{"id":20080673,"date":"2021-11-17T12:30:00","date_gmt":"2021-11-17T07:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thethirdpole.net\/?p=80673"},"modified":"2021-11-24T18:40:42","modified_gmt":"2021-11-24T13:10:42","slug":"cop26-disappoints-youth-from-global-south","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dialogue.earth\/en\/climate\/cop26-disappoints-youth-from-global-south\/","title":{"rendered":"COP26 disappoints young people from developing countries"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

It was a tale of contrasts at COP26<\/a>, the 26th<\/sup> edition of the UN\u2019s annual climate conference which wrapped up over the weekend in Glasgow, Scotland. While young people on the streets staged furious protests and called for urgent action, inside the key negotiations happened behind closed doors, with important actors like the US, China and India doing more to lower ambitions<\/a> than raise them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Recommended<\/span><\/span><\/div><\/a>\n\n\n\n

As the conference came to an end, the anger and disappointment among young people \u2013 especially those from developing countries who faced difficult odds getting to COP26 in the first place \u2013 was palpable. A lack of concrete action and the failure of rich countries to deliver on climate finance<\/a> were key reasons for their despair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Clear science, clearer failure<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor me, having come to COP26 at a time when the science is clear, the cognitive dissonance is astounding,\u201d said Eric Njuguna, a climate activist from Kenya. He spoke of the drought in his home country, Kenya<\/a>, affecting millions, which the government was forced to declare a national disaster. \u201cIt is just aggravating to see that no commitments are being made.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The world needs to reach net zero<\/a> by 2050 to keep global temperature rise within 1.5 degrees Celsius<\/a>. With the average global temperature already around 1.2C<\/a> above pre-industrial levels, many countries are battling a rise in extreme weather events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is net zero?<\/span>

A net-zero scenario means greenhouse gases (especially carbon dioxide, CO2) \u2013 the main factor in human-induced global warming \u2013 should be absorbed in the same quantities as they are being emitted. <\/p>

This may happen through natural means, such as\u00a0the absorption of CO2 by trees, or through technological solutions, many of which remain uncertain at scale.\u00a0<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is really so sad that we are going to go back to [our] countries very angry,\u201d said Patience Nabukalu, a climate activist from Uganda. Nabukalu said that she was in Glasgow to demand the billions of dollars<\/a> rich countries promised to give to developing countries to deal with the climate crisis.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2009, when COP15 was held in Copenhagen, developed countries promised to extend USD 100 billion a year<\/a> in climate finance to developing countries by 2020. This has not yet happened, with some developed countries now extending that date to 2023. Maybe more important is the issue of loss and damage<\/a> due to the rise in extreme weather events. Poor countries, with limited infrastructure, have contributed the least to global carbon emissions, and yet have to bear the additional cost of increased disasters<\/a>. While the Glasgow Climate Pact finally recognised loss and damage in principle, no plans have as yet been made to deal with the finances required.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Youth<\/div>
Eric Njuguna (left), from Kenya, and Patience Nabukalu, from Uganda, said they were angry and disappointed at how COP26 panned out (Image: Disha Shetty)<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Covid-19 restrictions and travel costs restrict voices<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Covid-19 pandemic only added to feelings of inequity. While less than 5% of people in low-income countries have received even one dose of a vaccine, rich countries are already giving their populations booster shots and vaccinating their young people.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n