Reflections From COP26

It has been more than a month since the closing of the 26th Conference of Parties (COP) to UN Climate Change. COP26 is an emotional experience for so many young people that it often takes time for us to reflect, reconnect, and bounce back after yet another disappointing outcome. Here are a few reflections from Care About Climate members who attended COP26:

Hailey Campbell (USA)

23 year-old Climate Activist and Director of Climate Ambassadors

When I think about my life in 2050, I envision sitting on the beach with my fellow climate activists reminiscing about the time we saved our home from burning and secured a future for ourselves, our children, and all future generations. 

There have been 26 UN Climate Change Conferences of the Parties (COPs) meant to achieve the goal of putting out the fire we started on Earth. All 26 times, governments have failed to chart a path toward a sustainable and carbon-free future. Each time the COP ends, governments assure us that the next COP will be different. While we have made small strides, our planet is still burning and we are getting closer and closer to living in a world where I might not even make it to the year 2050 - a terrifying future to imagine. 

Underneath the fear and disappointment I felt leaving COP26 is a glimmer of hope and optimism fueled by the inspirational young activists I spent 12 hours a day with fighting to raise our voices. Every single young person I worked with knows the power of collective action, recognizes that all voices in this movement matter, and understands the importance of putting our own interests and politics aside to ensure an equitable, sustainable, carbon-free future. So, when thinking about my life in 2050, I am optimistic because I know that young people are the future. When our governments fail to act, we step up. We are the ones making it happen and we will be the ones to save our home from burning. COP26 proved to me that we are unstoppable. 

Natalie Mangondo (Zimbabwe)

25 year old climate change economist and Care About Climate COP26 Delegate

With less than two weeks to go until the opening session of the 26th Conference of Parties (henceforth COP26), I was resigned to the fact that I would not attend my first COP in the year 2021. Vaccine inequity, the UK’s everchanging COVID regulations, exorbitant accommodation prices, and lack of accreditation were just a few of the the barriers that I, and so many other young people and Global South attendees faced. However, it was made possible in such a short space of time thanks to the kind support of organisations and people like the Care About Climate team. 

I highlight this experience because these barriers and inequalities I faced prior to and at COP26 are a small but important example of the Global North/South divide. This divide, and the injustices associated are undoubtedly exacerbated by the effects of climate change. COP26 was not a climate change conference but two weeks of geopolitical bickering. Despite the celebrations of multilateralism, the conference and subsequent Glasgow Climate Pact reflected the national interests of the world's greatest historical and present day polluters. 

As someone from one of the most climate vulnerable countries, Zimbabwe, I left COP26 feeling disappointed and afraid, not only for my future but my present. I am a young person currently facing not only the climate crisis, but a developmental, and debt crisis in my country with no hope or faith in our so-called leaders. 

Elujulo Opeyemi (Nigeria)

Agroecology Advocate and Climate Ambassador Mentor

With the backdrops of the existential crisis of climate change increasingly ravaging lives and livelihoods across the world, coupled with the recent COVID-19 pandemic that has reiterated our connectedness with nature, one would expect that COP26 would be the COP that delivers urgent and ambitious actionable commitments that embodies understanding of sustainable development, and aligns solutions with the crisis on the much needed scale for 1.5. This was what many of us hoped to witness as we packed our bags and set for Glasgow, but unfortunately, this was not the case. Glasgow did not deliver what Paris promised! Like previous COPs, COP26 ended with lots of pledges and perplexing outcomes that left many of us with cautious optimism. Delays on finance for adaptation, and loss and damage, “phase out” reworded as “phase down” of coal power, and addition of “inefficient” to fossil fuel subsidies as used in the Glasgow Climate Pact were some of the negotiations outcomes, and under the disguise of Covid19 measures, COP26 ended as one of the most exclusionary convening, all of these represents major constraints to achieving 1.5, and the livable future that we desire.

Did COP26 Achieve Anything? 

While the negotiations did not deliver on ambitions and implementation pathways on the much needed scale, some other outcomes such as the Global Action Agenda, Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate, Global Methane pledge, commitments from 100 countries to halt deforestation by 2030, and U.K’ pledge to phase out coal power represents the few wins and legacy of COP26. These are however yet pledges that I hope to see transitioned into meaningful actions in the near future, because this is what will make COP27 in Egypt meaningful. It is my hope that COP27 will be the COP that communicates and celebrates actionable pathways to implementation instead of pledges, and one that is transparent and inclusive.

Ruth Oviedo Hollands (USA)

Climate Activist and Researcher for EmpoderaClima

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has really shown us how unprepared we are to deal with collective global disasters. As a climate activist, I learn more and more about how we are already dealing with climate change consequences, from extreme weather events to loss in ecosystems. All these climate related consequences we’re facing are only going to escalate and we need to act now. We don’t really have more options. While COP26 did not end with the decisions we all needed, I left hopeful and in awe of all the communities and representatives present who shared their passion of climate advocacy and positive change.

 At COP I was pleasantly surprised at how proactive some communities have been in tackling climate consequences in their communities by empowering women and youth, establishing greener actions, and promoting more sustainable practices. This kind of community -based climate action was not given the most attention, but I appreciated to see this kind of work being carried out and I especially appreciated those projects with actual government and/or NGO support. In an arena so convoluted with politics and stringent agendas, it was important to see that there are communities working on solutions, especially those of the most vulnerable nature.

 We mustn’t lose hope for the future. The outcomes of COP26 were not ideal, but we are still amongst many who are still fighting and advocating for our environment. We are a strong and resilient generation that will succeed. There is a global movement urging our world leaders and decision makers to stop and think of us, our future, and the future of our planet. We won’t give up and we will keep working to truly make the earth, our home, a better, safer, and more equitable place.