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The sixth day of the United Nations climate summit, COP26, focuses on the role of youth and the empowerment of citizens. However, the approach contrasts with the protests of thousands of young activists in the streets of the Scottish city, including the renowned environmentalist Greta Thunberg, who consider this meeting as the “most exclusive” and demand immediate action to stop global warming.
Amid anger and hope, thousands of activists take to the streets of Glasgow, Scotland, on November 5 to demand immediate, fair and concrete action from world leaders, in the framework of the COP26 climate summit.
Among the walls where 190 leaders from different countries discuss the guidelines for the coming years against global warming, the central theme this Friday is the Day of Youth and Public Empowerment.
The sixth day of the event has been marked by the protests of thousands of people. The protesters consider that the measures agreed so far are empty promises that require strong citizen pressure to translate them into action.
“We hope that many people will come and join us in the streets, and not only young people, but also adults who support the youth and adults who want climate action,” said activist Isabelle Axelsson, 20, of the Fridays youth movement For Future, which organizes the march led by renowned Swedish environmentalist Greta Thunberg.
The Glasgow City Council reported that it expects the participation of at least 8,000 people in the mobilizations, which is why it was considering widespread road closures. Although the local authorities indicated that they will ensure respect for the right to protest.
The NGO Arctic Basecamp, made up of scientists, transported a four-ton piece of an iceberg from Greenland to Scotland to warn of the extent of warming in the region.
“Studies show that if we lose snow and ice in the Arctic, we will increase global warming by 25 to 40% (…) We thought that negotiators had to go head-to-head with the Arctic, so we brought this iceberg,” he said Gail Whiteman, university professor and founder of the collective.
To the nonconformity of the activists, the president of the summit, the British Alok Sharma, seemed to agree when he asked the negotiators to do more, since there is a week left to define the next political and financial commitments that will mitigate the effects of climate catastrophes .
“It’s not possible that a lot of unresolved issues will continue into the second week,” Sharma said.
During the day, Sharma and former US Vice President Al Gore are expected to discuss with civil society representatives the measures agreed so far and those that still need to be addressed.
“We will not celebrate empty words and corporate greenwashing”
On the eve of the protest, activist Greta Thunberg offered harsh statements in which she pointed out that this year’s climate meeting is the “most exclusive” ever held and a simple exhibition for rich countries.
“COP26 has been named the most exclusive COP. This is no longer a climate conference. This is a green wash festival for the global North. A two-week celebration of business as usual and blah blah. blah, “said the 18-year-old environmental leader, through her Twitter account.
# COP26 has been named the must excluding COP ever.
This is no longer a climate conference.
This is a Global North greenwash festival.
A two week celebration of business as usual and blah blah blah.
– Greta Thunberg (@GretaThunberg) November 4, 2021
Thunberg is not the only environmental leader who distrusts the commitments made this week. Ugandan activist Vanessa Nakate wrote an opinion piece for the ‘Financial Times’ newspaper in which she criticized that the promises are not backed by immediate action. “We will not celebrate empty words and corporate greenwashing,” he wrote.
A new protest is called for this Saturday November 6 in Glasgow. Environmentalists expect the participation of around 100,000 people in the demonstration called ‘Global Day of Action for Climate Justice’.
Commitments reached so far
Although the protesters consider the promises insufficient, the delegations present in Scotland have led to agreements to try to eliminate the use and production of coal for the next three decades, reduce deforestation and curb methane, a much more potent, albeit short-lived, greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide, and eliminate funding for fossil fuel projects abroad like gas, oil and coal.
All in order to maintain a maximum global temperature rise of 1.5 degrees Celsius this century, which scientists point to as a turning point to prevent much more extreme climate damage. By 2050, the goal is to achieve zero net carbon emissions.
UN experts consider it too optimistic to achieve this goal, while the International Energy Agency evaluates that, if the agreements are fully complied with, it is possible to approach the goal with a global warming of 1.8 ° C.
With Reuters, AP and EFE
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