Reflections on COP26 by Young Professionals Climate Chair, Brandon Hermoza-Ricci
Before landing in Scotland with the UConn delegation for the second half of the two-week long United Nations COP26 event, the news coming out of Glasgow from the first week was not good. In the weeks leading up to the event, the United Kingdom Non-Governmental Organization, Global Witness, found 503 individuals attending who had links to the fossil fuel industry among the official participant list published by the United Nations. For context, the largest nation state delegation represented Brazil with 479 delegates. So, when activists and grass roots organizations involved in the climate movement called it a greenwashing event, I couldn’t counter them.
As I boarded the plane to the United Kingdom, I couldn’t help to think about the inequity that occurred with vaccines. Just as quickly as it was created though, so too were wealthy nations acting to hoard as many doses as they could. All the developing world could do was watch as western nations renormalized, becoming oblivious either intentionally or unintentionally to share their vaccines.
To me, climate change and COVID-19 are both a shared burden for humanity. The only difference is one was unexpected while the other was a known consequence from decades of inaction, greed, and self-preservation. We saw how nations acted with vaccines. I can’t imagine we’ll act any better when entire island nations disappear and the refugees come.
Unlike COVID-19, though, the origins of climate change are certain. The international scientific community has proof linking the changes to weather occurring right now to decades of pollution primarily coming from industrialized nations. I knew how far fossil fuel industries were willing to go to save face at COP26, my only question to myself was: is it going to work? There was only one way to find out.
It’s now Monday November 8th, and I find myself approaching the exterior gates of the venue. As I walk to the first check point, I get a glimpse of activists yelling and singing, witness dancing and poem reading. Once through, I walk towards the venue gates as the beautiful tones of climate solidarity faded into the background. While waiting in line among strangers to get through security checkpoint two, I was conflicted. I questioned myself: why am I, a resident of a wealthy polluting nation given the chance to be inside this venue when so many who are currently being affected in the global south are shut out? Further, was I complicit? Should I have remained outside in solidarity?
Before I knew it, I was inside. And let me tell you it was grand. It was also a massive maze. Knowing nothing and wanting to see everything, my first steps were to get acquainted with my surroundings. I would after all be spending the next five days in these halls. It took a few hours but eventually I got a sense of place. During this time, I began to familiarize myself with the agenda for the day. The way COP26 worked was like this: each day there would be a main theme that all the events would revolve around –– the theme for day seven (day one for me) was Adaption, Loss and Damage. Most of the morning consisted of big events in a large space called the plenary, its layout following the pattern of the UN General Assembly, where world leaders would announce pledges and commitments. At the same time, other smaller events were happening in smaller sections on more specific topics. The great thing about this trip was the independence to be able to attend whatever events suited your interests and the incredible access that came with the observer pass provided by COP@UConn.
What I realized after the first day at COP was just how important of an event this was, not only because of the discussions, but also because of how jam-packed it was with “leaders” whether it be delegates, scientists, actual heads of states, or activists. I felt so honored to share the same space.
Each day was unique with so many experiences and learning opportunities that I couldn’t name them all. But I’m going to highlight the highlights. I was able to sit in on off-camera negotiations between countries about adding seats to the existing committee. I was able to listen to a powerful oral recitation by poet Emi Mahmoud. I even got to meet her afterward when she came up to my group and thanked us for the questions we asked during the panels Q&A. I almost tripped over a prince. I sat in on a conversation about sustainable cities and urban planning moderated by leaders in the field with oral contributions from the prime minister of Scotland.
Most importantly though, I had the humbling opportunity to listen to the voices of marginalized indigenous people and communities. Their struggles were real, and you could hear it in their voices. Indigenous activist, Tarcila Rivera Zea, words have stuck with me. She told world delegates in the large plenary “we don’t want your donations, what we want is an investment in us, in our communities, so we can sustain ourselves and the lands we know.”
On the final day of COP, I was walking away from the venue grateful to UConn for the opportunity to attend and surprised at how many indigenous people and activists were visibly present inside the venue. As I left the exterior gates an old fellow who was part of a climate group protesting the event as greenwashing stopped me and asked, “How was it”? At first, I thought he was instigating me because I had the COP pass around my neck, but I quickly realized he was genuinely asking. And so, I told him everything I have told you. I told him how conflicted I was but like anyone, if given the opportunity to attend, it was a no brainer, you take that privilege given to you and go in.
We talked for a little and came to an agreement that COP26 didn’t produce what it needed to, most of it was filled with puffed up promises with no proof to back it up. But in-between the big PR announcements, there were genuine conversations being held by indigenous communities and NGOs.
Although this year’s COP didn’t produce any major advancements towards global emission reductions, I have concluded that it does force nations to sit down with each other to talk about climate change which is better than not talking at all. At the end of the day, what drives these talks to produce meaningful legislation and treaties is the public pressure demanding action which gets stronger by the day.
By chance, the stranger helped me answer my own question. The greenwashing didn’t work. I connected with activists and scientists fighting for us, the people. I was lucky enough to be a part of this fight by voicing my concerns, listening to those most impacted, and standing in solidarity with the movement. The consensus was and is that the time for fossil fuels has ended, no matter how green they claim it to be.
What comes next is up to you, me, and us.
As I boarded the plane to the United Kingdom, I couldn’t help to think about the inequity that occurred with vaccines. Just as quickly as it was created though, so too were wealthy nations acting to hoard as many doses as they could. All the developing world could do was watch as western nations renormalized, becoming oblivious either intentionally or unintentionally to share their vaccines.
To me, climate change and COVID-19 are both a shared burden for humanity. The only difference is one was unexpected while the other was a known consequence from decades of inaction, greed, and self-preservation. We saw how nations acted with vaccines. I can’t imagine we’ll act any better when entire island nations disappear and the refugees come.
Unlike COVID-19, though, the origins of climate change are certain. The international scientific community has proof linking the changes to weather occurring right now to decades of pollution primarily coming from industrialized nations. I knew how far fossil fuel industries were willing to go to save face at COP26, my only question to myself was: is it going to work? There was only one way to find out.
It’s now Monday November 8th, and I find myself approaching the exterior gates of the venue. As I walk to the first check point, I get a glimpse of activists yelling and singing, witness dancing and poem reading. Once through, I walk towards the venue gates as the beautiful tones of climate solidarity faded into the background. While waiting in line among strangers to get through security checkpoint two, I was conflicted. I questioned myself: why am I, a resident of a wealthy polluting nation given the chance to be inside this venue when so many who are currently being affected in the global south are shut out? Further, was I complicit? Should I have remained outside in solidarity?
Before I knew it, I was inside. And let me tell you it was grand. It was also a massive maze. Knowing nothing and wanting to see everything, my first steps were to get acquainted with my surroundings. I would after all be spending the next five days in these halls. It took a few hours but eventually I got a sense of place. During this time, I began to familiarize myself with the agenda for the day. The way COP26 worked was like this: each day there would be a main theme that all the events would revolve around –– the theme for day seven (day one for me) was Adaption, Loss and Damage. Most of the morning consisted of big events in a large space called the plenary, its layout following the pattern of the UN General Assembly, where world leaders would announce pledges and commitments. At the same time, other smaller events were happening in smaller sections on more specific topics. The great thing about this trip was the independence to be able to attend whatever events suited your interests and the incredible access that came with the observer pass provided by COP@UConn.
What I realized after the first day at COP was just how important of an event this was, not only because of the discussions, but also because of how jam-packed it was with “leaders” whether it be delegates, scientists, actual heads of states, or activists. I felt so honored to share the same space.
Each day was unique with so many experiences and learning opportunities that I couldn’t name them all. But I’m going to highlight the highlights. I was able to sit in on off-camera negotiations between countries about adding seats to the existing committee. I was able to listen to a powerful oral recitation by poet Emi Mahmoud. I even got to meet her afterward when she came up to my group and thanked us for the questions we asked during the panels Q&A. I almost tripped over a prince. I sat in on a conversation about sustainable cities and urban planning moderated by leaders in the field with oral contributions from the prime minister of Scotland.
Most importantly though, I had the humbling opportunity to listen to the voices of marginalized indigenous people and communities. Their struggles were real, and you could hear it in their voices. Indigenous activist, Tarcila Rivera Zea, words have stuck with me. She told world delegates in the large plenary “we don’t want your donations, what we want is an investment in us, in our communities, so we can sustain ourselves and the lands we know.”
On the final day of COP, I was walking away from the venue grateful to UConn for the opportunity to attend and surprised at how many indigenous people and activists were visibly present inside the venue. As I left the exterior gates an old fellow who was part of a climate group protesting the event as greenwashing stopped me and asked, “How was it”? At first, I thought he was instigating me because I had the COP pass around my neck, but I quickly realized he was genuinely asking. And so, I told him everything I have told you. I told him how conflicted I was but like anyone, if given the opportunity to attend, it was a no brainer, you take that privilege given to you and go in.
We talked for a little and came to an agreement that COP26 didn’t produce what it needed to, most of it was filled with puffed up promises with no proof to back it up. But in-between the big PR announcements, there were genuine conversations being held by indigenous communities and NGOs.
Although this year’s COP didn’t produce any major advancements towards global emission reductions, I have concluded that it does force nations to sit down with each other to talk about climate change which is better than not talking at all. At the end of the day, what drives these talks to produce meaningful legislation and treaties is the public pressure demanding action which gets stronger by the day.
By chance, the stranger helped me answer my own question. The greenwashing didn’t work. I connected with activists and scientists fighting for us, the people. I was lucky enough to be a part of this fight by voicing my concerns, listening to those most impacted, and standing in solidarity with the movement. The consensus was and is that the time for fossil fuels has ended, no matter how green they claim it to be.
What comes next is up to you, me, and us.
