Bill McKibben reflects on the Glasgow COP26 outcomes and the crucial role of activism in driving climate change action.
Watching the COP26 in Glasgow unfold, it was clear that climate activists, particularly young people and those from the global south, played a pivotal role in pushing for any progress at all. Their vigilance kept governments accountable, and their collective pressure led to significant wins, such as the first-ever mention of phasing out coal and subsidies for fossil fuels in a COP document. Additional funds for the global south to adapt to the climate crisis were also promised. Their anger and determination echoed throughout the conference halls and reverberated globally, leaving a mark on the negotiations. Any progress made at COP26 is a direct result of their perseverance.
However, this was not a monumental shift in how we tackle the global climate crisis. While COP26 moved us forward slightly, the changes were insufficient. As with previous conferences like Copenhagen or Paris, the real outcomes are often decided long before the event begins. Negotiations may look dramatic, but history shows that they rarely exceed the initial intentions of the participants.
Understanding COP conferences as scoreboards rather than transformative events sheds light on their true nature. They show how much influence civil society has over governments, especially in the face of powerful fossil fuel interests. The global climate movement grew significantly after Copenhagen’s failure, and it was this movement that forced Paris to reach an agreement, albeit one lacking concrete commitments. Glasgow was intended to hold countries accountable for their Paris promises, yet the results remain mixed, highlighting the ongoing struggle activists face against entrenched political and industrial forces.
