On Tuesday Can Cop26 hope to make a difference?
AS the leaders of the most powerful countries on earth come together for what has been heralded as a crucial last-gasp chance to avoid catastrophic climate change, I think we may be about to finally reach acceptance of what we really knew all along.
It will be a realisation of the truth which we need to face, a proper comprehension of the problem in front of us: That our world leaders are incapable of committing to any genuine and meaningful actions which will really make a difference.
I’m sorry to be saying it, but I don’t think that Cop26 will be anything but a cop-out by another group of global leaders who want to be seen to be doing the right thing, but are just not capable of delivering anything more than a few warm words and hot air.
It’s easy to make the obvious but probably facetious comparison of the language of US President Joe Biden on being a world leader on climate change... as he arrived in a 43-car cavalcade.
It’s maybe slightly less unrealistic to have expected better from our own Prime Minister Boris Johnson as host of the Cop26 summit than to have cut tax on short-haul flights in a budget the very week before the summit.
Yes, the air is thick with not just the fumes of the vehicles of the world leaders there to implement supposed change, but hypocrisy.
They will probably say it’s more of a do-as-I-say thing than a do-as-I-do.
Worse still, the US and the UK are probably among the nations who are expected to actually want to bring about change on our climate, and drive things forward.
Australia, which has lucrative deals in place from mining its rich resources, are expected to be a road block. China and Russia, two of the biggest polluters on the planet, are not even there.
No, let’s be honest with ourselves, the most likely benefit to come from the climate summit in Glasgow will be that the world will finally realise that the supposed power-brokers are unwilling to do anything that would compromise their position back home.
If you doubt this, consider the odds that you would get for the Green Party to win the next election. You’re probably talking 1,000/1.
I do think that people, in general, care about the environment and are in agreement that something needs to change. But individuals can’t do it alone. People who need a car to get around because the public transport network doesn’t serve their needs likely can’t afford an electric car.
Those who would love to power their homes by solar power or wind turbines can’t afford such green technology alone – they are doing their best to make sure their family and loved ones have a warm home to return to.
I am no different, and no better than anyone else. I drive a car, heat my home with a gas boiler, and would love to take my loved ones – partner, children – on holiday. By air if I can afford it.
Even my effort in recycling is, if you believe Boris Johnson, actually a pointless act, because I should be using less plastic and the like in the first place. But most of the things I want to buy at the supermarket come in plastic – from the tomatoes in their plastic wrap to the cordial I like.
The Government brought in bans on certain single-use plastics – like straws, cotton wool bud sticks, and stirrers – but it seems like a pathetic and weak piece of legislation that will scarcely make a difference.
The first real warnings of climate change came back in 1990 – more than 30 years ago – and we have been unable to effect real change in the decades since then.
So why does anyone think that things can be any different now?
Yes, the air is thick with not just the fumes of world leaders’ vehicles, but hypocrisy