“Our ability to come together to stop or limit damage to the world’s environment will be perhaps the greatest test of how far we can act as a world community,” said a former prime minister, and there are no truer words as we advance towards the opening of COP26.
The importance of COP26, at a time of dangerously rising emissions, cannot be understated. This was emphasised over the summer by the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). It warned that under all emissions scenarios, both Paris agreement targets of keeping the rise in global temperatures below 2C and 1.5C will be broken this century unless huge cuts in carbon take place.
We must be clear that this UNFCCC process—a series of UN conferences to discuss how we can come together to protect the environment from more damage—is evolutionary rather than revolutionary. But the time is still ripe for significant progress in Glasgow. The vital recipe for a successful COP appears to be ambition, willingness and optimism. World leaders will not leave Glasgow having “solved” climate change, but they should leave the conference with an injection of enthusiasm to champion low carbon energy, a range of ideas to decarbonise transport, as well as greater knowledge as to how consumption levels can be managed to avoid harming the environment.
As host, the UK has an extraordinary opportunity—that many of us may not see again in our lifetimes—to show real climate leadership. This level of climate leadership hasn’t been seen since 1990, during a speech at the World Climate Conference in Geneva by Margaret Thatcher, whose words I opened this piece with.
As the UK gets ready to host COP in Glasgow, we must summon this level of climate leadership and influence—in government, parliament and civil society.
First, the government must crack on with its domestic environment policies. Over the last 18 months, the Covid-19 pandemic has occupied much of Whitehall’s time, and environmental policies have faced delay after delay. As we get back to normal, it’s promising to see initiatives launched such as the Transport Decarbonisation Plan and the Hydrogen Strategy.
In coming weeks, we can expect not only the cross-government net zero strategy, but also the chancellor’s multi-annual spending review. These are pivotal moments for the government to put its money where its mouth is and demonstrate leadership.
But it is not all about public money—there is a much larger role for the private sector. The real impetus to tackle climate change will come from investors and corporates getting behind decarbonising our economy. The pressure is mounting, and not just among businesses: now more than ever consumers are demanding more sustainable products and services. This is a powerful behaviour change, spanning generations.
Already it appears to be having an effect: earlier this year it was announced that a third of the UK’s FTSE100 companies had committed to net zero, and the retail sector has been urged to do the same. There is of course a balance to strike, and consumers are increasingly alert to PR initiatives merely reflecting “greenwashing.” So the private sector must take tangible steps towards demonstrating genuine net zero commitments in its activities. Consumers expect it.
While it’s easy to pass the buck of responsibility to the government or the big corporates, behaviour change—although an uncomfortable topic—can make a huge impact. This starts with each and every one of us.
Due to innovations hitting the market, and a knowledge base continuously growing on what is good or bad for the environment, we can increasingly make our own choices to live a more environmentally friendly lifestyle. On the Environmental Audit Committee, we have already made recommendations on the need for proper recycling of old mobiles and laptops, and on progress towards low carbon home heating methods. Some changes can be small, some significant; some can be cheap, but others will be expensive. But all of us can take steps to understand and reduce our own carbon footprint.
COP26 brings all these different methods and channels to demonstrate climate leadership into sharp focus. While all eyes are on a few days in November, we must ensure that the Glasgow conference brings a lasting legacy of empowerment, innovation and optimism. We must keep global temperatures down: there is no alternative.
