What is COP26 and when is it?
COP26 is the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties, which will be hosted by the UK in Glasgow this Autumn, between 1st and 12th November 2021.
What is it for?
The summit will bring countries and leaders together to speed up action towards the goals of the Paris Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change to keep global warming under control.
What is the Paris Agreement?
It was signed at COP21 by almost every country around the world who entered into a legally binding commitment to reduce emissions.
Why is it important?
Goals made for sustainability through the Paris Agreement will need to be taken seriously and reset to ensure global warming is kept below 1.5°c – an increase that could lead to devastation for vulnerable communities across the world. Reducing emissions is no longer enough, and so COP26 needs to be decisive.
What do they want to achieve?
There are 4 key aims that the leaders at COP26 want to address:
- Secure global net zero by mid-century and keep 1.5 degrees within reach
- Adapt to protect communities and natural habitats
- Mobilise finance
- Work together to deliver
What happens at COP?
Activity at COP takes place in two different zones – the Blue Zone – for delegates from countries to meet for meetings, negotiations and informal consultations – and the Green Zone – for the general public to attend workshops, art exhibitions, presentations, demonstrations and musical performances.
What are Planetary doing to celebrate COP26?
We have recently closed an international competition – ‘Words and Pictures for Your World’ – that we organised in conjunction with the UK Schools Sustainability Network! We asked secondary school students to raise their voices for the planet through art, poetry and photography, and shortlisted entries will be featured in a powerful anthology, with profits being directed to conserve an acre of rainforest through the World Land Trust.
We are also very proud to announce that the project will be featured AT COP26 ITSELF! Organisation PPL PWR will include a digital gallery of all shortlisted entries as part of their ‘Green Zone’ exhibition, and Global Action Plan have selected a range of poems, art pieces and photographs from the shortlists to display within the ‘Blue Zone’!
You can view the winners of our competition on our You tab, or purchase the anthology here!
