Young people protest this Friday (5) on the streets of the Scottish city of Glasgow to ask for action, and fewer words, to the governments that are negotiating measures against climate change at COP26, after nearly a week of great speeches.
“Fridays for the Future” was an idea put forward over three years ago by Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, present in Glasgow this week. A small symbolic protest in front of the Swedish Parliament has turned into a worldwide movement that regularly welcomes thousands of young people, and whose main meeting point is the UN climate conferences.
“Protests like this put pressure on the people in power, and we know this movement must grow to bring about the changes we need to ensure the security of present and future generations,” said Ugandan activist Vanessa Nakate.
Greta Thunberg’s message is followed by young people in many countries.
The Covid-19 epidemic interrupted the weekly demonstrations, but in recent weeks they have regained strength.
“This is no longer a climate conference. This is a Global North ‘greenwashing’ festival. A two-week celebration of business as usual and blah blah blah,” Thunberg denounced Thursday on Twitter.
The UN climate conference in Glasgow is not just a major negotiating meeting with delegates from nearly 200 countries, but a platform for debates on technology, ideas and projects, which are being applied or require years of research, in the fight against climate change.
The British presidency of COP26 organized each day of the two-week event as thematic journeys.
Inside the exhibition center, where thousands of delegates gather, will also be the youth day, with activities and debates with the presence of minors.
On Saturday another major global mobilization is scheduled, in Glasgow and in other cities.
Last month, Italian Environment Minister Roberto Cingolani and COP President British Secretary of State Alok Sharma promised to present in Glasgow the manifesto adopted by 400 young people from around the world gathered in Milan at a UN meeting.
The 50-page document includes a proposal for energy transition, financing or citizen participation.
At the conference, negotiations are advancing at the desired pace, according to the event’s British presidency and some NGOs.
The 2015 Paris Agreement, which COP26 must now reinforce and develop, has as a common objective to prevent global warming from exceeding 2°C. Ideally, the temperature should not rise more than 1.5°C.
The most ambitious countries want global commitments, to cut greenhouse gas emissions, to make an energy transition, to reach the goal. Others, like China, warn that there is a risk of breaking the consensus if some insist on +1.5ºC, which would practically force the cutting of current emissions in half in eight years.
“The carbon footprint of the richest 1% on the planet is 30 times higher than the level compatible with the 1.5ºC target,” the organization Oxfam, which urges rich nations to reduce their emissions by 97%, said on Friday. .
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