I followed COP-26 as many environmentalists might have, with a mix of hope that mounting global pressure for ambitious climate action would translate to meaningful change by world leaders — met with a dose of realism that entrenched political and economic systems won’t yet allow for the urgent, transformative approaches we need to tackle the climate crisis.
On one hand, it was good to see new pledges and commitments. Understandably, international negotiations and consensus-building take time given the number of countries involved. Unfortunately, this doesn’t fit well with the urgency and scale of solutions required for the crisis.
It was also upsetting to see the dominance of fossil fuel corporations delegations, while climate advocates, NGOs, and indigenous people were mostly sidelined from the decision-making table — those who offer many transformative solutions for our ailing planet.
Where there was action…
Some progress has been during the conference, notably countries committing to massive cuts in coal and methane emissions, a billion-dollar pledge for indigenous peoples, halting deforestation by 2030, and increased climate finance mobilization. 50 countries committed to climate-smart healthcare systems, a great step forward in ensuring one of the most vulnerable sectors to climate change adapts in advance to save lives (unfortunately, Singapore didn’t sign).
It was inspiring to see everyday people organizing in large numbers outside COP-26, and speaking fearlessly. Highlights for me were the speeches by indigenous people grounded in their wisdom, activists taking the UK government to court for channeling taxpayer money to fossil fuel corporations, the Singapore COP-26 youth statement, and inclusion of youth voices at COP-26 events covering important environmental issues like eco-anxiety (listen to Terese’s heartfelt poem here!).
Where there was delay…
Glaring gaps in climate policies remain, such as insufficient loss and damage funds to help developing countries combat climate change and countries’ net-zero pledges based on untested technologies or taking actions too late to cut emissions rapidly. Doubts have been raised as to whether the COP-26 commitments are sufficient and will actually be implemented — with estimates that the world is on track to 2.4°C warming even if countries meet their conditional and unconditional NDCs.
In Singapore, although we are improving our sustainability plans, the city remains highly dependent on fossil fuels, amongst other environmental issues that need to be tackled. We must continue to question this and advocate for more ambitious change.
Also missing was considering alternatives to our GDP-obsessed economies, the heart at what drives the climate crisis, inequality, and environmental degradation, as pointed out by scientists and advocates. How can we recentre society within planetary boundaries to ensure wellbeing for all, and what are the transition values we need to get there? As a chapter in Eating Chillicrab in the Anthropocene points out — frugality, collaboration, and humility, instead of competition, overconsumption, and individualism for a climate-just world.
The clarity and clarion call that the climate crisis is raging and “code red” for humanity, as determined by scientists, has never been clearer, yet there is still inaction. To unpack this climate delay, we have to recognize how it manifests.
I came across this paper that classifies common discourse around climate change, which might accept the importance of tackling climate change but denies taking transformative immediate and/or meaningful climate action:
Typology of climate delay discourses. Source: Lamb et al. (2020).
Technological optimism: Holding that technological progress will rapidly bring about emissions reductions in the far future, like net-zero pledges delaying immediate action.
At COP-26: Net-zero pledges that are not aligned with the 1.5°C target e.g., Saudi Arabia’s 2060 net-zero target is based on carbon capture technologies that are not viable by the mid-century.
Policy perfectionism: Arguments for disproportional caution in setting ambitious levels of climate policy in order not to lose public support.
At COP-26: Avoidance by developed countries to pay loss and damages. For instance, US climate envoy John Kerry acknowledged the need to pay those most affected by climate change but mentioned more work needed to be done to find out where this money should come from.
All talk, little action: Points to recent advances in lowering emissions (often based on relative measures) or in setting ambitious climate targets, downplaying the need for more stringent or new types of additional action.
At COP-26: The seemingly promising words from world leaders that “we have declared a climate emergency” and “are making bold commitments” but in reality, taking retracting actions. For example, the UK has 40 new fossil fuel projects in the pipeline while hosting COP-26.
And more…
How much longer will we wait for the perfect time to act aligned with not only the science but the realities of thousands of people battling climate change today?
Youths, indigenous people, women, sustainability innovators, and many more are already leading bold action in their communities and embodying the change in the way they organize and communicate. Unfortunately, those in power and privilege aren’t ready to accept these changes but we have to organize and work to bring them along on this path of planetary healing.
There is a moral imperative to act to repair the social and ecological harms we have inflicted. We need to confront this crisis with the courage to tackle its root causes — from human greed to unfettered growth — for the sake of saving millions of lives that did not and will not contribute to this crisis, and the species we share our planet with.
This means moving to agroecological food systems, harnessing proven low carbon technology, building the human ecology around wellbeing, collective care, equality, and justice. A better world can exist, and there’s no time to delay creating it.
This article was also published on Medium.
References
Discourses of climate delay | Global Sustainability | Cambridge Core
Climate ‘loss and damage’ earns recognition but little action in COP26 deal
Countries commit to develop climate-smart health care at COP26 UN climate conference
Cop26 week one: the impression of progress – but not nearly enough
Is Saudi Arabia’s net zero pledge a climate breakthrough, or just a mirage?
My Nature Experiences 
It should be the former but the way it is, it is the latter I think.. 🌍