COP26 is an international United Nations summit on Climate Change.
The United Kingdom in partnership with Italy, will be the host.
The aim is to keep global temperatures rises below 1.5ﹾ and to build on the 2015 Paris Agreement with more ambitious commitments and measures to reduce carbon emissions and stop futher climate change – so that all our children and future generations can enjoy a future in a sustainable world.
This is a big moment – we can still keep climate change in check – just – IF we act now. If we wait any longer it may be too late.
There are going to be huge rallies around the world and we plan to play our part in the Portsmouth area
Plans in Portsmouth include a rally on Nov 5th at 12 noon in Guildhall Square and a march for climate justice at 12 noon on November 6th from Guildhall Square. Find out more here
Join the Portsmouth COP26 Hub and help to plan the events, get the message out and make a difference.
Why does COP26 matter? We are living through a period of multiple breaking points – from climate to covid to racism. We know that these crises not only overlap, but share the same cause. While no one can escape the impacts of these crises, those who have done least to cause them suffer the most. Across the world, the poorest people and communities of colour are too often those bearing the brunt of the climate crisis. From coastal villages in Norfolk whose sea-defences are eroding faster than ever, to people living by the Niger Delta rivers blackened by oil spillage.
The Era of Injustice is Over: Our Time is Now
Justice won’t be handed to us by world leaders or delivered by corporations. So far, governments have done too little too late: colluding with corporations and hiding behind green washed ‘solutions’ that actually don’t exist yet, that don’t address the scale of the problem, and in many cases rely on more exploitation of people and the planet.The transformative solutions that we need to survive and build a more just and fair world can only be brought about through collective action, solidarity and coordination, from our local communities and international levels. We are bringing together movements from across the world to build power for system change – indigenous movements, frontline communities, trade unions, racial justice groups, youth strikers, landworkers, peasants, NGOs, grassroots community campaigns, feminist movements, faith groups.
Wherever you are in the world, now is the time to join the fight for climate justice. We need all hands on deck: in workplaces, communities, schools, hospitals and across national borders.
COP26: Why does it matter?
World leaders and experts will meet in Glasgow in November at the global climate talks, COP26. The decisions made at COP26 will shape how governments respond (or not) to the climate crisis. They will decide who is to be sacrificed, who will escape and who will make a profit. COP26 is happening at a crucial moment in history. Across the world and across movements, we are seeing a new wave of resistance, global solidarity and grassroots organising. We have a unique opportunity to rewire our system as we recover from the pandemic. We can either intensify the crisis to the point of no return, or lay the foundations for a just world where everyone’s needs are met.
No More Cooking The Books: No To Fossil Fuels, Net-zero And False Solutions!
- Fight For 1.5
- We Need Real Zero, Not Net Zero
- Keep It In The Ground: No New Fossil Fuel Investments Or Infrastructure
- Reject False Solutions: No To Carbon Markets And Risky And Unproven Technologies
Rewire The System: Start The Justice Transition Now!
- Start The Justice Transition
Global Climate Justice: Reparations And Redistribution To The Global South!
- Fair share of effort from all rich countries
- Cancel the debts of Global South by all creditors
- Grant-based climate finance for the Global South
- Reparations for the loss and damage already happening in the Global South
Find out more about our movement and message: cop26coalition.org/about/what-do-we-want/Join us for the People’s Summit: 7-10th Sep: cop26coalition.org/peoples-summit/
All sorts of groups around the country are gearing up to let people know about COP26. From street protests to a continuous prayer from now until November, from letter writing to MPs to marches and vigils in October/November, groups are ready to take action.
Key dates
- Portsmouth Climate Festival 22/10 to 12/11
- 5/6 Nov International Day of Action. Climate Strike 5/11 12 noon and big rally in Portsmouth 6/11 12 noon
- 1 – 12 Nov – COP26 Summit in Glasgow
- 7 Nov Vigils around Hampshire
- 7-10 Nov The People’s Summit
The Climate Coalition members have put together a joint statement and a Glasgow Action Plan. See their COP26 page. Most well-known organisations like Oxfam, Christian Aid, Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth are part of this coalition so keep in touch with those you support.Their Glasgow Action Plan calls for the UK to show true leadership in 2021.
The Glasgow Action Plan highlights the five areas Prime Minister Boris Johnson must prioritise to get us on track to a cleaner, greener future. Before we host the world at COP 26 next November, the UK must get its house in order, and go further and faster to reach net zero as soon as possible:
- Close the gap to 1.5°c:
- Address loss and damage
- Increase climate finance for adaptation
- Scale up high quality nature-based solutions
- Support a just energy transition
- Unlock the green recovery to get on track to net zero
And their international demands are:
- Climate. Take unprecedented action to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees
- Nature Rapidly escalate the protection and restoration of nature globally
- People Hold governments to their climate finance commitements and scale up this finance globally to support communities most affected by inequality and climate change.
Message to the PM
Don’t let us down, be a climate hero
Lead on the world stage and lead by example
The TUC is updating its campaign for 1 million climate jobs to link it to COP26.
Climate Outreach has done lots of research into public attitudes to climate and how best to get the message over. They also find that most people are concerned but turning this into action needs different approaches. They argue strongly that individual action does have a knock-on effect and helps to create the climate in which the government will take the steps which are needed. There are useful resources including visual images on their website. Find out more here.
Christian Aid, CAFOD and Tearfund have organised a prayer without ceasing for the climate crisis in the lead up to COP 26. See more here
The Energy & Climate Intelligence Unit issues regular bulletins and is nowproducing a regular Road to Glasgow newsletter. Sign up here
The Fairtrade Foundation have just produced a new report with Green Alliance which challenges the government to take account of emissions produced outside the UK and will be campaigning on this in the lead up to COP26
A pack of resources for schools is being developed by the Fairtrade Foundation, WWF, the Climate Coalition, Oxfam, Global Action Plan, Christian Aid, Soil Association, Ashden, Young Climate Warriors, ZSL, Let’s Go Zero and InterClimate Network. See the WWF site
One World Week is encouraging groups around the country to take action in the lead up to COP26 and there are useful resources on the website with a focus on children and their future.
And there is also a useful guide to materials for schools for teaching aboout climate in the lead up to COP26
You can download their guide to resources for faith groups here
5th September is going to be Climate Sunday Hopefully, climate related services around the country
LINKS
Try this song. Do it Now
A government video explaining COP26
Great infographic on COPs over time plus COP26
They have a COP26 Action plan
Climate Live – Getting the message across through music. They are organising simultaneous global climate concerts, led by Fridays for Future youth climate groups, artists, activists & scientists across
40+ countries April 24 & October 16 2021
Together for Our Planet– the Government body which has some interesting articles plus a Race to Zero challenge
Mock COP Young people from around the world held a Mock COP in November and came up with an impressive declaration
Crack the crises. A large group of organisations working on Covid, injustice, climate change and nature crisis.
ECIU produce excellent bulletins of climate news and this is their explanation of COP
Campaign Exchange | Site design by @bennopt | 
The big debate on climate is do the cop talks make enough difference soon enough? The clue is in the number 26. There have been 26 rounds of talks and it would be optimistic to say that globally we are on target for zero carbon emissions by 2050. Meanwhile the science says we will hit 1.5C warning by 2030. 1.5C is significant as this is the point where tipping effects kick . Such as methane release in the Tundra and others. At 1.5C things slip beyond our collective control. Droughts, hurricanes forest fires, flooding become the norm and the living conditions on the planet 🌏 become unbearable.