Recently you might have heard the British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, getting excited about something called COP26. However, a YouGov survey of the UK public this week found that 51% of Brits have not even heard of COP26- and it’s supposed to be starting this weekend! So, since I will be attending COP26, I thought I’d write my own brief guide to the COP26 climate negotiations.
What on earth is COP26?
COP26 stands for the 26th Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Translated into English, it is 26th time that member states of the United Nations have met up to talk about how they will stop catastrophic climate change. COP26 was supposed to take place in Glasgow last year but was postponed because of the Co-VID 19 pandemic. This year COP26 is actually happening, which is why Boris is so excited.
Why should I care about COP26?
Back in 2015 at COP21, member states of the United Nations got together in Paris and made an important agreement. Nearly 200 countries agreed to limit global average temperatures to 2°C above pre-industrial levels (‘normal’), whilst aiming for 1.5°C. 2°C of warming might sound like quite a nice idea on a cold, rainy day in Exeter. However, when you consider that the peak of the last ice age was only five degrees colder than today, and that was enough to bury the north of the UK under an ice sheet, then you can see why scientists want us to limit global average temperatures to 2°C.
So, in 2015 world leaders agreed on what we need to do to halt catastrophic climate change. COP26 will be all about how we are going to achieve that goal. For some reason, the best way I can think of explaining how COP26 will work is by talking about the Christmas dinner that me and my old school friends try to organise each year, so please bear with the slightly awkward analogy. Planning a Christmas dinner for 12 people is a major logistical exercise. You need gravy, roast potatoes, Brussel sprouts, stuffing, pigs in blankets, a roast Turkey (or, yes, a nut roast if you are veggie or vegan), a Christmas pudding, crackers and you to need to make sure that everyone has enough to eat. So, to make life easier for the host, we each make our own contribution. I might bring roast potatoes, one person might do the Brussel Sprouts and another might roast the turkey. However, if I can’t be bothered to bring any roast potatoes and eat everyone else’s food, then my friends are going to get hungry and annoyed with me.
COP26 will work in a similar way. Each member state will submit its own plan for reducing their emissions of heat-trapping gases, with the aim of keeping global average temperatures below 2°C above pre-industrial levels. This plan is called a nationally determined contribution, or an NDC. However, if countries do not submit plans that are ambitious and turn up expecting a ‘free lunch,’ then we will not succeed in achieving the goal agreed in 2015 at COP21. For COP26 to be successful and fair, every member state needs to work together to make sure that everyone contributes what is needed.
Why are you going to COP26?
I am a member of the Young Christian Climate Network. We are a group of young Christians who are campaigning for the fair treatment of communities who are most affected by climate change. I was kindly invited to be part of the Christian Climate Observers Programme, who are sending Christians from all around the world to attend COP26 and observe the negotiations. More blog posts on why it is important for faith groups to attend international climate negotiations will appear shortly!
Will you see the Queen?
Nope. Liz isn’t feeling well, so she won’t be attending COP26 and will be taking a well-deserved break. So, no, I won’t be taking a selfie with the Queen.
What about Greta Thunberg?
Greta is going to attend COP26. She and the Fridays for the Future movement are organising a big climate protest at 7.30pm next Friday, which I am planning to attend.
And David Attenborough?
Not sure. Dave might attend in-person, but it depends on his health.
Chris Manktelow 