Former President Barack Obama, whose administration was so influential in the Paris Agreement, received a rousing welcome when he took the podium at COP26, where he urged young people to “stay angry” and keep fighting.
Obama also criticized China and Russia for not attending the Glasgow talks and urged all countries to meet their NDCs.
"But channel that anger. Harness that frustration. Keep pushing harder and harder for more and more. Because that's what's required to meet that challenge. Gird yourself for a marathon, not a sprint."
Urging young people to get out and vote for people who support action on climate change, he said "Vote like your life depends on it, because it does.”
Just two countries mention need to cut fossil fuel production at COP26 ‘greenwashing’ stands
The summit’s official “blue zone” includes large corporate-style pavilions run by some of the world’s leading producers of oil, gas, and coal, including the United States, Australia, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Russia, United Arab Emirates, Germany, and Qatar. They highlight the countries’ environmental efforts while failing to mention their massive and ongoing trade in fossil fuels.
Of the two exceptions, Denmark and South Africa, the first did not mention Denmark’s role as the largest oil producer in the European Union, while South Africa’s stall was sponsored by the country’s top coal companies.
“Refusing to confront fossil fuels at the premiere climate change conference is beyond climate denial, it’s climate atrocity, said Jean Su, energy justice director at the Center for Biological Diversity.
“The most important climate action all countries can take is to kick their fossil fuel addiction, but tragically few have the courage to confront that reality. We urge all leaders to put people and the planet over the profit of the fossil fuel industry.”
Who is represented at the COP also drew the attention of Arctic News where reporter Andrew Glikson notes the absense of scientists as we enter week 2 of the negotiations.
“Climate scientists have practically been excluded from COP meetings, dominated as they are by economists, lawyers and politicians,” he writes. “To date no address has been made by leading climate scientists, including authorities such as James Hansen, Michael Mann, Joachim Schellnhuber, Will Steffen and other, leaving delegates and populations unaware of the ultimate consequences of global climate devastation.”
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It's time to remind this governmental agency how seriously we take their work, and how their work will determine the path forward for our country, our communities, and our lives.