What on earth is COP26?

(COP stands for The Conference of the Parties)

At the beginning of November, delegates from 197 countries will meet in Glasgow, Scotland, to discuss the climate emergency and to promise to take steps to slow the pace of global warming. This climate summit has attracted nearly 200 world leaders and their negotiating teams, and also eco-concerned people from all over the world. It has been described as a cross between an Olympics for the earth and a game of planetary poker.

But why should we care?

COP26 is being called the most important meeting ever to be held.  It is now known that human activity is causing climatic damage to our planet. Unless matters are sorted out there will be untold damage and death on planet earth caused by changes to the climate. Decisions made at COP26 will affect the future of our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  It will determine what sort of future they may have.

We have all seen the pictures of storms, floods, wildfires and heatwaves That many years ago would have been seen as very rare.  They are now becoming more and more common.  Nineteen of the warmest years on record have all occurred within the past twenty years.

Countries attending COP26 should have done their homework.  They have to announce how they will cut CO2 emissions in their country. This means that each of us should help by cutting out those activities that cause pollution, or not buying products that are not packaged in a non eco way. We owe it to future generations to leave the world in a better state, not worse.

 

Pete Miller