UN COP26 and the intricate web that is climate negotiations
As the world converges for COP26 in UK, the weighty question is whether we can be realistically optimistic about impactful global climate action. You see, I have spent the better part of this year researching on the UN climate negotiations for my MSc dissertation, a profoundly impactful experience that has reinforced my reality of global warming, the effects on the planet and the weight of responsibility that the parties should and must carry to this conference.
Majority of global citizens out here, are unintentionally oblivious of the impact of climate change.
Before I started my research, I was somewhat familiar with the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change), the Kyoto Protocol and The Paris Agreement. I was however intrigued by the intricate level of detail that rode on the back of these agreements in form of COP reports, amendments, annexes, ratification processes, mechanisms, rulebooks, work committees, work plans, bodies, boards, strategies, resolutions and many other actions that form thousands and thousands of documents, papers and reports, that are at the core of the negotiations.
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As I read through document after document, scanned reviews and spoke to experts, I saw a process that continues to get more divergent, more detailed and more complex; it is a web of intricate layers that continue to pile on, close to 30 years of negotiations later. With a sinking feeling, I realised that:
It is not enough to trust that someone else was taking care of the climate problem at the Conference of Parties. You see I had reasoned that countries have successfully reached transnational trade deals, ended wars, united in technology and thus there was nothing to worry about the climate negotiations.
I now know that there are so many conflicting interests at the negotiations and despite damning climate reports, the global climate action is nowhere near what is needed, to achieve net-zero by 2050. I ask myself if a sinking island is enough, to turn the tide on climate negotiations, or another earthquake or another heatwave? Will this or other future COPs make the integral decision to save the world from global warming?
Of course we have to ask the question whether this ‘intricate web’ of negotiations has been intentionally created to divert focus from the complicated dilemma of harmonising the varied interests at the conference of parties. Is a consensus possible?
Can the world afford to wait for COP27?
From my research, majority of global citizens out here, are far removed from these UN negotiations, they are living life, unintentionally oblivious of the impact of climate change. Governments have not done enough to educate their citizens or even give them guidance on what they can do to contribute to the debate or to the climate action.
So what can I do as a regular person, whose voice is not at the conference? I have a small voice and you do too, but this small voice is loud enough in your home, your business and your community. What if we all became climate change leaders? What if we pushed for change from below instead of waiting for another COP to come and go, what if we did not wait for this web of negotiations to continue getting more complicated?
The UNFCCC convention website has more information on climate action and you can find guidance on joining the Race-to-Zero Campaign here
