowed to continue building up in the atmosphere further driving warming and climate change.

COP26 has been labelled by swathes of people as a failure and as not going far enough. However, this reaction is focused on the official negotiations which occurred among world leaders in the Blue Zone.

I was lucky enough to be on the ground in Glasgow attending events being held outside the Blue Zone in many community spaces in the city as part of a counter-COP called The People’s Summit. The People’s Summit brought together hundreds of organisations campaigning from social and climate justice across the world to put on talks in venues across Glasgow. This was summit providing the space for groups to gather and build power. There were events for learning and understanding more about our current economic and social system driving us towards climate breakdown. There too were events for discussing alternatives to this system. The People’s Summit was all about building a strategy as to how we can unite globally to create the systems change required to save humanity.

This counter-COP has provided me with hope, a deeper understanding of the problems we are faced with and a stronger resolve to fight for climate justice. What’s more, it brought a strong sense of solidarity.

We must unite locally, nationally, and globally to take our own climate action and call for action from those in positions of power and leadership. This is the only way we will find a solution to the ongoing climate crisis.  

Me and a fellow Yorkshire based activist showing that Leeds is committed to climate justice

Works Cited:

1. UN (2021). IPCC report: ‘Code red’ for human driven global heating, warns UN chief. UN News: Global perspective, Human stories. Accessed 25 November 2021. Available at: https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/08/1097362

2.  UNFCCC (2020). The Paris Agreement. UNFCCC News. Accessed 25 November 2021. Available at: https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/the-paris-agreement/the-paris-agreement

3.  Rust, S. (2021) Weighing the COP26 outcome. Investment & Pensions Europe. Accessed 26 November 2021. Available at: https://www.ipe.com/news/weighing-the-cop26-outcome/10056326.article

4. Finnis, A. (2021) COP 26 agreement explained: A brief summary of the climate change deal and what the outcome of the summit means. I News. Accessed 24 November 2021. Available at: https://inews.co.uk/news/environment/cop26-agreement-explained-summary-climate-change-deal-what-outcome-summit-means-1301578 

5. Rannard, G. & Gillett, F. (2021) COP26 World leaders promise to end deforestation by 2030. BBC News. Accessed 25 November 2021. Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-59088498

6. USGS (2021). What is carbon sequestration?. USGS. Accessed 25 November 2021. Available at: https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/what-carbon-sequestration?qt-news_science_products=0#qt-news_science_products

7. McGrath, M. (2021) Climate change: Vulnerable nations call for ‘emergency pact’. BBC News. Accessed 25 November 2021. Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-58477926

8. Triodos Bank (2021). COP26: what does ‘net zero’ actually mean?. Triodos Bank. Accessed 27 November 2021. Available at:   https://www.triodos.co.uk/articles/2021/cop26-what-does-net-zero-actually-mean 

9. Geris, E. (2021) UN chief says COP26 climate agreement is not enough. Jurist. Accessed 25 November 2021. Available at: https://www.jurist.org/news/2021/11/un-chief-says-cop26-climate-agreement-is-not-enough/