Thursday 21-10-2021 - 10:00

Every year, the world’s global leaders get together to talk about their response to climate change. These summits are known as the UN Climate Change Conference of Parties – or ‘COPs’ for short. This year we've moved Bristol SU's Sustainability Month activity to align with COP26.

What is COP26?

This year it’s the 26th summit, dubbed COP26, and the UK will be hosting it in Glasgow. Over 120 world leaders will gather on October 31st to discuss the most pressing climate issues. After that, government representatives will stay on for more detailed negotiations.

It’s a huge event – around 25,000 people are expected to attend over the course of 12 days. This makes COP26 the biggest summit the UK has ever hosted, so it’s a big deal.

We’re getting involved at Bristol SU too. A delegation of students is heading to COP26 to engage in activism, link up with other SUs and climate campaigners, and work to hold world leaders to account on their climate policies.

Why does COP26 matter?

To properly understand why this conference matters, we need to go back a few years to COP21 in Paris in 2015.

It was a momentous meeting. Every country committed to keep global temperature rises to well below 2°C and make efforts to limit them to 1.5°C.

These commitments were made legally binding, forming what’s known as ‘The Paris Agreement’. Each country also set out its own national targets on how it planned to meet these goals.

The Paris Agreement was a massive milestone in the fight against climate change. But the national targets set by each country weren’t legally binding and it soon became clear that they wouldn’t be enough to hold world temperatures at the agreed targets. 

What’s happening at COP26?

Many experts believe that COP26 is our last good chance to take a positive response to the climate crisis. Why? Because the leaders agreed to revisit and update their plans every five years – and 2021 is that year.

Each leader will come back with a detailed plan showing how they’ve revised their national targets. These should be in line with the lower goal of 1.5°C.

So far, there’s not much evidence that countries are on target. A report by the UN said that revisions submitted by over 100 countries are falling short of meeting the goals. This means that the talks and negotiations at the summit are more critical than ever before.

Five ways you can make a difference 

The climate emergency is the single biggest issue facing our generation – and yet the national targets are still not enough.

If you want to make a difference, or send the message to world leaders that you expect them to do more, there are loads of ways to get involved and get your voice heard. 

Here are our top five ways to get involved:

1. Get your voice heard

Bristol SU’s Sustainability Network has arranged a series of events including a Youth Mock COP26 and a People’s Assembly. You can make a massive difference by turning up and speaking up. 

2. Follow our student delegates 

See how University of Bristol student delegates are getting on at the climate conference by following our Instagram account or their blog. 

3. Join a Climate Strike

Join students and staff from Bristol and Bath universities, colleges and schools to protest the inaction of governments globally on College Green at 12pm on Friday 22 October and Friday 5 November. 

4. Follow the #COP26 hashtag 

Stay up to date on the latest developments at the summit – and use the hashtag to join the conversation.

5. Keep the conversation going

Join Bristol SU's Sustainability Network to help keep the conversation going.