The COP26 climate summit shifted from the pomp and promises to the difficult negotiations (says The Guardian):
There is an enormous lot of reporting all over the world about COP26:
Quite different views are expressed:
- COP26 climate summit shifts from pomp and promises to difficult negotiations
- Countries climate pledges built on flawed data, [Washington] Post investigation finds
- Why the COP26 climate summit will be both crucial and disappointing
- On climate, we need to run fast — but not run scared
- Obama says ‘we’re still falling short’ at UN climate conference
- COP26 legitimacy questioned as groups excluded from crucial talks
- COP26 sharply criticized as the ‘most exclusionary’ climate summit ever
How important is personal action to combating climate change?
It is a mixturee of disappointments and hopes, and also progress on the way. But there are also things where we all have a role to play: Be aware of the use of our daily waste materials, especially the “one-time-use” of plastic, what it means for the world, for many years to come. Let us get regularly engaged to discuss this, practically and daily, and change habits. Whenever we use a plastic bag or another plastic item – and we do it all the time – we could at the same time consider that these will decompose only after so many years! We have to start to use alternatives now!
Often mentioned examples: If we all would eat less meat – meat production takes a lot of natural resources – it will have global consequences. Using cars less, where possible, and change to public transport, or use bicycles. There are endless possibilities which can be developed by critical reflection – and action!
But the call for such personal action by everybody is not to replace the necessary actions which only governments can initiate – they are to act on behalf of the people – and therefore peoples’ action and pressure are also fundamentally important for the future of life in the world.
In the next days we can expect to see the official results of COP26 – and especially the procedures agreed to supervise their implementation.