Looking at COP26 this year, our discussions here at the office and with our team around the world have been filled with hope of what can be achieved and how we can be a part of this change.
But they seem to always be overshadowed by an overwhelming trepidation that as a whole, things are moving too slowly.
I want to be excited – this is a massive, pivotal opportunity for global leaders to agree to “work together for the planet”, and it’s right on my doorstep – all eyes will be on the UK. But how much faith do we have in this politics to make the change that is needed?
Earlier this month news reports were littered with leaked comments regarding the recent IPCC report. They came from countries such as Saudi Arabia and Australia and were asking for such things as “phrases like ‘the need for urgent and accelerated mitigation actions at all scales…’ should be eliminated from the report.”
Is it just me that feels like these semantics are just the beginning of the “blah, blah, blah” Greta Thunberg so boldly warned politicians away from? If such important nations can’t even agree to give climate change the importance needed – then how can we expect to get the meaningful outcomes we need?
If we’ve learnt anything from the past few years (sometimes I wonder!), it’s to be skeptical of 10 step plans, catchy 3 word phrases and grand targets. Show us how we’ll actually get there, that those at the top are leading by example and I think there will be overwhelming support from large swathes of the population. No matter what political party allegiance you have – right now, on the global stage we want and need bold leadership.
And it’s all too easy to get overwhelmed, throw our hands up and give up – I was introduced to the term “internal frazzlement” the other day, and that just about sums it up! But there are things to be positive about.
Leonard Berntein once said – “To achieve great things, two things are needed: a plan and not quite enough time.”
We certainly have the latter, and I think we have the components of a great plan. When you look into it, there is an incredible amount of good going on in small businesses and organisations around the world. Groups working hard on solving problems, some of those extremely difficult challenges. These are the building blocks of change from the ground up. But individuals and businesses cannot pull everything together to form the systemic change that is needed.
Herein lies the need for COP26. A top-down, global plan.
And let’s face it, there is undoubtedly going to be a lot of “blah, blah, blah”. I don’t think we can get away from that. But instead of letting the long words and political agendas forcing us to roll our eyes and turn off from listening, we have a responsibility to listen and hold our leaders to account. Great, a 10 step plan? Show us the actions you’re doing tomorrow and the day after to make a change – and we’ll be there to support. We don’t have time for politics and blah blah that stands in the way of action.
The time for empty promises is up. Show us the plan, and together we WILL achieve great things.
Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash