NEW YORK, 3/11 (IPS) – Her recent announcement that she will not be attending COP27 is understandable, but we still hope she will reconsider. Professors Felix Dodds and Chris Spence so Greta Thunberg will not attend COP27. She denounced it as “cleansing” and questioned the hosts’ human rights record and activists’ inaccessibility.
To be clear, we have nothing but admiration for what Greta Thunberg has achieved in increasing the pressure on our political leaders to do more. We totally agree with her that more is needed and fast.
But when it comes to COP27, we hope she changes her mind. We have three reasons for this: the impact of diplomacy, the urgency of the situation and the role of COP27 in convening those with power and influence.
Diplomatic service
While Greta Thunberg is right that many international events are essentially “blah, blah, blah,” the United Nations talks on climate change have achieved more than many realize. For example, prior to the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement, we were on a trajectory to increase temperatures by 4-6 degrees Celsius by the end of the century. For now, estimates suggest we’re on track between 2.4-2.8 C, if current commitments are met. While this would be a terrible scenario to face, it would be less apocalyptic than those higher numbers.
As we pointed out in a previous article, the international negotiations on climate change have had a profound impact, initiating the shift away from two centuries of fossil fuel dependence and giving us at least the chance to achieve long-term sustainability. term. Just a few days ago, the International Energy Agency forecast that global emissions would peak in 2025 before starting to decline. Furthermore, they also see all fossil fuels “peaking or hitting the plateau”.
Do we wish this had happened sooner? Sure. But it shows progress is being made. Besides, there is no substitute for an international process when it comes to a global problem of this magnitude. No country, company or alliance can solve this problem alone. We all need to work together.
Urgency means everyone joins the fight
We wholeheartedly agree with Ms. Thunberg’s encouragement for everyone to “mobilize” and participate in tackling this challenge. Many people may choose to be activists or advocates of change, pressuring their home governments to be more ambitious, act locally, or change their habits as consumers. or investors. Thunberg is also quite right that time is running out; Science tells us the window of opportunity to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius or below is closing rapidly.
However, this is exactly why COP27 is so important. With time running out, the meeting in Egypt will mark the moment when we begin to see if the commitments made at COP26 in Glasgow are being met. Is the global community sticking to its promises? COP27 will give us an opportunity to consider, emphasize more urgently, and draw global attention to those who keep their promises and those who do not.
At COP26, the decision not to wait five years until governments submit improved Country-Determined Contributions, but to require all countries to update their NDCs before COP27, was also important.
A total of 39 Parties have notified new or updated NDCs since COP26, including important countries such as Australia and India. This is obviously not enough, but it is a start. The same requirement should also be made at COP27, putting pressure on countries to review their NDCs in time for COP28.
Influence strong people
Finally, UN climate summits offer a once-a-year opportunity to engage with powerful politicians and push decisions on climate threats. With so short a time, no one can influence the process so stay away.
Greta Thunberg has been incredibly influential, inspiring people to take action and convincing politicians to take matters more seriously. Her presence at COP27 will certainly make a difference.
One reason she gave for not attending was that she was worried that this time around, the representation of civil society might be less and that she did not want to take the place of someone else. This is something to think about. However, Greta Thunberg has access to the leader’s others may not. Her presence can have a significant impact.
For these reasons, we hope Ms. Thunberg will reconsider and make the most of her influence at COP27. As we write this, it seems that another powerful figure who previously ruled out attending may be changing his mind.
New British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also initially said he would not attend, citing the country’s financial and energy challenges as well as pressing budget planning as reasons to stay home. .
However, now he has changed his mind. The public reaction to his initial decision, as well as concerns from industry and civil society, prompted the Prime Minister to reconsider his position. This is welcome news and we believe it is the right decision.
If Rishi Sunak is looking to build on the UK’s solid track record at COP26 and strengthen his country’s reputation for taking climate change seriously, we expect him to attend not only with positive rhetoric but also new commitments and funding. It would be a positive sign if King Charles also attended.
After all, the UK remained the Chair of the COP until the start of COP27. Missing the next COP will not send the right message to the UK’s partners and the global community at large.
With no other practical way to tackle climate change other than the multilateral system, we urge Greta Thunberg to follow the lead of Rishi Sunak and join the group. In fact, all people with power or influence should come to Sharm to be ready to work to get the best deal possible. As John F. Kennedy said. “We never negotiate out of fear. But we are never afraid to negotiate.”
Professor Felix Dodds and Chris Spence have been involved in UN environmental negotiations since the 1990s. They have co-edited Heroes of Environmental Diplomacy: A Profile of Courage (Routledge, 2022), studies the role of individuals in inspiring environmental change.
© Inter Press Service (2022) – All rights reservedOrigin: Inter Press Service
