“To spend two weeks to debate about two words in a piece of text is just unproductive. This problem needs a different set of tools” – overheard at the Glasgow airport on the way back to the U.S. on November 14th

According to ClimateTracker, full implementation of 2030 NDC targets will lead to warming of about 2.4 degrees Celsius. Full implementation of submitted and binding long-term targets and 2030 NDC targets will still lead to warming of at least 1.7 degrees Celsius— and these are low estimates. This is a terrifying reality to be left with at the end of COP26 and experiencing some of the process on the ground allowed me to witness many of the reasons we aren’t moving fast enough… 

Inclusion of key stakeholders and community members where they are needed most

In the Green and Blue Zones where parties, NGOs, and non-profits host events and programming, organizers often relegate women, youth and BIPOC people to panels specifically around their identities. Neel attended a panel about gender and clean energy access with a focus on clean cooking, an issue that almost exclusively affects women of color. However, all 6 panelists were white women. Consequently, many events missed key voices from those most impacted. Moreover, so much progress has been made to bring indigenous peoples, women, and BIPOC to the COP; however, these voices aren’t being put where they’re needed most, at the decision-making table.  The majority of those at the front of the climate change movement are young women like Vanessa Nakate, Nisreen Elsaim, and Mitzi Jonelle Tan; however, the negotiations are dominated by older white men. The New York Times wrote an interesting article about this frustrating gap and its impact on outcomes of the conference.

Personal growth

On a personal level, being at the COP really brought the course concepts together. By the end of the week, I felt like I had a richer understanding of Article 6 and the politics behind climate finance. I also got to see international coalition building and solidarity in action. Some key takeways/highlights:

  1. Climate finance as reparations: I made Thursday’s high-level plenary just in time to hear first minister of Scotland, sitting on a panel with Ugandan activist Vanessa Nakate, proclaim, “Finance is key not as a form of charity but as reparations” and triple Scotland’s financial commitment. This bold statement is a glimmer of hope. As negotiators from the U.S. opposed a specific financial mechanism for loss and damage, I thought about ways to hold developed countries more accountable to their financial commitments.
  2. Coalition-building: Activists from all over the world came together to stand in solidarity and push for more ambitious and concrete climate action. Moments like observers dancing to Purple Rain in the pavilions or activists protesting through the Blue Zone and outside the COP are unforgettable and soul-energizing. I got to meet Nisreen Elsaim, Sudanese climate activist and chair of the UN Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change who introduced me to Emi Mahmoud, UNHCR Goodwill ambassador and Sudanese Slam poet, who invited me to an event where I met Saara and Tab, local Scottish activists involved with the #WalkwithAmal performance at COP. This kind of butterfly effect of connecting with people is unforgettable.
  3. Hope: Perhaps hope is enough to sustain us and temporarily calm our eco-anxiety—in fact, it must be. COP brought together some of the most passionate front liners, activists, and revolutionaries to inspire a greater sense of solidarity and action. I think we have to be optimistic and hold on to this hope because it’s the only way to continue moving forward.