From 31 October to 12 November, the Cop26 climate summit is being held in Glasgow. For nearly a fortnight, world leaders and representatives are discussing the future of international climate policy. The conference is designed to tighten the various countries’ targets as set at the 2015 Paris climate summit. For instance, at the time, the signatories to the agreement agreed that each country would reduce its greenhouse gas emissions and make sure that global heating would not exceed 1.5 degrees Celsius by 2100.
The recently published Emissions Gap Report stated that the targets set in Paris will not suffice to keep global warming at bay to a sufficient degree. In Glasgow the UN member states are discussing ways to make sure that they can keep global warming to an acceptable level. Another question being discussed at the conference is whether more funds must be allocated to developing countries, to allow them to reduce their emissions.
Empty talk
Many students on the Woudestein Campus do not believe that the political leaders attending the climate summit are decisive enough to get anything done. On Thursday, we met business administration student Marco Hussein, 18, who was having lunch in front of the Tinbergen Building. He said he did not believe that the climate crisis was about to be resolved for real. “When it comes down to it, leaders don’t take any responsibility. They shirk their responsibilities. It’s empty talk, that’s all,” he said.
Geert Stad, 22, who is doing a master programme in Economics and Law, is equally pessimistic. He can’t see overall global temperature actually being reduced by 1.5 degrees by 2050. “It’s such a pity. I want to be able to enjoy life.”
For his part, 41-year-old business administration student Anil Palandin can’t see things changing any time soon either. “I’m not really following the whole thing, but things are heading in the wrong direction. World leaders won’t make any changes.”
Twenty-two-year-old marketing student Mandy Kho thinks it is a good thing that a conference is being held. “Leaders must sit down and consider this issue together and make decisions together. I myself would like to work for a company that focuses on sustainability, but that won’t be enough. This must be organised on the international level.”
Doelen
Some students are concerned about the fact that the targets set in the 2015 Paris Agreement are not being met. They have differing opinions as to how to solve that problem.
Twenty-one-year-old Adrian Tienda, who studies tourism at Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences, believes countries will be demotivated by serious targets that will not be able to be achieved. “Setting targets that are achievable is always more effective. People are motivated when they meet their targets and it makes them willing to try to achieve just a little more. I think the same thing applies to the climate change targets. The fact that we’re behind schedule is not helping countries try harder.”
Let’s not wait for others
Business administration student George Turow, 21, says we should not wait and see what big countries such as the USA are doing. “Joe Biden has lost some credibility because in October he failed to get the Senate to accept his plans for a transition to green electricity. So we can’t just wait and see what happens in America. Things aren’t going well there either.”
Communication student Irim Akin, 25, agrees. “All countries feel less obliged to meet the climate standards because America and China aren’t really joining in. But that’s the wrong approach. This way, nothing will change.” Her friend, business administration student Orkhan Tunaw, 25, agrees and would like to add something. He says that poorer countries tend to be forgotten. “It’s easy for the EU to present a united front when it comes to climate change. It’s much harder for African countries. I can imagine they don’t want to make any changes if they’re not given additional support.”
Librarian René Verwijmeren, 58, does think that the fact that Joe Biden is attending the conference will have a significant impact. “By being in Glasgow, he’s showing that he takes the climate a lot more seriously than Trump did, which is good news.” Verwijmeren is optimistic. “I think everyone has realised by now that it’s high time we took some serious action. Where Glasgow goes, the rest will follow. You can already see that happening. Major corporations are increasingly investing in sustainable solutions. I’m a municipal councillor in Etten-Leur, and even we are investing in solar panels. Things will eventually move in the right direction.”
Librarian René Verwijmeren, 58, does think that the fact that Joe Biden is attending the conference will have a significant impact. “By being in Glasgow, he’s showing that he takes the climate a lot more seriously than Trump did, which is good news.” Verwijmeren is optimistic. “I think everyone has realised by now that it’s high time we took some serious action. Where Glasgow goes, the rest will follow. You can already see that happening. Major corporations are increasingly investing in sustainable solutions. I’m a municipal councillor in Etten-Leur, and even we are investing in solar panels. Things will eventually move in the right direction.”
