Author: Pradnya Bhandari

It’s been a week since I returned from the COP, and something that I have been thinking about frequently since then is youth activism. Especially after the international platform that Greta Thunberg has created, it is clear that there was an emphasis on engaging youths for this COP. Even for those individuals that don’t actively participate in the environmental space or keep up with the news around the topic, Greta has become a household name, bringing the conversation of climate action and sustainability to the forefront. Clearly her admonishing words and scathing remarks at the UN Conference in September put a spotlight on the lack of action on the part of decision- and policymakers.

Youth were acknowledged and recognized at various events throughout the two weeks. The Resilience Lab, a think tank working to create solutions for the environmental problems that will arise post 2030 or 2050, held an event for the opening of their pavilion. In that event, a young girl from India spoke about how climate change is affecting her and her future, sentiments that are echoed throughout the speeches of many other youth activists, Greta included. Providing a voice to the youth is so important, as they are the generation that is going to be most impacted by the decisions made today. However, it still seems as if they are just given a voice and not yet a chance to meaningfully engage in the negotiations or other policy making discussions.

In addition to the youth activism, there were a series of climate strikes held around the world on December 6^th, with Greta leading the march in Madrid. Fridays for Future, another prominent youth activist organization, led the charge for these climate strikes that occurred in places like Santiago Chile, Paris, France, and even Durham, North Carolina. The platform that Greta has created has spurred a truly global conversation around the urgent need for climate action in order to protect the future of children like Greta. A deeper conversation that often follows this is that climate action is crucial for children unlike Greta, meaning those that are living in poverty or developing countries that bear the brunt of climate change impacts. Something that Greta has vocalized but is not given much attention is the fact that while her future is at stake, the future of other children who live in different conditions is much more at stake. By recognizing her own privilege tied to the resources that she does have access to shows her understanding of the nuance and complexity of climate change issues.

Youth activists are a group that will be continually needed more, as their voices, shouts, demonstrations, and protests can encourage world leaders to take charge and become more ambitious with climate action. But also, this group gives hope that there is a new generation of individuals that are willing to fight harder and together to combat, and ideally, reverse the effects of climate change. Greta has create a platform, but it is up to the hundreds of thousands of youths around the world to keep the momentum and strength of their movement going.

Plastered along the walls of the Feria de Madrid metro station were posters with climate facts, all ending in the statement “Don’t call it climate, call it climate emergency.” This idea of emergency, and rather the term heard over and over again throughout the COP, urgency, was coupled with the need for greater ambition. Simply put, this rhetoric follows the realization that all of the countries self-identified nationally determined contributions (NDCs), don’t put us on the pathway for a world below 2° Celsius warming. Thus, there’s a need for greater ambition and a greater sense of urgency from parties, industry, NGOs, and even individuals to come together in order to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement.

Clearly Article 6 of the Paris Agreement is the big-ticket item at this COP and all eyes are on the progress of negotiations around it. Article 6 is a key piece of the puzzle to ensure we stay within our planetary limits, so the need for urgency around ratifying this item by the end of the two weeks is evident. Negotiators have been working around the clock to come to agreeable terms but this can sometimes be hindered by the procedural nature of UN Conferences. Additionally, defining the terms of accounting and mechanisms through Article 6 includes a wide range of stakeholders, all of whom have vested interests and varied ideas on the most equitable system.

Urgency and ambition were included in the messaging of almost every side event and was even the name of the WWF Pavilion. One of the things I was curious about was if urgency was a theme at every COP since we’ve known about the dire effects of climate change for a quite a while. After speaking to a whole host of individuals who had each attended ten or more COPs, it was clear that the communications around urgency have been ramped up for this COP. One of the reasons for this could be that the 2020 and 2030, the years for most countries global stocktakes, first set of targets, and other climate action items, are approaching soon. In order to successfully measure and meet these goals, there is an urgent need for action from all actors.

As I was following business and private sector for the majority of the week, I was incredibly inspired by the large strides taken by key players in this space. Companies are making commitments to be carbon neutral, sustainably source products in their supply chain, increase energy efficiency in their operations, and develop public-private partnerships to help achieve global climate action targets. They are beginning to understand that internalizing sustainability initiatives helps achieve fiscal targets within the company as well.

To add onto the top-line message of urgency and ambition, I’d say that partnerships, whether they be bilateral or multilateral, are of increasing importance. It is clear that no one actor can take on the challenge of combating climate change. Working together is a key strategy to use to ensure that we stay below 2° Celsius warming.

Well to say that this UN Conference of Parties (COP) has been a whirlwind before it even begins is an understatement to say the least! With a late breaking change in not only venue, but country, has put an interesting spotlight on how these conferences are based around the environmental issues of the host country. While Chile still holds the presidency of COP25, there is definitely some uncertainty over how topics will be addressed and even questions about how attendance to the COP will change. Making this COP even more significant is that it happens just a few weeks after President Trump formally announced his withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement, born out of COP21. With these larger political tensions framing the COP, I am intrigued to see how these affect the conversations and negotiations that take place.

Traditionally, the main themes of the COP are based in the pressing environmental issues of the host country, and since the location has changed from Chile to Madrid, I am intrigued to see if these same topics will translate. A high-level theme that I am sure will be discussed at length is how each of the countries plans to achieve the goals they committed to in their National Determined Contributions (NDCs). Piggybacking off some of the conversations from the COP in Katovice, countries will outline the mechanisms through which these targets will be met.

I have also heard that this is the first “Blue COP” signifying a focus on the ocean for the negotiations. Focusing on the ocean can mean a range of things, from looking at blue economy opportunities, to making goals that emphasize oceanic health. The ocean has been a forefront topic, especially with worldwide acknowledgement of plastic usage and how it effect marine organisms. Language that specifically mentions the oceans appears in the Paris Agreement preamble, and the UNFCCC has stated the ocean is an important carbon sink. This type of recognition on  a specific ecosystem is rare for the COP and it is clear that the ocean will be at the center of discussions in a variety of ways.

In addition to these topics, I believe youth activism is going to play a larger role in this COP than it has in previous years. With Greta Thunberg’s scathing remarks at the Climate Action Summit in New York, all eyes and ears are going to be on the speech she gives at the COP. Her activism has opened up the eyes of many to the power of youths and I hope that translates to the COP, with greater opportunities for youth to be engaged and have their voice heard in the negotiations.

While the ocean and mechanisms to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement are going to be major themes of this COP, there will also be discussion around mitigation and adaption, financing, burdens on lower income countries, environmental justice issues, clean energy and innovation, public private partnerships, circular economy, and probably many more topics that I am not even aware of yet. With the top leaders, negotiators, and organizations all under one roof, I am looking forward to an enlightening, engaging, hectic, and exhausting week of absorbing all the conversations around me. Getting to immerse myself in this global conversation is a once in a lifetime opportunity and I cannot wait to share all of my exciting insights!