Nov. 15: COP26 Ends – Signs of Hope
As COP26 wrapped up Nov.12, I wondered… might one only hear some mainstream media headlines focusing on what was not accomplished despite everyone’s best efforts? It’s true that the outcome document (see: https://unfccc.int/news/cop26-reaches-consensus-on-key-actions-to-address-climate-change ) was not nearly as strong as we had hoped, but I wish to offer a counter-perspective to any despair.
Progress was made at #COP26, with many countries agreeing to phase out coal, drastically reduce methane emissions and ensure new cars are net zero emissions by 2035. Countries committed to increasing climate education, exploring climate justice and made initial financial commitments to support progress.
Some advances that look very helpful, such as a declaration to protect forests endorsed by over 140 countries (see: https://ukcop26.org/glasgow-leaders-declaration-on-forests-and-land-use/ ), will need to be carefully tracked to ensure justice for Indigenous communities. The ambition was not high enough to ensure limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, but it was a good start in that direction. In addition, it quickly became clear that there were actually two COPs going on: one inside the Blue Zone (the official negotiation area) and one outside the event, in the Green Zone (the public area) and beyond. For example, the COP26 Coalition hosted a People’s Summit on 7-10 November, and kept us updated with brief YouTube episodes called “Inside Out” (see: https://youtu.be/ouFnaQRlyaM )
Truly, it was a time and place where innovation and creativity were on display, calling us as a species to tap into our best possible efforts.
Several of our favourite programs included:
Climate justice, education and gender equality: targeting the connections
This event, organized by the Malala Fund, illuminated the links between climate change, girls’ education and gender equality.
Creating youth-led solutions: Sharing stories & insight with YMCA
Organized by YMCA Scotland, this session reviewed the Youth-Led Solutions initiative, which was created to mentor, train and support the development of young people’s solutions to issues of climate justice, employment and mental health.
Call to Earth: A message from the world’s astronauts
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IT9Na_84zGo
This video is for pure perspective – and inspiration.
Going forward, our challenge is threefold:
First, to maintain hope and embrace stubborn optimism. An excellent resource on this journey is to join Christiana Figueres, the Costa Rican diplomat who presided over the Paris Climate Agreement, at her website.
Second, our challenge is to lift up and support the voices of the youth, especially young women, who are directly affected by the climate crisis.
And finally, we are called to embrace the Laudato Si Action Platform , which officially launched on Sunday, Nov. 14. A session entitled “Catholics at COP26” provided an excellent overview of how to best respond to this challenging moment. We need to change our cosmo-vision (i.e. our worldview) to embrace both environmental and social justice.
As we continue to educate ourselves – and others – in order to hold our governments accountable, may we maintain the hope and faith that comes from being people of the resurrection.
Progress was made at #COP26, with many countries agreeing to phase out coal, drastically reduce methane emissions and ensure new cars are net zero emissions by 2035. Countries committed to increasing climate education, exploring climate justice and made initial financial commitments to support progress: may we maintain the hope and faith that comes from being people of the resurrection.
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Tags: COP26 Ends - Signs of Hope, Global Sisters Report: COP Ends
