COP26 OVERVIEW (STS 488 HW)

 COP26: THINK 

BUT 

NOT TAKE AN ACTION

    The following article is a personal thought about COP26.

    Note: This is my STS 488 homework.

 

    Climate change is a vitally important topic because the next generations may not live in the same world that the current generations live in. In every second, the current generations consume the next generations’ sources. Therefore, every nation tries to find a solution. In that case, one of the conferences about climate change is COP26 and took place from 31 October to 12 November 2021 in Glasgow. Some people believe that COP26 is the last chance to stop climate change. Most countries attended the conference, but some countries did not attend. According to the standard.co.uk website (2021), Argentina, Australia, Canada, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, EU representatives from the 27 member states, France, Ghana, India, Israel, Italy, Nigeria, Scotland, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, and the US attended, however, Brazil, China, Iran, Japan, Mexico, Russia, South Africa, and Turkey did not attend. According to the ukcop26 website (2021), COP26 has several goals;

•  Keeping the temperature at 1.5 degrees celsius.

        o The usage of coal decrease. 

        o Decreasing deforestation. 

        o Encouraging the usage of renewable sources.

•  Protecting communities and natural habitats.

•  Working together to find a solution for climate change.

    These goals are important, however, the more important thing is how much COP26 is successful to achieve these goals. Unfortunately, COP26 fails to achieve its goals. It can cause to be worse because they change the text of the decision. According to the BBC website (2021), the nations decide to phase down using coal instead of phase out using coal although they agree to keep the temperature at 1.5 degrees celsius. In that case, it is difficult to believe that COP26 can be successful to achieve these objectives. As long as humankind wants to live on earth, they need to take an action to change their lifestyle. Thinking and knowing are also necessary but without taking an action, they are nothing. It can be argued that most developed countries used such fossil fuel and coal to be rich and powerful, however, when the developing countries and less developed countries use such sources, the developed countries are opposite this. They are right to a degree because this is unfair. Nonetheless, they can find another solution for this. Developed countries can make a more effective financial agreement with these countries. That means, besides giving money to them for transition to renewable energy, the countries can order something that these countries can benefit from a sustainable economy, therefore, they don’t use non-renewable resources like coal to develop themself. After all, it’s the economy. Besides this, according to STS 488 lessons (16.11.2021), China and India are the most energy consumption’s country. From this, it can be also deduced that China and India which disagree to stop using coal have a right to use coal to meet their energy consumption. However, to have more energy, they must find another way like clean energy because coal is not infinite and damages nature. The keyword is differential diagnosis here. Countries should know specific solutions for their country’s geographies.

    Moreover, according to the video made by Al Jazeera English (2021), they agree on deforestation cutting it right back by the same time period 2030 and subsidies and funding for development. Then, the nations which attended COP26 finalize the outstanding elements of the Paris Agreement, agree to reduce methane emissions by 30 percent but countries with major agricultural industries such as Australia and China didn't sign up and keep the temperature at 1.5 degrees celsius. To help developing nations transition to renewable energy launched the summit's goal a 10.5 billion dollar fund.

    According to the BBC website (2021), Greta Thunberg says COP26 is only successful "watering down the blah blah blah." and there is still no guarantee that we will reach the Paris Agreement. She also says: “We don't just need goals for just 2030 or 2050. We, above all,need them for 2020 and every following month and year to come.". Then, according to the iklimhaber website (2021), Prof. Dr. Kurnaz mentions that previous conferences did not change the rate of CO2, therefore, there will be no change if they make 26 more. I agree with Greta Thunberg and Prof. Dr. Kurnaz. I think the COP26 can’t meet expectations. If they want to stop the increasing the temperature, they must stop the usage of coal. There is no privilege. Every nation must do what should do. If methane emissions must reduce by 30 percent, every country including major agricultural industries such as Australia and China must sign up. They should consider the livable world for the next generations and then their benefits. In the post-COP26 era or 2030 and 2050 governments should encourage citizens to use materials that don't damage nature so much. For example, tax deduction in the A+++ fridge can happen. Citizens should buy an A+++ fridge instead of an A+ fridge.

Resources

COP26 - UN climate change conference UK 2021. EMSO. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://emso.eu/event/cop26-un-climate-change-conference-uk-2021/

COP26 goals. UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) at the SEC – Glasgow 2021. (2021,

October 26). Retrieved November 14, 2021, from https://ukcop26.org/cop26-goals/. 

Blake, E. (2021, November 2). COP26: Which world leaders are attending and who is snubbing it? COP26: Which world leaders are attending and who is snubbing it? | Evening Standard. Retrieved November 17, 2021, from https://www.standard.co.uk/optimist/cop26/cop26-who-attending-boris-johnson-joebiden-xi-jinping-vladimir-putin-participants-b963213.html.

BBC. (2021, November 15). COP26: What was agreed at the Glasgow Climate Conference? BBC News. Retrieved November 15, 2021, from https://www.bbc.com/news/scienceenvironment-56901261. 

Al Jazeera English. (2021, November 13). What has the COP26 climate summit achieved? | Inside Story. Youtube. Retrieved November 15, 2021, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGSE29eo2kg.

BBC. (2021, November 15). Greta Thunberg says 'many loopholes' in COP26 pact. BBC News. Retrieved November 15, 2021, from https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotlandglasgow-west-59296859.

Kurnaz , L., & Yucel, G. (2021, November). Lecture Vi - Energy. Boğaziçi Ünversity STS 488

Lessons. 

Bagatır, B. (2021, November 16). "Kömür Lafı Edildi Diye Alkış Tutacak Değiliz". İklim Haber. Retrieved November 18, 2021, from https://www.iklimhaber.org/komur-lafiedildi-diye-alkis-tutacak-degiliz/.