by Jéssica Albuquerque, for NINJA Collaborative Coverage at COP26

If nothing is done now, the path towards a climate disaster is consolidated. The warning comes from UN Secretary-General António Guterres, one of the authorities speaking at the opening event of the World Climate Conference (COP26), this Monday (1st), in Glasgow. More than 120 world leaders are meeting in Glasgow to establish the commitment and outline viable strategies to curb the emission of pollutant gases to the environment. The meeting takes place before the decisive negotiations at the Conference. But as well as Jair Bolsonaro, the presidents of China, Xi Jinping, and Russia, Vladimir Putin, are not present at the major world event.

In his speech, Gutierres emphasized that the latest survey about the Nationally Determined Contributions shows that the governments’ proposals could lead the world to a “calamitous” temperature increase to 2.7 °Celsius. The meeting is guided by scientific studies and seeks to advance the Paris Agreement, signed by 196 parties in 2015 and which sets major goals to limit temperature increase to 1.5°C.

“We are digging our own grave! The planet is changing before our eyes, from the depths of the ocean to the tops of mountains, from melting glaciers to extreme weather events, relentless. The oceans are warmer than ever. We must do more to protect vulnerable communities from the real and present danger of climate change.”

Boris lembrou que o preço é mais alto quando se é forçado a agir pela catástrofe (UNFCCC/KiaraWorth)

It was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Boris Johnson, who opened COP26. In line with Gutierres’ speech, he said that “the price is highest when we are eventually forced, by the catastrophe, to act because it is functioning, slowing down the clock on climatic change, one minute till midnight and we need to take climate change seriously, otherwise it will be too late for our children to do it tomorrow.

He emphasized that the decision does not only include this generation, but especially those who are still young. Saying that the average age of the conference was around 60 and that the young people  outside, gathered in manifestations will charge them for their decisions.

“The children who will judge us are not yet born, and their children … we must not distort our lines or lose our cue, because they will not forgive us … they will judge us with bitterness and resentment that eclipses any part of today’s activist climate. And they will be right.”

Translated by Fatima Ventura

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