Many conversations have stemmed from the just concluded COP26 event in Glasgow, Scotland. Unfortunately, these conversations have led to some controversial opinions, one of which people believe to be the irony of COP26. The 26th United Nations Conference of Parties saw participants, including world leaders, negotiators, representatives of businesses and governments, climate change enthusiasts, and citizens worldwide, meet to discuss the planet’s pressing climate issues.
However, this conference which is taken to be the quintessential platform for urgent climate action was seen by some as being antithetical to its objectives. Estimates put the carbon footprint of the event in Glasgow as double that of the previous event in 2019. British multinational professional services Arup estimates that the event will emit about 102,500 tons of carbon dioxide – equal to the average annual emissions for over 8,000 U.K. residents. International air transport is expected to contribute 60 per cent of this footprint. Accommodations, policing, and local transportation is expected to contribute also largely.
Many activists believe the emission that such a huge gathering requires does not fit the central message of the event which is “curbing climate change”. This has led to echoes of irony among the activism crowd. Many have asked, ‘why does the Conference of Parties contribute to the same effect it is trying to reduce?’
Last year, COVID-19 lockdown measures meant that businesses globally had to devise new ways to operate and communicate while adhering to the lockdown. With many businesses and activities moving online, we all had to adapt to virtual working resulting in a record drop in carbon emissions for the first time in decades. Many are of the opinion that large conferences such as the COP could take a cue and transition to a virtual platform. Many believe that this would set a good example and show the world that climate discussions and platforms ‘practise what they preach’. Many say that If the Conference of Parties could find a way to go virtual and lead by example, it would be a massive step in reassuring global citizens just how much of a priority climate action is to the policymakers.