COP26 greenwash frustration, pledge head-fakes, and other highlights from day five

Glasgow, UK - The first week of climate talks wrapped up with another frustrating day, while activists hit the streets to demand climate justice, pointing out that what people in power say they will do for decades has not fixed the climate crisis.

Vanessa Nakate of Uganda, speaking after the massive Fridays for Future march in Glasgow on November 5.
Vanessa Nakate of Uganda, speaking after the massive Fridays for Future march in Glasgow on November 5.  © IMAGO / ZUMA Press

The end of week one at COP26 saw more protests from climate activists, including a massive march led by Greta Thunberg, Vanessa Nakate, and Fridays for Future Scotland.

Thunberg spoke after the march to say that the world's leaders are "already awake. They know exactly what they’re doing. They know exactly what priceless values they’re sacrificing to maintain business as usual.”

She slammed the conference for being a two-week celebration of greenwashing and "blah blah blah" masquerading as progress.

Dubai's highways hit by devastating floods as record rainfall causes chaos
Environment and Climate Dubai's highways hit by devastating floods as record rainfall causes chaos

Nakate spoke at the protest march as well, and said that the actions of world leaders "are destroying the planet."

She also pointed out earlier in the week that "historically, Africa is responsible for only 3 percent of global emissions, but Africans are suffering some of the most brutal impacts fueled by the climate crisis."

But Nakate had a message of hope, and noted that if world leaders actually fight climate change, there "won't be a need for people to fight for resources", because with today's technology "there will be enough for everyone."

More work to come

COP26 President Alok Sharma during talks on November 5.
COP26 President Alok Sharma during talks on November 5.  © IMAGO / NurPhoto

COP26 President Alok Sharma said that week two is when "the rubber will hit the road," but some nations have already pulled a U-turn on commitments made in the first week.

Poland is the most recent country to go back on their promises made at the start of the week. Even though the country, like over 40 others, pledged to scrap coal by 2030, Poland has since announced that it rolled back the coal-cutting deadline to sometime before 2050.

This is exactly the behavior that protesters and negotiators are frustrated with, and makes it harder to take the climate summit seriously.

Alaska gas drilling blocked as Biden seeks green cred in re-election bid
Environment and Climate Alaska gas drilling blocked as Biden seeks green cred in re-election bid

Sharma urged negotiators to get on with finalizing agreements, because so many issues are still unresolved, with only one week left to wrap up talks and reach agreements.

But many of the world's biggest polluters are also absent from initial agreements and pledges to reduce emissions. Not only are those countries continuing to stoke the metaphorical fire at home, they are also tossing more fuel on the fire of outrage at climate inaction from activists like Thunberg and Nakate.

The frustration at world leaders and countries responsible for the most pollution is rising, and so far, notable pledges from those nations are absent. Week two is the perfect opportunity for those countries to prove that this COP isn't just "business as usual."

Cover photo: IMAGO / ZUMA Press

More on Environment and Climate: