As far as I am concerned, the leaders of the world’s biggest economies, as well as the world’s biggest emitters of greenhouse gasses, have failed us miserably. And now – after leaving the G20 summit, I can only guess what COP26 is going to accomplish.
After exiting the G20 summit where they issued a vague agreement to achieve carbon neutrality “by or around mid-century,” the group of 20 headed off to Glasgow feeling pretty smug. Sorry, but it doesn’t bode well for the big climate conference – you know – humanity’s last chance to make things right?
Axios’ climate reporter Andrew Freedman noted that the “reported outcome is not what the U.S. and United Kingdom were advocating, which is a coal phaseout date.” And that is distressing to me and many other people.
Anyone with even an iota of sense about them knows what is happening to our planet, and jeez guys, you’re thinking about looking at achieving carbon neutrality “by or around mid-century?” It is not like this thing called global warming or as many people call it, the climate crisis, just popped up last month.
The world has known about climate change for over 100 years, yes, that’s right. Think back to the 1820s and a physicist by the name of Joseph Fourier. He was the first scientist to propose what is now called the greenhouse gas effect that explains why Earth’s temperature was higher than the sun’s energy alone could explain.
Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi and French President Emmanuel Macron were the only two of the Group of 20 who described the summit as a success. The outcome of the summit disappointed climate activists, the chief of the U.N. and Britain’s leader, Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson called the G-20′s commitments mere “drops in a rapidly warming ocean.” U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres agreed the outcome was not enough, reports the Associated Press.
“While I welcome the #G20′s recommitment to global solutions, I leave Rome with my hopes unfulfilled — but at least they are not buried,” Guterres tweeted. “Onwards to #COP26 in Glasgow.”
COP26 is said to be the “last best hope”, the “decision at the tipping point”, etc, etc. So far the meeting of the minds at the G20 has delivered precisely nothing, according to Digital Journal’s Paul Wallis. The 1.5C benchmark was already in place. That lack of progress is expected to continue.
You would think that with humankind’s survival at stake, countries around the world would put down their swords, missiles, and other weapons of destruction and just for once – think about and seriously look at the bigger picture, for crying out loud.
Not only is the world in utter chaos, with extreme weather events, floods, rising sea levels, droughts, and famines, but it is maddening to watch the stupidity of our world leaders, who still rely on empty words and false promises to the masses.
Enough, already. I am talking about our home, and it is the only one available. Put aside the politics and fighting, now, and make some concrete decisions on how we can survive.
