Environmental organizations' plans for the COP26 summit in Glasgow
The 26th starts on Sunday, October 31, 2021e UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow. The so-called COP26 summit will bring together delegations from 125 countries to accelerate action to achieve the goals of the 2015 Paris Agreement. In addition to new action plans, it will also be assessed how individual countries have performed in the fight against climate change. If this share does not meet the standard, each country can be asked to come up with a new, stricter plan. Logically, there is a lot of pressure on this top. But it is difficult to say whether this summit will bring about much change. It NRC headlined on October 24 that 'deed and word are far apart' during the climate summit. To ensure that the summit is not 'wasted', supporters of various environmental organizations also traveled to Glasgow.
Various environmental organizations have already announced that they want to attract the attention of politicians in various ways. Extinction Rebellion has already carried out a number of protest actions in the run-up to the summit. For example, a group of protesters left Parliament Square in London on September 8 on a pilgrimage to Glasgow. It is hoped that the pilgrimage will raise public awareness of the climate crisis and inspire others to add their voices to the growing calls for decisive action from world governments in the fight against climate change. In addition, Extinction Rebellion activists claim they have breached security at a British airport. They did this in protest against emissions from private jets in the run-up to the COP26. According to a anonymous member of Extinction Rebellion, protest actions during the summit cannot be ruled out. This member, who uses the name Ruth D, states that “disruption seems to be the only thing that really gets the government's attention because they really, really don't like it.
Other environmental organizations, such as Greenpeace, have also set their sights on Glasgow. As a prelude to the summit, Greenpeace is calling for a European ban on advertising and sponsorship for oil and gas companies. According to Greenpeace, Europe must take tougher action against fossil fuel industries, and reducing the name recognition of these industries would already be a step in the right direction. Greenpeace draws a parallel with the tobacco industry, which, after all, is not allowed to be advertised.
The Netherlands is also paying a lot of attention to the COP26. On November 6, the Climate Crisis Coalition, consisting of Oxfam Novib, Fridays for Future, Greenpeace, Extinction Rebellion, FNV, Fossielvrij NL, Milieudefensie, Grandparents for the Climate, Code Rood, de Goede Zaak and TNI, organized a climate march in Amsterdam. According to the coalition, this is their 'largest protest ever', but the urgency is high. Since, according to the coalition spokesperson, climate change is 'moving much faster than previously predicted'. In addition, the Dutch climate goals have so far fallen too far behind to make a real significant impact on climate change. The Climate Coalition wants to call on the Dutch government to take responsibility now and take action with ambitious, fair climate plans. The summit in Glasgow is also the moment to persuade other governments to do this.
Marja Minnesma also asks for extra attention for climate with a walking tour - The Climate Miles, through the Netherlands along places where action is already being taken, with the ultimate goal being Glasgow. For example, they visited the Sustainability Shop and Lidl's most sustainable store in Woerden. Interested parties are asked to come along for a day and talk to each other.
In addition, this and the coming weeks, numerous reports and studies will be presented to increase attention to climate and emphasize the importance of a positive result. For example, the Fair Banking, Pension and Insurance Guide, together with Milieudefensie, will present a climate report to the House of Representatives on November 2, the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency will publish its Climate and Energy Outlook, National Climate Week will be held from October 28 and will be held on November 1. on the Day of the Climate Agreement, a conference dedicated to this.
