Issued on: 05/11/2021
Demonstrations are expected across the Scottish city to highlight the disconnect between the glacial pace of country pledges and the climate emergency already swamping countries the world over
ANDY BUCHANAN AFP/File
Glasgow (AFP) – Thousands of youth activists were preparing to descend on Glasgow on Friday to protest against what they say is a dangerous lack of action by leaders at the COP26 climate summit.
Demonstrations are expected across the Scottish city to highlight the disconnect between the glacial pace of emissions reductions and the climate emergency already swamping countries across the world.
Organisers of the Fridays for Future global strike movement said they expected large crowds at the planned three-hour protest during COP26 "Youth Day", which will be attended by high-profile campaigners Greta Thunberg and Vanessa Nakate.
"This UN Climate Summit, we're once again seeing world leaders saying big words and big promises," said Mitze Joelle Tan, a climate justice activist from the Philippines.
"We need drastic carbon dioxide emission cuts, reparations from the Global North to the Global South to use for adaptation and to manage loss and damages, and we need to put an end to the fossil fuel industry."
Delegates from nearly 200 countries are in Glasgow to hammer out how to meet the Paris Agreement goals of limiting temperature rises to between 1.5 and 2 degrees Celsius.
The UN-led process requires countries to commit to ever-increasing emissions cuts, and enjoins richer, historical emitters to help developing countries fund their energy transformations and deal with climate impacts.
Countries issued two additional pledges on Thursday to reduce their fossil fuel consumption.
Twenty nations including major financiers the United States and Canada promised to end overseas fossil fuel funding by the end of 2022.
And over 40 countries pledged to phase out coal -- the most polluting fossil fuel -- although details were vague and a timeline for doing so not disclosed.
Thunberg was unimpressed, tweeting: "This is no longer a climate conference. This is a Global North greenwash festival."
- 'Take responsibility' -
Experts say a commitment made during the high-level leaders summit at the start of COP26 by more than 100 nations to cut methane emissions by at least 30 percent this decade will have a real short-term impact on global heating.
But environmental groups pointed out that governments, particularly wealthy polluters, have a habit of failing to live up to their climate promises.
"On Monday, I stood in front of world leaders in Glasgow and asked them to open their hearts to the people on the frontlines of the climate crisis," said Kenyan activist Elizabeth Wathuti, who addressed the conference's opening plenary.
Glasgow (AFP) – Thousands of youth activists were preparing to descend on Glasgow on Friday to protest against what they say is a dangerous lack of action by leaders at the COP26 climate summit.
Demonstrations are expected across the Scottish city to highlight the disconnect between the glacial pace of emissions reductions and the climate emergency already swamping countries across the world.
Organisers of the Fridays for Future global strike movement said they expected large crowds at the planned three-hour protest during COP26 "Youth Day", which will be attended by high-profile campaigners Greta Thunberg and Vanessa Nakate.
"This UN Climate Summit, we're once again seeing world leaders saying big words and big promises," said Mitze Joelle Tan, a climate justice activist from the Philippines.
"We need drastic carbon dioxide emission cuts, reparations from the Global North to the Global South to use for adaptation and to manage loss and damages, and we need to put an end to the fossil fuel industry."
Delegates from nearly 200 countries are in Glasgow to hammer out how to meet the Paris Agreement goals of limiting temperature rises to between 1.5 and 2 degrees Celsius.
The UN-led process requires countries to commit to ever-increasing emissions cuts, and enjoins richer, historical emitters to help developing countries fund their energy transformations and deal with climate impacts.
Countries issued two additional pledges on Thursday to reduce their fossil fuel consumption.
Twenty nations including major financiers the United States and Canada promised to end overseas fossil fuel funding by the end of 2022.
And over 40 countries pledged to phase out coal -- the most polluting fossil fuel -- although details were vague and a timeline for doing so not disclosed.
Thunberg was unimpressed, tweeting: "This is no longer a climate conference. This is a Global North greenwash festival."
- 'Take responsibility' -
Experts say a commitment made during the high-level leaders summit at the start of COP26 by more than 100 nations to cut methane emissions by at least 30 percent this decade will have a real short-term impact on global heating.
But environmental groups pointed out that governments, particularly wealthy polluters, have a habit of failing to live up to their climate promises.
"On Monday, I stood in front of world leaders in Glasgow and asked them to open their hearts to the people on the frontlines of the climate crisis," said Kenyan activist Elizabeth Wathuti, who addressed the conference's opening plenary.
Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg will be in Glasgow for the Friday's for Future demo
Adrian DENNIS AFP
"I asked them to take their historic responsibility seriously and to take serious action here. So far they haven't."
Countries came into COP26 with national climate plans that, when brought together, puts Earth on course to warm 2.7C this century, according to the UN.
With just 1.1C of warming so far, communities across the world are already facing ever more intense fire and drought, displacement and economic ruin wrought by our heating climate.
"We are tired of fighting against the current 'normal -- the 'normal' we have is unviable, unsustainable and not enough," said Kenyan activist Kevin Mtai.
© 2021 AFP
'It kills me inside': Activists sound alarm on climate anxiety
Issued on: 05/11/2021
Climate activist Dominique Palmer (R) deals with her anxiety by campaigning
'Environmental doom'
The American Psychological Association has described climate or eco-anxiety as a "chronic fear of environmental doom".
As with other forms of anxiety, living with it long-term can impair people's daily ability to function, while exacerbating underlying mental health issues.
Climate campaigner Sohanur Rahman remembers the 2007 super cyclone that killed thousands of people across Bangladesh
Fear, anxiety, anger
Speaking to AFP in London, activist Dominique Palmer said: "I'm looking at the future, and what we face in the future, and there is a lot of fear and anxiety. And there is anger.
"Young people, myself included, feel betrayed by world leaders," the 22-year-old said at a climate protest ahead of the COP26 summit.
"I asked them to take their historic responsibility seriously and to take serious action here. So far they haven't."
Countries came into COP26 with national climate plans that, when brought together, puts Earth on course to warm 2.7C this century, according to the UN.
With just 1.1C of warming so far, communities across the world are already facing ever more intense fire and drought, displacement and economic ruin wrought by our heating climate.
"We are tired of fighting against the current 'normal -- the 'normal' we have is unviable, unsustainable and not enough," said Kenyan activist Kevin Mtai.
© 2021 AFP
Issued on: 05/11/2021
Climate activist Dominique Palmer (R) deals with her anxiety by campaigning Tolga Akmen AFP
Hong Kong (AFP) – From Bangladesh to Britain to Nigeria, many young campaigners on the frontlines of the global fight for climate justice now face a new problem: the impact the crisis is having on their mental health.
As thousands of delegates converged at the COP26 summit in Glasgow to discuss ways to tackle the environmental emergency, AFP interviewed three youth activists around the world who spoke candidly of their experience of climate anxiety.
In Bangladesh, ranked seventh for countries most affected by extreme weather, activist Sohanur Rahman said he feels overwhelmed with concern over what he sees as a lack of political will to stop the destruction.
"(The) climate crisis is to me a mental stress, trauma and nightmare," says the 24-year-old, who now lives in the town of Barisal and who remembers a 2007 super cyclone that killed thousands of people in the South Asian nation.
"It kills me inside," he says softly, adding that he fears for his parents who live in the village of Nathullabad that was levelled by the cyclone.
Hong Kong (AFP) – From Bangladesh to Britain to Nigeria, many young campaigners on the frontlines of the global fight for climate justice now face a new problem: the impact the crisis is having on their mental health.
As thousands of delegates converged at the COP26 summit in Glasgow to discuss ways to tackle the environmental emergency, AFP interviewed three youth activists around the world who spoke candidly of their experience of climate anxiety.
In Bangladesh, ranked seventh for countries most affected by extreme weather, activist Sohanur Rahman said he feels overwhelmed with concern over what he sees as a lack of political will to stop the destruction.
"(The) climate crisis is to me a mental stress, trauma and nightmare," says the 24-year-old, who now lives in the town of Barisal and who remembers a 2007 super cyclone that killed thousands of people in the South Asian nation.
"It kills me inside," he says softly, adding that he fears for his parents who live in the village of Nathullabad that was levelled by the cyclone.
'Environmental doom'
The American Psychological Association has described climate or eco-anxiety as a "chronic fear of environmental doom".
As with other forms of anxiety, living with it long-term can impair people's daily ability to function, while exacerbating underlying mental health issues.
Climate campaigner Sohanur Rahman remembers the 2007 super cyclone that killed thousands of people across Bangladesh Munir UZ ZAMAN AFP
Researchers have warned children and young people are particularly vulnerable, as they contemplate a future mired with scorching heatwaves, devastating floods and storms, and rising seas.
A recent report led by researchers at the University of Bath in Britain, surveying 10,000 young people in 10 countries, found that 77 percent viewed the future as frightening because of climate change.
Around half of the respondents told researchers their fears over environmental change were affecting their daily lives.
Researchers have warned children and young people are particularly vulnerable, as they contemplate a future mired with scorching heatwaves, devastating floods and storms, and rising seas.
A recent report led by researchers at the University of Bath in Britain, surveying 10,000 young people in 10 countries, found that 77 percent viewed the future as frightening because of climate change.
Around half of the respondents told researchers their fears over environmental change were affecting their daily lives.
Fear, anxiety, anger
Speaking to AFP in London, activist Dominique Palmer said: "I'm looking at the future, and what we face in the future, and there is a lot of fear and anxiety. And there is anger.
"Young people, myself included, feel betrayed by world leaders," the 22-year-old said at a climate protest ahead of the COP26 summit.
AFP
To deal with her anxiety, she campaigns.
"Sometimes it can feel quite hopeless until I am back and organising with my community," she said.
In Johannesburg, clinical psychologist Garret Barnwell showed sympathy and understanding for the young people facing difficult emotions over the crisis.
"It's a reality that children are facing this changing world. They're experiencing fear, anger, hopelessness, helplessness," Barnwell said.
The pressures of climate change also amplify pre-existing social injustices, he said, so younger generations are not only concerned about the environment but also, for example, healthcare access.
Yet despite this, when young people articulate their fears to adults such as teachers, often they find their feels are "invalidated", Barnwell added.
He welcomed the growing global awareness of climate anxiety, adding that while therapy can be helpful ultimately what is needed was political action.
'We bear the burden'
But in the eyes of many young activists, that concrete action is lacking.
At the COP26 summit, dozens of countries this week joined a United States and European Union pledge to cut methane emissions.
The initiative, which experts say could have a powerful short-term impact on global heating, followed an agreement by 100 nations to end deforestation by 2030.
Researchers have warned children and young people are particularly vulnerable to climate anxiety
To deal with her anxiety, she campaigns.
"Sometimes it can feel quite hopeless until I am back and organising with my community," she said.
In Johannesburg, clinical psychologist Garret Barnwell showed sympathy and understanding for the young people facing difficult emotions over the crisis.
"It's a reality that children are facing this changing world. They're experiencing fear, anger, hopelessness, helplessness," Barnwell said.
The pressures of climate change also amplify pre-existing social injustices, he said, so younger generations are not only concerned about the environment but also, for example, healthcare access.
Yet despite this, when young people articulate their fears to adults such as teachers, often they find their feels are "invalidated", Barnwell added.
He welcomed the growing global awareness of climate anxiety, adding that while therapy can be helpful ultimately what is needed was political action.
'We bear the burden'
But in the eyes of many young activists, that concrete action is lacking.
At the COP26 summit, dozens of countries this week joined a United States and European Union pledge to cut methane emissions.
The initiative, which experts say could have a powerful short-term impact on global heating, followed an agreement by 100 nations to end deforestation by 2030.
Researchers have warned children and young people are particularly vulnerable to climate anxiety Tolga Akmen AFP
But a simmering diplomatic spat between the United States, China and Russia over their climate action ambitions showed the fragile nature of the talks.
"The previous COP, COP25, really sort of brought out this eco-anxiety I felt," said eco-feminist Jennifer Uchendu, 29, in Lagos.
She said she believed climate anxiety was especially an issue for younger people growing up in nations disproportionately affected by climate change.
"We bear the burden of climate change, even though we contributed the least to it," she said, a frown creasing her face.
Uchendu said that rather than bury her fears, she tries to accept them as valid.
"It's OK to feel overwhelmed," she said.
"It's OK to be afraid, scared and even anxious in the face of something so big and so overwhelming."
burs-rbu/ser
© 2021 AFP
But a simmering diplomatic spat between the United States, China and Russia over their climate action ambitions showed the fragile nature of the talks.
"The previous COP, COP25, really sort of brought out this eco-anxiety I felt," said eco-feminist Jennifer Uchendu, 29, in Lagos.
She said she believed climate anxiety was especially an issue for younger people growing up in nations disproportionately affected by climate change.
"We bear the burden of climate change, even though we contributed the least to it," she said, a frown creasing her face.
Uchendu said that rather than bury her fears, she tries to accept them as valid.
"It's OK to feel overwhelmed," she said.
"It's OK to be afraid, scared and even anxious in the face of something so big and so overwhelming."
burs-rbu/ser
© 2021 AFP
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