Career Series Summary: In Conversation with Tyrone Hall & Zubair Zakir- Reflections on COP26
Going into COP26 in November 2021, there was pressure to close an ambition gap from the Paris Agreement on emissions, finance, adaptation, and loss and damage, to create a just transition, phase out coal, and reduce emissions from major sectors. Results included commitments to phase out coal, end deforestation by 2030, and cut collective emissions by 30% by 2030, along with a number of netzero targets made. There was some rightful anger in terms of the inclusion and accessibility of the proceedings, and a huge fossil fuels delegation which led to accusations of greenwashing. In this informative session, Zubair Zakir and Tyrone Hall join together to help provide clarity and unpack the complexity of COP26.
Expectation vs. Reality
Zubair and Tyrone agree that there is a disconnect between expectations and the reality of COPs, as they are especially unique working environments. Representatives of individual governments show up to complete their objectives - it just so happens that the world stands by and watches the entire process. We must remember that these representatives are people who must abide by specific mandates and have responsibilities to their delegations. Multilateralism is an intricate process which brings incremental change, not rapid change. Accelerated change is near impossible, as compromises must be made on multiple fronts. Oftentimes, technocrats are not given clear directions of what they can give and take on, delaying the ability to deal with key issues. Both Zubair and Tyrone mentioned that the Bonn Climate Change Conference 2022 was the place to be in order to see real climate action.
Comparing COP26 to Past COPs
Tyrone emphasizes the importance of having a strong presidency. For instance, the successes of the Paris Agreement came from its remarkable presidency, and the failures of COP25 were influenced by a weaker presidency (e.g. the Chilean presidency was outside of its locality due to the last minute switch from Chile to Spain). For COP26, there were high expectations due to the strong presidency, along with the partnership of the UK and Italy.
Being from the UK, Zubair says he was more sensitive to the host country's ability to perform its job. The obstacle of Covid-19 made it difficult for the UK to perform its host duties, but Zubair believes that the secretariat did well, and the presence of John Kerry added energy to the atmosphere. One key difference was that observers were not allowed into the rooms this year; this caused a disconnect, as observers had to rely on who they knew within the room, touching on the topic of privilege.
COP26 was billed as the most inclusive & accessible COP… was this the case?
Both Tyrone and Zubair agree that COP26 lacked inclusivity and accessibility, but it was also with the backdrop of a pandemic. Travel, accommodations and quarantining made it incredibly difficult for some representatives to partake in COP26 in person.
Tyrone specifically mentions the complications that pandemic travel posed to delegations from the Pacific Islands: these regions hold a particularly high stake in discussions concerning the climate crisis, as the planet’s rising temperatures could completely submerge their land. Unfortunately, these delegations had the most complex travel routes, requiring them to pass through 2-3 countries, some of which hold the strictest quarantine measures in the world.
While neither Zubair or Tyrone witnessed this, another concern raised by other observers was the lack of ramps at some entrances, preventing some participants from entering the building who had accessibility needs.
Canada brought many Indigenous representatives, but due to capacity limitations they could not obtain a place in some rooms. This led to a large amount of frustration.
What should individuals, groups & governments do following COP26?
Everyone must keep in mind that the climate crisis is a complex issue, it is woven into every aspect of society. It is key to get involved before and after COP! Here are some tips suggested by Tyrone and Zubair:
All sectors must be held accountable: Tyrone used the International Maritime Organization as an example. Shipping accounts for approximately 80% of global trade and is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. And yet, they do not have a proper net zero plan in place. We need to keep up the pressure where key sectors have major impacts.
We need to look more closely at our investments: whether you sit on a board, or in your day to day investments in your pension plan, it’s important to assess the quality of carbon offsets or credits in those investments, and to make your voice heard. There are now more tools to help assess quality.
On a national level: COPs involve the accumulation of the individual actions each country takes by bringing them together for discussion and accountability. Individual countries have the most impact through the implementation of the plans made during COPs. Nations must be ambitious with local climate planning at home. It is important to get involved here.
Carbon Markets & Net-Zero
Net zero commitments are being made with not a lot of “meat” behind them - many dismiss these as greenwashing and cannot be the solution to our climate crisis. Companies need to be held accountable and also need to follow through on the commitments they make. To achieve our 1.5 degrees Celsius goal, companies must truly transition away from carbon..
Should we be optimistic about the future?
Post COP26, both Zubair and Tyrone are cautiously optimistic concerning the climate crisis. Zubair describes holding onto optimism as the only way to continue moving forward. While there are many reasons to be extremely pessimistic, there are reasons for holding onto hope. Hard work must be put in behind the scenes to accomplish our climate goals. Tyrone reiterates the importance of delivering the resources countries need in order to live with the impacts of climate change. Coming out of COP26, we are already seeing an increase in adaptation financing.
Additional Notes
A source of encouragement is that individual voices and the voices of younger generations are starting to be heard, individuals do not necessarily have to be attending in person.
Interacting with your local and federal government on issues concerning climate change is a tangible way to get involved and make a difference.
Nature-based solutions: This is a point of tension, as much of our climate crisis response has been made in terms of economic, technological and profit-motivated models. But, Indigenous perspectives and the perspectives of those with a historical relationship to the land must be taken into account.
