The 30th United Nations climate conference (COP 30) is taking place in Brazil from 6-21 November, with world leaders from across the globe attending, including Britain’s PM Keir Starmer.
Back in the 1990s the scientific evidence became overwhelming that burning oil, coal and gas was causing the Earth to heat up due to effect of the carbon dioxide (CO2) released into the air. Faced with the evidence, governments came together, and via the United Nations began holding annual conferences (called ‘COP’) to try to agree how to stop these disastrous emissions of CO2: the first meeting took place in Berlin in 1995.
So after 30 year’s of meetings, is the problem solved?
Unfortunately, no! In fact, over the 30 years since that first meeting, more CO2 has been dumped into the air than in all previous human history. The problem is the enormous profits to be made out of oil, coal and gas – many corporations and countries value the money they can get now, more than humanity’s future. These groups flood the COP meetings with fossil fuel lobbyists – at the last meeting an estimated 1,773 of them.
However, there have been some positive changes. A lot of investment (particularly in China) has gone into alternative energy sources – like the wind & sun, which are now the fastest-growing form of electricity generation. Also, while not exactly positive, global over-heating is now obvious not only to scientists but to everyone who can remember what our climate used to be like. Here in London, gone are the routine sharp frosts of our winters, which are now mostly muggy and damp; plus heatwaves in the summer reach unprecedented temperatures. In other parts of the world there are even greater extremes. These changes don’t just affect humans, they damage nature and threaten agricultural output.
Won’t it be expensive and affect jobs?
The work to cut the dangerous emissions and adapt to the heating that already unavoidable, will create jobs, although often different ones. That’s why Friends of the Earth both in Ealing and nationally, campaigns for a just transition to the sustainable economy that we need. Yes, it will be expensive … but so is life-saving surgery – and keeping a liveable planet is also a life or death issue. What’s more, acting now will cost less than dealing with a catastrophe in the future.
What should we do?
Stay informed! There’s a lot of misinformation about, but you can counter it by visiting the website of almost any reputable scientific organisation anywhere in the world – like our London Science Museum & Royal Society, or NASA.” For some practical things you can do, see the ten actions suggested by the United Nations. But we need government action too, so speaking out and using your vote are really important. That’s why Friends of the Earth members will be joining many others at the Climate Justice Coalition COP 30 rally that will be held on Saturday 15th November at 12 midday, outside Downing Street.
