Who’s Missing?
COP26 has been described as ‘a pivotal moment in the fight against climate change’ but how pivotal can an event be with so many notable absences? Echo chambers don’t effect change – they deafen.
On day one, world leaders gathered for the official photography. Did you see anything unusual?
Evidence shows that women are the most likely changemakers for climate in economic areas from corporate leadership to product development and new research from the 30% Club and Oliver Wyman reveals the true extent of the climate action gender gap.
Women are often more open than men to changes that will drive climate action but are underrepresented in decision making positions, especially in carbon intensive industries.
Women are also growing in importance as investors who have a stronger preference than men for investing that prioritizes environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) factors.
In fact, women make a large proportion of household purchase decisions in areas that generate high emissions, such as food, travel, and energy. They are also more likely on average than men to change their habits in ways that contribute to emissions reduction.
We need more women in the room. But who else is missing?
These gatherings should not just involve the green elite. True representation is needed to collaborate, innovate and overcome climate challenges together.
China is the world's largest emitter of carbon dioxide, followed by the US. Russia is the fifth largest after the EU and India. On Tuesday, President Joe Biden criticised the leaders of China and Russia for not turning up to the COP26 climate summit. They had sent delegates to the talks but neither Russian President Vladimir Putin nor Chinese leader Xi Jinping are at the summit. We need to engage all leaders and collaborate to tackle climate change.
At the end of October, during the company’s Q3 trading update, Shell’s CEO, Ben van Beurden said they would not be represented in Glasgow. When pressed for a reason why he explained, “We were told that we were not welcome, so we will not be there.”
Inclusivity is not just about being there, but being heard. But what if you can’t be there because it is not accessible?
Israel’s energy minister said she was unable to participate in Glasgow because she couldn’t access the grounds in her wheelchair. This week was #PurpleTuesday – a change programme to increase awareness of the value and needs of disabled customers. The event organisers clearly missed the memo.
The commitments laid out in Paris did not come close to limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees, and the window for achieving this is closing. We need to go harder and faster. Everyone is accountable and everyone needs a seat at the table.
National treasure and climate saviour David Attenborough said it best in his already infamous speech: “If working apart we are a force powerful enough to destabilise our planet, surely working together we are powerful enough to save it.”