COP26: 2021 International Climate Change Conference
December 22, 2021
COP26 is the 26th annual United Nations Climate Change Conference. This conference took place in Glasgow, Scotland from October 31, 2021 to November 12, 2021. This event brings together many countries in the world to discuss climate change and how countries as a whole can help prevent the escalation of irreversible changes to our environment. As a teenager, I feel it is important for students and members of staff at the school to learn about climate change, and the impact it has on our environment.
Like the previous COP’s, the first few days of COP26 were filled with cameras and handshakes for the public’s eye to see their countries’ leaders coming together. The United States is a large consumer of natural resources so it humbled many that the country took part in this year’s event. The country had been absent from the past functions during the last presidency. Thankfully, President Joe Biden claims that the US will take action against the climate crisis and wants to ‘lead by example’ for other nations. Although the US made an appearance, other strongly impactful countries like Brazil, Saudi Arabia, Russia and China were all missing.
India made one of the largest promises stating their country would get their electricity from renewables by 2030 and go net zero by 2070. Other world leaders claimed they will end deforestation by 2030. This would prevent so many trees from being cut down and animals from losing their homes and becoming endangered. Previously people have made similar promises but this time there is money behind these words. $19.2 billion from governments and the private sector for major forest nations and a bonus of $1 billion for indigenious communities.
90 nations discussed and agreed to reducing methane emissions by 30% by the end of the next decade. Methane is found around greenhouse gases, gas and oil wells, pipelines, livestock burps and farts, and municipal landfill sites. Poland and 40 other countries complied to phase out coal fired power. This would get rid of the dirtiest types of fossil fuels in 2030 and 2040.
This information is key for everyone to know about in order to get the environment clean and prevent any more lasting damage to the planet. Without everyone doing their part and taking action to this cause the harm will be irreversible.
