In 2015 I returned from COP21 in Paris, relieved that some agreement had been reached, but also   dismayed at the lack of a plan to achieve it. How would we limit the increase in global temperature to 1.5 degrees or less, by 2050? We needed answers

Well COP26 in Glasgow was billed as the conference to provide them. Governments were told to arrive with firm plans to meet that target set in Paris. Things had moved on. Climate change was accelerating rapidly and scientists warned that COP26 was the “last chance saloon” for a global agreement.

So how did it play out? Well Glasgow proved to be quite an absorbing drama, with heroes and villains, fine sentiments, hubris and duplicity, but at the end, a sense that, although the wrong people still hold the keys to our global madhouse, there were grounds for hope.

There were definitely many heroes. The thousands of young people from across the world who made difficult journeys to have their voices heard. They spoke in the conference and at fringe events, with searing honesty and a huge scientific understanding of the issues we face.

Also heroic were the scientists. They were quick to analyse and fact check the “sound bite” statements of politicians and corporations, alerting us to their frequent “inaccuracies.” When not engaged in conference sessions, they dashed around the City to attend fringe events and provide intelligent perspectives on real ways to save the planet.

Chief among the villains were our politicians, who often seemed out of their depth. The science of climate change is complex as are the solutions. True understanding of the issues seems beyond them, so they cling to a belief that their pals will bail them out.  Ineos will produce hydrogen, Nissan will build electric cars, we`ll plant a few trees and live happily ever after.

Similarly, the multinationals in Glasgow, believe that the survival of the planet, which they`ve plundered for decades, will only be delivered if the solutions are good for their shareholders. It was extremely alarming that the largest single delegation in Glasgow were the 503 lobbyists representing the fossil fuel industry.

Sadly, their influence was seen in the Conference`s final agreement, which contained inadequate measures to phase out coal, oil and gas production, and no real financial agreement to enable the  poorest nations to develop sustainable economies and mitigate the effects of climate change.

The final view of most scientists was that we were hanging onto to the 1.5 degree agreement by our fingertips. Encouragingly, however, many said that our best chance of achieving this target lay with ordinary citizens reconsidering their life styles and demanding change from their politicians.

In simple terms it`s really up to us, which is a very good reason to read the excellent book “The Future we choose” available from Borrowbox at Marple Library.

MESS members in Glasgow and Manchester – 6th November 2021