Amelia’s Blog: Inside COP26

Optimism yet outrage, empowerment yet disappointment. That is how I would sum up the COP26 summit in a few words.

While in Glasgow for COP26, my heart has been touched by so many climate-justice allies and my mindset has been transformed – it’s opened up a space to challenge and question climate injustice to a stronger extent than ever before.

I hope this blog displays my insights and experiences from a young person’s point of view. However, many more voices should be heard and amplified to tell this story. So, if you feel even a little inspired after this blog, I ask that you listen to voices of those from the global south and indigenous peoples. Their stories tell the truth, the realities we should all be listening to. 

I experience severe climate anxiety, as do many other young people and concerned allies of the climate movement. It sends me into swirls of negative thoughts and a hopeless perspective of our future. I’ve only recently noticed this and have started to explore these emotions – that’s how I found Force of Nature (FoN), the organisation I volunteered within Glasgow. They are a youth organisation (the founder is 22 years old) that work at the junction of mental health and the climate crisis. They echo the thoughts I described above and believe that young people’s anxieties, when leaned into and explored, can amplify transformational change.

On the ground, I met so many fellow youth activists that were fighting with every bone in their body, not only for our future but the lives of those that are being lost right now. The atmosphere and the drive were immense. I’m so grateful to be connected to this community as they are so kind-hearted and truly respect every single person who shows up. I’ve found my people within youth activism – it gives me a reason to keep fighting and picks my low moments up as I know that the power we have together can and will make a change. 

Through my work with FoN, I was privileged enough to gain passes to both the Green Zone (an area full of talks and stands from (mostly) conscious organisations) and the New York Times Climate Hub (a place dedicated to in-depth speeches from the most active people in the movement).

My experience there was…interesting. Corporate greenwash was prevalent at most stands and face value conversations were all too common. The speeches, however, were where the magic happened. Speakers gave their true perspectives and you could feel the levels of motivation rise in the room. These are the people that should be making the life-changing decisions for our countries – the real people living real lives.

The Blue Zone was where all the world leaders gathered to make the decisions that will affect our future and directly influence those who are disproportionately affected by the crisis. Conversations I had around this were very eery… it seems that empty promises were made with little accountability. It made me realise that COP as a conference is tainted and needs completely restructuring, to become more accessible and inclusive. There’s a reason this is the 26th COP. 

What’s next?

We must lean into hope and we must lean into optimism if we are to save lives and the planet. It’s so difficult to do when we are being surrounded by these empty promises and leaders that refuse to provide spaces for those most affected by the crisis. However, by joining a climate community, you will gain empowerment and your drive will be reignited as you bounce off everyone’s energy to take action and check in with yourself.

We all have a role to play, however it is our duty to amplify the voices of those that are often unheard. We need to become educated with a rounded perspective that considers every single culture, every single age, every single gender and every single race. It is only then that a truly sustainable and inclusive future can be on the cards.

As I mentioned earlier, it is so important that we amplify the voices of others in this movement so here are some of my favourite quotes heard at COP26. I urge you to listen to others too, from perspectives that you don’t usually tune into. That is the way we will create change. 

"How many more COP’s are we going to have before governments take action?" Xiye Bastida, 18-year-old climate change activist from New York

"Nothing that is not transformational is tokenism. There is no hope in another 10 years of tokenism." Clover Hogan, Founder of Force of Nature

"We must demand total liberation for all of us because that is climate justice. Our demands cannot be toned down or palatable. They should worry disrupt and challenge the status quo." Mikeala Loach, climate activist based in Edinburgh

"I can tell you to act with urgency. But your will to act must come from within." Liz Wathuti, Kenyan environment and climate activist  

"Historically, the entire continent of Africa is only responsible for 3% of global emissions and yet African’s are already suffering some of the most brutal impacts fuelled by the climate crisis…The child going hungry at night matters, the mum who has to walk long distances for food matters, the farmer who watched with crops suffer matters." Vanessa Nakate, Ugandan climate activist

"This should be Conference of the People not Conference of the Parties." Unknown

Find out more about Your Co-op’s involvement with COP26 and what you can do to help address climate change here.