Youth demand climate justice and inclusivity at Glasgow summit
Priyanka Shankar
Youth activists from different parts of the world participated both in-person and virtually at the ongoing Glasgow climate summit, demanding to be heard.
They staged protests, organised marches, and have been part of some of the panel discussions at the 26th edition of the United Nations Conference of the Parties (CoP).
Youth activists from climate-vulnerable countries say that they struggle to get their voices heard. The activists, including those from indigenous communities, demanded to be part of the decision-making process.
It is the second week of negotiations at the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow in the United Kingdom, where several countries, including India, have announced ambitious targets to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius over pre-industrial times. Youth activists, however, are not entirely satisfied with the commitments and decisions announced by world leaders. Gathered from around the world, in Glasgow, they say that this climate conference is not inclusive and demand to be included in the decision-making process.
“There are communities in the frontline that are suffering right now and many of those voices are not here today!” said climate activist and public speaker Laura Young, at a press conference, on November 4 at the main venue of COP26.
An important part of the youth action during COP26 were the protests conducted in Glasgow and around the world. Two of the largest protests demanding climate action and climate justice took place in Glasgow on November 5 and 6. The organisers said that about 100,000 people marched on November 6, making it the biggest march during COP26.
On both days, the protesters marched through the streets of Glasgow echoing the slogan, ‘What do we want? Climate Justice. When do we want it? Now!’ The colourful placards, costumes, music, and theatrics were even more powerful on the second day, as the protesters marched despite heavy rains.
“Blah Blah Blah” became one of the most common slogans shouted during the biggest climate march during COP26 on November 6. Photo by Priyanka Shankar/Mongabay.Crowds gathered at Glasgow Green on November 6 evening after completing the march. It’s estimated that over 100,000 people attended the event. Photo by Priyanka Shankar/Mongabay.
The protesters included different youth groups, indigenous groups, NGOs, and people from different countries who have travelled to Glasgow to take part in these marches. Fridays For Future and Extinction Rebellion were among the groups that were cheered on by the onlookers. Their collective cry demonstrated their disappointment with the commitments made by the world leaders during the ongoing climate negotiations.
Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, who led the march on Friday, called COP26 a ‘Global North greenwash festival’. “We don’t need distant non-binding pledges … Look at their track record. This is the 26th COP,” she said as the crowd cheered and roared. “We are tired of their blah, blah, blah!” she continued.
“They are discussing the future of the planet that we will inherit and yet they don’t include us in the decision-making process!” Sebastian Jones, 24, from Scotland who took part in the protest on November 6, told Mongabay-India.
Alice Barwa (right-top) with her group from Survivors International hold up placards demanding the release of activist Hidme Markam from custody and to save Chhattisgarh’s Hasdeo forest from coal mining. Photo by Priyanka Shankar/Mongabay.
Alice Barwa, 23, from India, represented Adivasi youth at the protest on November 6 and said that she is at Glasgow to assert her identity as an indigenous young woman.
“Adivasis and their rights are not recognised. We need to be given a platform and the solutions should be intersectional in nature. The real voices are here – outside the COP venue. There are several red tapes to cross to get our voices heard at COP26,” Barwa told Mongabay-India.
“The key part of COP26 should be listening to the youth voices. We are going through a climate crisis, and we need action now!” said Joyce Rose, 30, from Scotland.
Scenes from the climate march in Glasgow during the climate summit. Photo by Priyanka Shankar/Mongabay.
YOUNGO, the Youth Constituency of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which consists of many youth-led organisations, groups and delegations, consolidated a youth statement with inputs from 40,000 young people from across 140 countries. On November 5, the Global Youth Statement was presented on the Youth and Public Empowerment Day at COP26 to the UNFCCC Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa, COP26 President Alok Sharma, First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon, UK High-Level Champion Nigel Topping, and Lead Negotiator of the UK Archie Young.
Veena Balakrishnan, a social entrepreneur from India, part of the YOUNGO team told Mongabay-India, “The youth have a voice; we are inheriting the Earth and we will be living with the consequences of the decisions taken. It has been hard for people from the Global South to make it here to the venue. But we were still able to get statements from people living around the world and consolidate it. YOUNGO will always make sure to get their voices heard.”
In a press conference on November 6, while the protest ended outside, the YOUNGO team also assured that they are in constant touch with the UNFCCC and that they are trying their best to include all youth voices.
Veena Balakrishnan from YOUNGO at COP26. Photo from Veena Balakrishnan.
Making heads turn at the conference venue
The youth activists are not just on the streets of Glasgow but are also trying to raise voices about climate urgency inside the venue. For instance, Jennifer Larbie from Christian Aid, on behalf of the climate justice campaign ACT Alliance, explained why their team had to hold up banners inside the conference venue for decision-makers to see. “We need transparency about the way the money moves. The rich countries promised in Paris, to deliver the finance. That promise has been broken. Now, the developed countries are saying they will deliver it by 2023. We know that these are broken promises too! That’s why we’re holding up these banners,” she said.
ACT Alliance team holds up a banner inside the COP26 venue criticising the unfulfilled promises of developed countries towards developing nations. Photo by Priyanka Shankar/Mongabay.
Bringing diverse youth voices to the conference
Archana Soreng, an indigenous environmental activist from India, who is also a member of the UN Secretary General’s Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change, said she believes that both, lobbying outside and negotiating inside, are important.
“Our methods and tools may be different but we stand for the same cause – climate justice. The protests are crucial because they hold leaders accountable. The youth groups have put a lot of effort this year to read, understand and educate themselves about the negotiating processes. We also need more indigenous youth voices to be included in the decision-making processes. We can’t prioritise one stakeholder and leave the other; we need to focus on intersectionality,” she told Mongabay-India.
Indigenous youth climate activist Archana Soreng from Odisha says that all youth groups are fighting for the same cause, climate justice. Photo by Priyanka Shankar/Mongabay.
Mihad Hamid Elfaki from Doha Debates, a multimedia organisation that is inspired by the Majlis-style debates (designed to bridge differences, build consensus, and identify solutions to urgent global issues), noted that there is an urgent need to involve youth in the discussions.
“We have installed something here at COP26 called the ‘Doha Portal’. We connect with young activists virtually, from different parts of the world. We’ve had leaders visiting the portal and interacting with young people. It has made a lot of difference. The youth from Gaza, Palestine, most of whom don’t have the right to leave the country and connect to people from outside their borders, could interact with each other and the leaders who have come here to make decisions. It was eye-opening for both parties. The youth, once they are given a platform, have a lot to say. For the young people of Gaza, it is hard to get their voices heard at the local level itself; their voices do not reach the world. This portal is an attempt to amplify their voices,” she told Mongabay-India.
A scene from the Doha Portal setup at the COP26 venue for young environmental activists to interact with each other and the world leaders. Photo by Priyanka Shankar/Mongabay.
