COP26 Conference – Action vs Talk?

 Richard S. Dunn – November 7, 2021

The UN Climate Change Conference UK 2021 also referred to as COP26 got on the way Monday November 1, after the Leader’s Meeting the day before. The conference ends on November 12, 2021. Ever since the first COP (Conference of Parties) in 1992, World leaders have been discussing the urgent need to combat and address climate change. The situation has gotten increasingly worst, so it is important to mention, that at the Paris Agreement in 2015 coal, oil and gas were never mentioned, considering these are the worst emitters of greenhouse gases.

According to the United Nations (UN), climate change refers to “long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns, mainly caused by human activities, especially the burning of fossil fuels.” These human activities include mining, deforestation, and the emission of toxic gases from certain manufacturing processes. The corollary of that is climate change cannot be separated from global capitalism which has spread its gluttony all over the world, causing socio-economic and environmental devastation. It is noted that some of the culprits who contribute the most to global emissions, and facilitate destruction of ecosystems, their leaders were not present at the meeting. China which is world’s largest emitter of Greenhouse gas; South Africa is one of the world’s largest producer of coal; Russia, Iran, Mexico, Brazil, and Turkey, were all notably absent. China had a low-key delegation which is an example of the lack of seriousness with which the situation is taken.

The holding of the conference can also be viewed as opportunistic on the part of the UK. Holding the conference during a global pandemic, stringent visa requirements, and vaccine inequity has kept the most important attendees from the conference; the global south including  environmental activists. Activists, environmentalists, indigenous peoples, and progressive civil society, are the motive-forces launching the counter-offensive against government inaction, and this lukewarm climate conference. These are the frontline forces of struggle against the perpetrators of environmental destruction, in their pursuit of super profits; human existence and the sustainability of the planet takes second place to profits.

The goal of the Paris Agreement was to limit the global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit), if this target is met in the short term, the negative impact of climate change could be stopped or even reversed; however, this goal is not achievable under current conditions. How can Joe Biden who has called for increasing oil production; has not stopped the Dakota Access or Enbridge Line 3 pipelines, while at the same time espousing support for 1.5-degree temperature limit? It is both hypocritical and catastrophic. Further, the delay in the promise of contributing $100 billion/year from 2009 to 2020 is another example of the rich countries’ talk, but no action, and once again exposes the hypocrisy of these wealthy nations, who bear responsibility for the global climate crisis. Cutting carbon emissions to net zero by 2050 to 2070 is insane, considering the current impact climate change is having on especially the low-lying countries, if the temperature rise is not arrested now.

Those who suffers most from the excesses of capitalist production, contribute enormously less to the climate change crisis; the entire continent of Africa contributes only 2% of global emissions. Although this is miniscule compared to the rich countries, it is still 2% too much for what is required to save the earth from eventual environmental destruction. It is capitalism’s obsession with greed and gluttony, its militarization, and expansionist chauvinism that has brought the world to this stage. In their arrogance, they want to push the burden on rectifying the problem on the poorer countries, and especially those of color. The forces of capitalism have failed to realize that their self-serving actions, threatens the whole of human existence, including theirs.

The global struggle against capitalism and imperialism must be intensified, because it is not just environmental problems but socio-economic as well. The ultimate long-term solution is a change from the capitalist mode of production, based on individualism and exploitation to one of collective ownership and equitable distribution of wealth and services. The struggle has to focus on ending the reliance on fossil fuels and for the rich countries to pay for a just, equitable and sustainable transition to renewable energy. The struggle is for countries to begin actions, to immediately reduce emissions in manufacture and transportation as critical producers of greenhouse gases. Decommissioning the fossil fuel industry will undoubtedly result in some social dislocation, and disruption of services in poorly developed regions or countries; however, if the culprits responsible for the crisis deliver on their monetary promises, the resources can be provided to make the transition a lot easier.

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