#BTColumn – COP26 talks must result in action

The views and opinions expressed by the author(s) do not represent the official position of Barbados TODAY.

by Roshanna Trim

As world leaders sit down to discuss urgent matters related to the global climate crisis at the COP26, hosted by the United Kingdom (UK) in partnership with Italy, in Glasgow, UK, Caribbean countries, and Small Island developing states will take centre stage.

There is much hope surrounding the potential of COP26 to drive urgent action to address climate change. Indeed, in the Caribbean, the climate emergency is no longer a theoretical possibility but an evident reality as the impact of global warming has resulted in grave damage to our beaches, our coral reefs, our fish stock, our livelihoods and our lives.

Yet, for over thirty years, world governments have met every year to forge a global response to the climate emergency, with much rhetoric and little decisive action.

It is inarguable, that in a world of ‘haves’ and ‘have nots’, where ‘the strong do what they can, the weak suffer what they must’, it is important for Caribbean leaders to utilise COP, as it is the only forum on the climate crisis in which the opinions and concerns of the poorest country carry equal weight to that of the biggest economies.

However, after three decades of negotiation, what do we have to show for it as storms rage, the ice continues to melt, and the world burns, not simply as global temperatures rise, but as the Amazon burns and bush fires rage in Australia and America?  There is cruelty in the reality that vulnerable countries continue to plead a case to global leaders at the United Nations General Assembly only to be met with empty promises and unmet commitments.

On September 22, 2017, The Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Gaston Browne, told the United Nations General Assembly that after the largest storm ever in the Atlantic Ocean, “the island of Barbuda is decimated; its
entire population left homeless; and its buildings reduced to empty shells.”

On September 11, 2021, as she delivered the 16th Raúl Prebisch Lecture at the United Nations’ European headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Amor Mottley stated, “If it matters enough, we can choose to end climate change. Our only limits are the limits to our imagination. We achieve what we put our resources behind.”

On September 25, 2021, the Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines as he addressed the the 76th UN General Assembly, said, “Climate change is an existential threat to humanity”, he called on major emitters of global greenhouse gases to find “the political will and requisite resources” to address this “grave challenge”.

On September 24, 2021, as she addressed the United Nations General Assembly, Prime Minister Mottley once again highlighted the inequality of the climate crisis and the resources available to resolve it. “$100 billion is not enough,” she said, as it is estimated that ending the climate crisis will cost between 300 billion and 50 trillion dollars over the next decade. While the Prime Minister of Barbados cautiously stated that, “If we do not control this fire, it will burn us all down.”

Caution must be thrown to the wind because the world is already burning.  These recent statements can be added to a long history of advocacy by Caribbean countries yet as we stand on the brink of a humanitarian crisis caused by a climate disaster, we negotiate still.

What have negotiations yielded thus far? The Paris Agreement of 2015 is perhaps COP’s crowning glory as collectively world leaders agreed that global action is required to end climate change and a clear framework for emission reduction and strengthened action.

Since this ‘a landmark international accord’ over 1,000 companies have pledged major emission reductions including Chanel, Nestle, Nike, Microsoft and Ikea, there has also been a great corporate uptake of electric vehicles, across the world urban cities are committing to net-zero emissions by 2050, 20 years after the SDG deadline of 2030 with Shenzhen, China being the first city in the world to electrify its entire bus fleet.

Notably, the world’s leading public and private financial institutions have begun to not only invest more in the new clean alternatives, but have decreased investments in fossil fuels.

The European Union is leading the pack when it comes to investing in green recovery and and its US $2.6 trillion 2021-2027 budget will be dedicated to climate-friendly investments.

Technology has advanced as solar energy and wind energy are cheaper in many parts of the world when compared to fossil fuels. Additionally, as Electric vehicle technology improves major automakers, including Toyota and Daimler, have commited to no longer making internal combustion engines. As the social movement builds and the public demands greater climate action by world leaders many countries have accelerated action.

The results of the Paris Agreement have been encouraging but the realities of the most vulnerable call for more than cautious exploration and demand bold policies and actions to preserve lives and livelihoods.

COP26 discussions and the outcomes must result in action to address rising greenhouse emissions particularly by emerging economies such as Asia.

When President Donald Trump withdrew from the Paris agreement, the world’s second highest emitter did not pull its weight for four years and others took this as permission to do “less than little”.

While the Paris Agreement capped global temperature rise at 1.5 celsius the largest polluters now tout 2 celsius as the goal ignoring that half a degree will require vulnerable communities and states to sacrifice their homes to inaction.

In recent years net-zero emissions has become a buzzword with a goal of 2040 by many states. However, this goal is is not supported by action as countries around the world continue to invest in coal plants, oil pipelines and LNG terminals which have lifespans of over 40 years. What we are witnessing is similar to a clearance sale of fossil fuels as some producers seek to exploit their reserves and make the most of it.

As we prepare for the outcomes of COP26, we do not lack ambition but commitment and action. October 31st to November 13th can be seen as a trailer rather than the grand event. It is the tossing of the coin before a big match.

Climate action, heads climate disaster, tails. Global leaders have won the toss yet so far, the line-up has been disappointing.

As we approach the last overs of the game, we must not only defend our wicket but dare to lash some boundaries.

The Caribbean must lead this last-minute attack because we do not have the luxury of bowing out gracefully. Anything other than success will not only cost us the game but our homes. This is a winner takes all match we cannot afford to lose.

Roshanna Trim is the Chairperson, Caribbean Regional Youth Council.