Written October 30th, 2021 (Post 1 of 3):
feelings in this moment:
gratitude. astonishment. fear. elation. hopefulness.
…to be an “Observer” in the Blue Zone at the United Nations Climate Change Conference – COP26. This is an aspiration that never felt realistic or tangible; COPs have always seemed distant or inaccessible (and they still are for so many young and indigenous communities). The famed Paris Agreement was of course adopted by 196 Parties are COP21 in Paris. It is a landmark, legally binding international treaty on climate change. For the first time, it unites nations to both adapt to and combat climate change by limiting warming to below 2 degrees (preferably 1.5 degrees Celsius). Time and time again I have spoken of the need for a clean (and just) energy transition to stay make sure we are in line with “Paris.” To attend a COP, the very same conference that announced a guidepost in my academic and professional life, feels truly dreamlike.
A number of other factors make this COP feel particularly monumental:
- My personal ethics: I have a degree in biology (focus on ecology) and have dedicated much of my studies (including a thesis) to environmental ethics. For nearly a decade, I have been grappling with my own conception of nature and how we ought to live / recognize the profound importance of the natural world. Although I am not a practicing philosopher, much of my work now in the private sector is driven by my personal, ethical grounding. What looks like a haphazard career path in ecology, philosophy, law, and now business + energy is unified by consistent and intentional thread: a desire to protect nature . Having grown up in the rural forests of Maine, a deep-seated love and respect for the environment grew within me. As I look forward to COP26, I’m determined to make the most of my time there and hopefully step into climate leadership upon graduation with a renewed sense of my place and purpose in this world.
- Setbacks from Trump’s climate policies: Looking beyond my personal experiences, COP26 is also crucial in this decisive decade due to previous climate inaction in the US. Under Trump, environmental safeguards built to protect against the worst impacts of climate change crumbled. We saw a disregard of scientific data on climate risk and rolled back emission standards for cars and trucks and methane standards for O&G. The Clean Power Plan was dismantled…and the US withdrew from the Paris Agreement (1). Nevertheless, I am hopeful, especially given the US rejoined the Paris Agreement in February of 2021 and Biden has shifted focus back to climate and reestablished America’s role in addressing the climate crisis. Although he has faced some set backs leading up to COP, Biden also announced the Build Back Better Framework (the largest effort to address climate change in US history) and has committed the US to reducing GHGs ~50% below 2005 levels by 2030 (2). It will be crucial to see how the Biden administration will step up US action and embolden climate commitments at COP26 in light of four wasted years – we must act now!
- IPCC Sixth Assessment Report (firsts of 3 working group reports): In the month or two leading up to COP26, I experienced my first-ever wave of “climate anxiety.” While generally optimistic about our future on this planet, I could help but feel a sense of overwhelming hopelessness after reading portions of the IPCC report – how would we do enough fast enough? Across the globe we hear of catastrophic fires (even in the Arctic), rampaging floods, and deadly heat waves. IPCC Scientists found that humans are the primary drivers of climate change and it is “already affecting every inhabited region across the globe (3).” Even if we reduce emissions today, we have “baked a lot of warming into the climate system” already – extreme weather events are guaranteed (4). What’s also alarming is the fact that “our precious carbon sinks” become less effective at absorbing CO2 over time and can eventually turn into carbon sources; the Amazon rainforest is no longer a carbon sink (5). It is clear that we must dramatically change the way we live, work, eat, and consume energy. An article from WRI highlights the following: “The IPCC report shows that no region will be left untouched by the impacts of climate change, with enormous human and economic costs that far outweigh the costs of action…This year’s report is even bleaker than previous assessments and the message is clear: This is our make-or-break decade for limiting temperature rise to 1.5 degrees C (7).” So…what will climate leaders and negotiators do with this information at COP26? Will there be a rushing sense of urgency? Or will there be acceptance, ignorance, and complacency?
I could also go on and on with more reasons COP26 will be particularly paramount: finalizing of Article 6 rules, discussion of the $100B commitment by developed countries and climate finance access, need for loss and damage funding, etc. etc. I’m sure I’ll be writing about some of these issues in my next post, so we’ll leave it be for now 🙂
In truth, I have no idea what to expect at COP26. I’ve never attended an event of such importance and international scale. The entire world is watching, and as they sing in the play Hamilton, “history has its eyes on you.” As I mention in the title of this post – COP26 is just the starting line in this decisive decade. We’ve got to get to work.
Overall, I just can’t wait to arrive in Scotland and explore Glasgow a bit (I heard Glaswegians are some of the friendliest in the world!). I’m also thankful that my week will be a bit more structured through client work with Rocky Mountain Institute Climate Finance Access Network (RMI CFAN) and the Business Council for Sustainable Energy (BCSE). I’m really looking forward to attending and supporting their events!
Sources
1: https://www.wri.org/insights/7-ways-biden-administration-can-reverse-climate-rollbacks
3,6 : https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg1/downloads/report/IPCC_AR6_WGI_Full_Report.pdf
