Today, I wished to share my overall thoughts about last year’s COP 26 meeting in Glasgow, November specifically the agreements reached.
Major expectations loomed leading up to the Glasgow summit due to reports saying that 2030 would be the point of no return regarding action to mitigate or hinder Climate Change. The first week of the summit saw there being major speeches being made about the urgency of Climate Change after a summer of rising heat, forest fires, floods, and others. Promises and pledges were made to cut down the emission of methane and halt deforestation (something Brazil advocated strongly for).[1] Some of these promises were made by people from the private sector such as Jeff Bezos which is ironic. All of this was done with Climate Activists such as Greta Thunberg protesting throughout the summit. Greta and other young activists also met with Secretary-General Antonio Guterres regarding the increased role and voice young people should have at climate meetings.[2]
The second week culminated in the Glasgow Climate Pact, a non-legally binding document that provides the following climate agenda: pledge further cuts to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by following up with a meeting about it this year, reduce use of coal through phasing down, significantly increase money to help poor countries, and phase out fossil fuel subsidies. Other agreements were reached such as the US and China announcing a joint climate agreement to cooperate more over the next decade though this may be jeopardized by the ongoing tensions between both nations. 110 nations pledged in an agreement to stop deforestation by 2030. More than 100 nations also signed an agreement to cut down Methane emissions also by 2030. Financial organizations have also agreed to support “clean” technology such as renewable energy.[3]
The above agreements are important, but commitment is another story entirely due to how global politics is always rife with self-interest and private agendas. For example, how does one expect a nation that is historically dependent on fossil fuels to get rid of it in a handful of years?
I will keep this post updated on whether nation states come through with their promises through results.
[1] https://www.npr.org/2021/11/08/1053647157/halfway-through-cop26-heres-what-has-happened-so-far-and-what-lies-ahead?t=1636629653642&t=1660385983396
Dramas and timely events around the world 
Leave a comment