COP26, UN CC CONFERENCE Glasgow, October 31 to November 12, 2021
OMNI COUNTDOWN 9-15-21 to 11-12-21
COP26 United Nations Climate Change Conference,
OMNI Glasgow Countdown, 10-22-21
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This November’s UN climate summit -- known as COP26 (Conference of the Parties), will take place in Glasgow from October 31 to November 12. –Dick
Contents
Covering Climate Now (CCN) Pre-COP Press Events
United for Peace and Justice 10-19-21
CCN: Greta And
UN Wire 9-29-21
350.org 9-17
CCN: What’s at Stake, 9-13
OMNI Countdown, 9-4
TEXTS
Diplomats are lowering expectations ahead of COP26. Covering Climate Now <editors@coveringclimatenow.org> We’re on the cusp of a major climate event — the COP26 summit in Glasgow, Scotland — and already world leaders are lowering expectations. But it's essential as journalists that we remember our responsibility to the public and not let politicians and diplomats treat us as stenographers. The summit, which runs from October 31 to November 12, has been called humanity’s “last best chance” by the COP26 president to keep average global temperatures from rising 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. The world has no choice but to aim high and demand that leaders rise to the occasion.
Those who live in the poorest nations and also suffer the greatest climate impacts will be watching. In a position paper, more than 100 developing countries, representing half of the world, declared “COP 26 must be a key moment of delivery and there can be no more excuses for unfulfilled promises, particularly climate finance.” They’re working to raise expectations as rich countries have failed to meet their Paris Agreement pledge to provide $100 billion a year to help developing countries quit fossil fuels and protect against climate impacts.
So in the face of that reality, how are some world leaders lowering expectations? The leader of the host nation, British prime minister Boris Johnson, said last month it will be “tough” for developed countries to meet their financing pledge to developing countries. He gave it a “six out of 10” chance. Then, on Monday, Johnson told Bloomberg that negotiations at COP26 will be “really tough.” And last week, US climate envoy John Kerry told the AP that at the summit “there will be a gap” between emissions targets that are promised and those that are required. The tried and true tactic of letting us down gently is well underway.
At COP26, President Joe Biden hoped to have strong climate legislation under his belt as he aims to show US leadership on climate. He won’t.
The centerpiece of Biden’s climate plan — a $150 billion clean electricity program — has been dropped from the budget bill due to unanimous, lockstep opposition from Senate Republicans as well as resistance from Democratic Senator Joe Manchin. It’s worth noting that most congressional Republicans still deny climate science and that, in this election cycle, Manchin is the largest beneficiary of donations from the oil and gas industry in the Senate.
Biden now faces an uphill battle in trying to persuade major countries to reduce their emissions. Kerry said if the US Congress fails to pass major climate legislation, “It would be like President Trump pulling out of the Paris agreement, again.” So here we are.
As diplomats and politicians work overtime to manage our expectations ahead of the crucial climate summit, journalists must remember their responsibility to the public. We are not tools for diplomats and politicians. So take this as a rallying cry to hold their feet to the fire before, during, and after the COP26 summit. In interviews, ask the questions that citizens want to know, and hold them accountable. Do not let yourself be used. |
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Pre-COP26 Press Events ·Today. UN Secretary–General António Guterres, who is at the heart of COP26 negotiations and will likely also attend the G20 summit, will speak to CCNow partner journalists for a press conference at 3pm US Eastern Time today. Note, you must be a CCNow partner to participate. RSVP here. ·October 26. COP26 President Alok Sharma will answer questions about the crucial climate summit from CCNow partner journalists on Tuesday, October 26, at 12pm Eastern Time. You must be a CCNow partner to participate. RSVP here. ·October 28. CCNow and Climate Central will host a press briefing on COP26 goals and imperatives. Our panel of experts will discuss what a successful summit would look like, and brainstorm story ideas around 1.5 degrees Celsius. RSVP here. COP26 is a local story, too: In a new column for Columbia Journalism Review and The Nation, CCNow deputy editor Andrew McCormick explains why the UN summit in Glasgow is essential for local newsrooms to cover — and offers advice on how to do it. Check it out.
New climate poll. CCNow, the Guardian, and VICE will release the results of a poll on Americans’ views about climate change and oil companies’ decades of lying about it on Tuesday, October 26. Two days later, oil company executives are expected to testify before the House about their roles in spreading disinformation about the role of fossil fuels in causing global warming. This could shape up to be a landmark day in climate crimes history. |
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War is NOT Green! United for Peace and Justice, 10-19-21
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COP26 is the most important international climate talk since Paris. Every nation will "ratchet up" its climate commitments made in Paris. We hope that many corporations will make new climate commitments in the lead-up to the Glasgow Climate Talks. But did you know that the Pentagon is the single largest emitter of greenhouse gases? Join us in demanding that this year in Glasgow, the United Nations Climate Talks Conference (COP26) includes reducing military GHG emissions! Sign the petition here and visit the CODEPINK COP26 page to learn more about in person actions and events in Glasgow, Scotland!
Greta Thunberg Talks to CCNow, Plus Our Pre-COP26 Plans
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| | We have lots in the works for journalists ahead of the COP26 summit, including an interview with the Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, who talks about what’s at stake.
Yesterday, we recorded our interview with Thunberg. On behalf of CCNow partners, colleagues from Reuters, NBC News, and The Nation interviewed Thunberg about COP26, the obstacles to real climate action, and the future of the youth climate movement. Their resulting news stories, as well as video excerpts from the interview, will be available for all CCNow partners to run. As we often say, activists are newsmakers just like politicians and CEOs are, and Thunberg, a contender for the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize, whose winner will be revealed on Friday, is a prime example.
Next, we’re hosting a press conference with COP26 president Alok Sharma on Tuesday, October 19, at 11 am Eastern Time. This session is for CCNow partners only. Sharma will answer questions, via Zoom, for an hour about COP26; attending journalists will be able to question him directly. We’re encouraging journalists to register early.
The following week, we’ll have a CCNow newsmaker interview with United Nations Secretary–General António Guterres, available for partners to run on Monday, October 25. Three CCNow partners will question the Secretary–General about what world leaders must bring to the table to make COP26 a success, and how civil society can help. We’ll share more details about the interview soon.
During the week of October 25, we’re also holding our second press briefing on COP26 and the urgency of the 1.5 degrees Celsius target. With a panel of experts, in an event co-hosted with our friends at Climate Central, we’ll unpack why 1.5 is the most important number at the Glasgow summit and explain what needs to happen if the world is going to meet it. We’ll let you know the exact date and time of the training webinar in the coming days. The webinar is the follow-up to our September press briefing on COP26 basics. A recording, transcript, and notes from that briefing can be found here.
All of these events culminate in our next CCNow joint coverage week, October 31 to November 6, during which we’re encouraging partners to help audiences understand that COP26 is not just one more international meeting: Decisions that world leaders make there will shape the future of life on earth. We’ll have dispatches from Glasgow by CCNow executive director Mark Hertsgaard, available throughout the summit for partners to publish. |
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We’re proud to be sharing the 2021 Covering Climate Now Journalism Awards with the world this week—check out our full page ad in Friday’s print edition of The New York Times. Following yesterday’s sneak preview of the special revealing the award winners, the video continues to be available here on our website, as well as on Columbia Journalism Review, The Nation, The Guardian, and NowThis. The special premieres on NBC News NOW on Friday, October 8 at 11 PM Eastern Time, and repeats on Sunday, October 10 at 7 AM Eastern Time. WNET's nightly news program MetroFocus, airing at 6 pm ET, is devoting its full program to the awards on Wednesday, October 13. Early reviews of this fast-paced, inspiring video are stellar; don’t miss its interviews with winners, judges, and climate change leaders, and the resulting portrait of the climate emergency. |
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COP and Covid. At the end of the month, 20,000 world leaders, activists, and executives will meet in Glasgow for the crucial COP26 climate summit, as coronavirus cases continue to rise. Despite calls to postpone, or to host it virtually, particularly from those in the Global South who face Covid vaccine-related challenges, the UN insists the summit must be held in person. But some are questioning whether it’s really necessary for tens of thousands of people to gather in person in order to tackle climate change. From The New York Times...
Higher power. Pope Francis, Grand Imam Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb, and dozens of other religious leaders from around the globe are urging world leaders to commit to ambitious climate targets at the COP26 summit. They see progress on climate as part of a moral imperative to preserve the planet for future generations and to support those most vulnerable to climate change. From Al Jazeera...
Climate costs. The US Treasury Department is taking steps to assess and address the financial costs of climate change on Americans. It’s not just extreme weather events, which can lead to the loss of a home, income, or both, that are being evaluated. Climate change can impact people’s overall financial wellbeing, affecting prices on everything from food to utilities to insurance, hitting those in low-income and historically disadvantaged communities especially hard. From CNBC...
Hypocrites. Disney, Apple, Amazon, and other major corporations are backing lobby groups that oppose the $3.5 trillion spending plan—which contains unprecedented measures to cut carbon emissions—according to the watchdog group Accountable.US. Many of these corporations claim to be concerned about the climate crisis and have pledged to cut greenhouse gases, but behind the scenes they’re fighting against legislation that is crucial to solving the climate crisis. From The Guardian…
Big Oil ad blitz. The oil and gas industry is spending millions of dollars to block the Democrats’ landmark spending plan that is set to contain robust climate provisions. On Facebook, the ad campaigns target vulnerable Democratic congresspeople by name, claiming the legislation threatens the US economy. In particular, the oil and gas industry’s biggest tradegroup, American Petroleum Institute, is racking up millions of views on the social media platform as part of its effort to keep subsidies that benefit Big Oil. From the New York Times... |
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CLIMATE AND ENERGY UN WIRE 9-29-21 |
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4 climate priorities UN should address Finance, energy, heavy industry and mobility are the four areas most key to achieving an effective pact at COP26 in October, asserts Nathan Cooper of the World Economic Forum. Wealthier countries will need to help countries that still rely on coal by providing technical and financial support, writes Cooper. Full Story: World Economic Forum (9/28) ![LinkedIn]() ![Twitter]() ![Facebook]() ![Email]()
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Looking Ahead: The Road to COP26!
350.org 9-17-21
Photo: COP26 Coalition
Despite calls to postpone due to vaccine inequality, in November, world leaders will come together in Glasgow to discuss how they can accelerate action towards the goals of the Paris Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change at the COP26 (Conference of Parties). In the weeks to come, 350.org and our partners all over the world will be staging creative, disruptive, and vibrant actions in the lead up. We are working to get our message across that escalating and terrifying climate impacts are happening right now. We know the cause, and there is no time to lose - we need to move financial flows away from fossil fuels, and into a timely and equitable Just Transition!
Keep your eyes on this site for event updates: Global Day of Action for Climate Justice on Saturday, November 6!
INVITE | COP26 Press Briefing: What's at Stake?
Covering Climate Now <editors@coveringclimatenow.org> 9-13-21 |
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CONTENTS COP 26 COUNTDOWN 9-4-21
http://jamesrichardbennett.blogspot.com/2021/09/united-nations-climate-change-summit.html
UN Wire, Guterres: Code Red Alert
Covering Climate Now, What’s at Stake?
Climate Hawks, Sign the Glasgow Petition
Covering Climate Now, Preparing for COP26, Three
Themes
Public Citizen [Popular Resistance], Nicaragua
Proclaims Code Red for COP 26
Rainforest Action Network, Road to COP 26
Buckley and Friedman, ADG, John Kerry and US v. China
END COP26 CC CONF. GLASGOW 2021, 10-22-21
COP26 is the most important international climate talk since Paris. Every nation will "ratchet up" its climate commitments made in Paris. We hope that many corporations will make new climate commitments in the lead-up to the Glasgow Climate Talks. But did you know that the Pentagon is the single largest emitter of greenhouse gases? Join us in demanding that this year in Glasgow, the United Nations Climate Talks Conference (COP26) includes reducing military GHG emissions! Sign the petition here and visit the CODEPINK COP26 page to learn more about in person actions and events in Glasgow, Scotland!
