COP OUT 26
Since November 1st, the news has been dominated by reports from COP26, the climate conference bringing together world leaders from across the globe to discuss the issues being faced by the planet at large, to agree what actions they will take as governments of countries to do their bit to help the situation.
It is now clear that these talks really have amounted to little more than the “Blah,blah, blah!” Greta Thunberg accused them of in the lead up to the conference. Even more dangerous than that, is the idea that the meagre agreements that have been put in place somehow amount to a successful event.
After much deliberation, I declined to attend since I suspected that it would not be the drastic tipping point that we could look back on fondly in future years, relived that we acted in time. Sadly, my fears were realised with extensive greenwashing and a failure to even acknowledge the “cow in the room”.
To find out more about what COP 26 should have been focusing on, check out https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSwek2E0DiMan7YlmSvN-hQ/live and in particular George Monbiot’s series “Monbiosis” where he talks to indigenous people and those addressing the needs of the global South who have been largely left out of these discussions despite being the most impacted by the climate crisis.
By failing to commit to ending the use of fossil fuels, ending government subsidies for animal agriculture AND banning new coal, oil or gas facilities, they have left the door open for climate catastrophe. My heart breaks for the millions of people and animals who will suffer as a result. This is a fail on a monumental scale. They should be ashamed of themselves.
To cut through the noise, here are some handy phrases decoded to watch out for in future:
Net Zero = an accountants approach to recognising the inherent value of nature which ignores the difference between a 400 yr old tree and a sapling, for example. Classic greenwashing.
Green-washing = a distraction method popularised by the oil and gas industry. “Look at the great things I am doing for the environment! (but don’t look at the mass destruction I am causing x1000 greater than this minuscule effort)”
Animal agriculture = the most destructive of all systems on earth for the environment and not addressed AT ALL by leaders at COP 26 most of whom were chowing down on their beef tacos in the breaks.
Global South = the regions in the world who suffer most at the hands of the climate crisis, despite barely contributing to it.
Carbon Capture = creating a tech industry cure rather than tackling the problem at source. Capitalism at its finest.
Keep an eye out for #BeyondOilandGas Alliance which was formed at COP 26 (one of the few positives!) and has been signed up to by 11 governments already and the work of the Plant Based Treaty who are encouraging governments to adopt an international plant based treaty! It’s not over yet!
Cry me a river, Alok - you have consistently voted against climate-positive policies. What a sham.