Melting glaciers point to a dark future

DURING COP26, young people from around the world will be telling the Mirror why the environment summit cannot fail and will share their hopes for the future.

Today, Ines Yabar, 25, from Peru, pictured, writes about the speed at which glaciers are melting.

Glaciers are a crucial source of drinking water and irrigation for people in Peru and she calls for world leaders to give young people a seat at the discussions. She said: “In Peru, due to the ‘El Nino phenomenon, climate havoc is being reaped in the form of floods and glacier melting, forcing people to leave their homes. In the last 40 years, we’ve lost 22% of our glaciers, which is 71% of the world’s tropical glaciers. I spend my time trying to stop further disasters. As it stands, the future is not something I can look forward to. In a world of meeting after meeting, world leaders need to hand the mic to those young people taking action in their communities. Young people are already changing the world and we need world leaders to jump on that change and generate the system changes we’ve all been waiting for.

At this COP I hope they listen to the missing majority of young people who aren’t at the summit halls but in their countries where real climate action is happening. Leaders need to support young people to have our place at COP26, to be heard, make decisions and take responsibility for the changes we need to make so that we can avert climate disaster.” ■ Restless Development and partner Lightful are supporting five Youth Power Climate Reps from across the world who are going to Glasgow to bring youth voices into COP26. They are working with young activists at COP26 to make sure leaders listen to the voices of the #MissingMajority – young people from lowerincome countries most severely affected by climate change.