COP26: Thousands of young people take over Glasgow streets demanding climate action

Although organized in early March by Friday for the Future, a youth-driven movement inspired by Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, people of all ages gathered at George Square to demand climate action.

From young children waving picket signs with their hands, to older adults demanding a better future for those who come after them, COP26 The host city saw an unprecedented number of civic activists rallying to voice their message.

An even bigger march is expected on Saturday.

United Nations News/Laura Quiñones

Young climate activists take part in demonstrations at the COP26 climate conference in Glasgow, Scotland.

Welsh citizen Jane Mansfield wrote around a sign: “code red for humanity“, NS signature phrase UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres is used after the latest IPCC report good Published earlier this year warned of an impending climate catastrophe.

“I really care about the world we are giving to generations to come, and what we are doing for the Global South. I live in South West Wales and climate change is clearly happening, but We just don’t understand what’s happening in many other parts of the world and I’m scared,‘ she told UN News.

Today’s demonstrations also included leaders of Latin-American descent. It was he who was leading the march and many of them sent a strong message to world leaders: stop draining resources and ‘leave carbon in the ground’.

,Native people are dying in the river; they are swept away by massive floods, Houses are being washed, schools full of children inside, bridges, our food, our crops, everything is flowing”, he said on a stage in George Square.

Meanwhile, some activists wore masks of presidents and prime ministers and painted them as being arrested with signs of “climate offenders”.

More Actual Action, Less ‘Greenwashing’

Swedish activist Greta Thunberg was the last to take to the stage of protest, where she praised world leaders for their “continued”blah blah blah26 years after climate conventions and the transparency of the promises made during this COP are thrown into doubt.

“The leaders are doing nothing; They are actively creating loopholes and shaping structures to benefit themselves, and continue to benefit from this destructive system. It is a proactive choice by leaders to continue the exploitation of nature and people and the destruction of gifts and future living conditions”, he said, calling the conference a “greenwashing event”.

Other Friday for future members, speaking to UN News, called for greater participation and better youth representation in the ongoing negotiations at COP26.

“Every year we’ve been disappointed with COP, and I don’t think this year will be different. There is a ray of hope but at the same time we don’t see enough action, we can’t achieve anything with just promises and empty promises”, said a representative of youth advocates for climate change in the Philippines

,talks going on and yet we’re here in the street, because we are not included. The richest people get in their own private jet and make their decision. We are here and we will not be ignored. We will create our own space”, said another climate advocate.

youth statement

The same call was made inside the Blue Zone of the conference, where climate activists from UNGOs, the United Nations Climate Change Children’s and Youth Constituency made a statement to the COP Presidency and other leaders calling for change by 40,000 youth.

The statement raised several points of concern, among them the inclusion of climate talks. also asked Patricia Espinosa, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), to support the efforts of young people to mention the importance of the youth involved in the Final Declaration, which is expected to be adopted at the end of COP26.

“We will bring these issues and demands to the attention of the delegations, all of which are absolutely fair and just,” he vowed during a panel discussion with the youth leaders.

The statement submitted to the ministers also called for action on climate finance, mobility and transport, wildlife conservation and environmental protection.

,Wherever I’ve been in the world, I’ve been impressed by the passion and commitment of young people to climate action, Here at the COP, the voice of the youth should be heard and reflected in these talks. Action and investigation of youth is important for us to survive 1.5 and create a net-zero future”, said Alok Sharma, President, COP26.

Meanwhile, the UK and Italy, in partnership with UNESCO, Youth4 Climate and Mock COP coordinate new global action to equip future generations with the knowledge and skills to build a net-zero world.

As education ministers and young people gathered, more than 23 countries stepped up national climate education pledges, ranging from carbon-free the education sector to developing school resources.

United Nations News/Laura Quiñones

Workers dressed as dinosaur characters take part in demonstrations at the COP26 climate conference in Glasgow, Scotland.

Young is Right: New Commitments Aren’t Enough

UNFCCC published Your latest updates of national commitments So far, they have not been enough to reduce carbon emissions, and although some progress has been made during the conference.

“Global greenhouse emissions are projected to increase by about 13.7 percent in 2030 compared to 2010,” the report said.

Before the COP, the increase was calculated to be 16 percent, but for the world to be able to curb global warming and avoid disastrous consequences, emissions must be cut by 50 percent over the next nine years.

For Carla Huanca, a young activist who traveled from Bolivia to Glasgow with her friend, the dinosaur “T-Resilient,” another extinction may have been unlikely.

“We will be young people who will inherit this planet, and that is why it is so important that our voices be heard. We demand government action so that we can all get the planet we want,‘ she told UN News.