COP26 - UN Climate Change Conference - Glasgow 2021
✊ Climate Strikes w/ SYG ✊
SYG are mobilising for the climate strikes at COP26 - here’s how you can join us!
November 5 - Youth Strike
Fridays for Future - meet at Youth Hub at 10:30!
On November 5th we'll be joining the Friday's for Future strikers (and Greta Thunberg!) to march through Kelvingrove to George Square. We will be setting off from the Youth Hub at 10:30 - come join!
Global Climate Strike - November 6
Global Day of Action - meet at Youth Hub for breakfast!
November 6th is the COP26 Coalition's Global Day of Action! We'll be joining activists from across the world to march from Kelvingrove to Glasgow Green to demand climate justice and the radical transformations required to protect the planet and its people! Join us at the Youth Hub for a bit of breakfast starting from 9am before we head to the march at 11pm!
🏢 Youth Hub Events - SYG @ COP26 🌿
Youth Hub @ Renfield Centre. 260 Bath Street, Glasgow City Centre G2 4HZ
SYG are getting active for COP26 - in conjunction with the Global Young Greens (GYG) and Federation of Young European Greens (FYEG), we’re organising a handful of events at the Youth Hub inside the Renfield Centre inside COP26 itself! See below for the juicy details 👇
Week 1
👩⚕️ Our Health in the Anthropocene (join online)
1st Nov, 14:30-16:00 UTC
Whilst Covid-19 has exacerbated the struggles of health care systems across the globe, it is just one example of how the climate crisis and our health are interlinked. From air and water pollution to natural disasters, the worsening of climate change will put a similar strain on health care systems across the globe.
Join us to discuss best forms of practice and challenges from across the Globe, how existing inequalities will be intensified by the climate crisis, and how we can work now to prevent the worst of the consequences for the future. This event will be held in hybrid format to allow for online viewing and participation.
Speakers: Gillian Mackay MSP (Scot), Salome Gikonyo (GYG - Kenya), Clement Badra (GYG - Canada), Dr Elizabeth Kerekere MP (NZ)
🌍 Climate, Activism and State Oppression in Asia-Pacific (register online)
1st Nov, 16:15-17:45
Civil movements have played a central role in the establishment of climate policies on a global scale. COP is a highly-governmental occasion for climate issues, the state violence and oppression against climate/environmental activists deserve more public attention. This session aims to provide more perspectives and awareness of this issue and advocate for structural change in terms of the political and economic systems in the context of the Asia-Pacific region. Human rights’ protection and democratic structures are inseparable from meaningful climate policies and state accountability. In this session, activists will share their experience in activism in the face of state oppression or inaction. We would further explore the possible measures at international levels, the empowerment for civilians and advocacy for this issue.
Speakers: Ade Zuchri, (Chairperson of Indonesian Green Union), Tom Webster Arbizu, (School Strike for Climate Australia)
☕ Climate Cafe
2nd Nov, 14:00 UTC
Join us on Tuesday 2nd for a chance for people to chat with other young greens and all things COP26! Pop in at any time for a chat - tea and coffee is provided and all are welcome!
👭 GYG: Climate Crisis and Women/LGBTQ+ (register online)
3rd Nov, 14:30-16:00 UTC
The climate crisis and its disastrous consequences are already here. Especially women and marginalized genders are affected. How can we as activists see the results and what can be done to make a change? (Discussion)
Speakers: Liliane Viola Pollmann (GYG - Germany), Jung Lin (GYG - Taiwan), Kevin Chen (GYG - Germany)
⌛ Investment in our Future
4th Nov, 15:00-16:00 UTC
Join the youngest ever MSP and Scottish Greens’ education spokesperson Ross Greer MSP, along with leading student activists, as the Scottish Young Greens launch their ‘Invest in our Future’ campaign calling on all higher education institutions in Scotland divest from fossil fuels.
🗣 Debate Night
4th Nov @ Nov 19:00-20:30 UTC
So we all agree that climate action is essential, right? What about how we get there though? Join us for an informal debate night with young greens from across the globe to discuss the more controversial solutions to the climate crisis, and whether they are solutions at all!
🎨 Art Session
5th Nov, 09:00-14:00 UTC
What better way to prepare for a weekend of climate marches, than to get together with other young climate activists and make some banners together? We will provide the paints, all you need to bring is yourself (and some cardboard if you have some spare kicking around!) You can drop in at any point in the morning, and we will all head off to the march together at 10.30!
Week 2
☕ Climate Cafe
8th Nov, 11:00-12:30 UTC
Join us on Monday 8th for a chance for people to chat with other young greens and talk about the first week of COP. Pop in at any time for a chat - tea and coffee is provided and all are welcome!
🧘♀️Yoga session w/ Boo Yoga (join online: session 1, session 2)
9th Nov, 10:00-11:00 UTC, 15:00-16:00 UTC
After what will definitely have been a busy first week at COP, take an hour to relax and join us for a gentle yoga session! All skill levels are welcome, just bring yourself and your yoga mat (or a towel!)
🙌 How can the Global North support the Global South? (join online)
10th Nov, 14:00-15:30 UTC
It is no secret that the climate crisis will most affect the people who have contributed the least to it. But what can we do about it? Join us and the Global Young Greens (GYG) to hear about how the Global North can better support the South in the fight against climate change. We will bring together activists from the North and South to exchange experiences and perspectives of their fight for climate justice, and how we can all get involved to do the same!
Speakers: Fabiana Zanutti (GYG - Argentina), Janmejai Tiwari (GYG - India), Salome Gikonyo (GYG - Kenya) & Maggie Chapman MSP (Scot)
🕍 Young Greens in Parliament (join online)
11th Nov, 11:00-13:00 UTC
Join us for a discussion from Young Greens in Parliament from across the world as we discuss how they got involved in Green politics and why young voices in particular are so important! This will be followed by a Q&A session with speakers.
Speakers: Gillian Mackay MSP (Scot) & Ross Greer MSP (Scot), Senator Jordan Steele-John (AUS), Dr Frank Habinesa MP (RW)
🌿Peatlands for the Present and Future: A Youth Call for Action (join online)
11th Nov, 13:30-15:00 UTC
Join this triple-venued event celebrating and advocating for peatlands and the role of youth in their protection and restoration! Join us for a multi-faceted event bringing together peatlands, youth, sensory experiences and more!
☕ Coffee & Chat w/ GWYG
12th Nov, 14:00-15:30 UTC
Join us for our COP26 Edition of Coffee & Chat, hosted by the Glasgow & West Young Greens! All are welcome to pop along, meet some local young greens, and chat about all things COP26!
What is COP26? 🌎
The fast-approaching COP26 (short for Conference of the Parties) is a delayed global climate summit put on hold by the pandemic last year. To be held in Glasgow, Scotland in November of this year, the conference will be the most significant meeting of world leaders since the Paris Climate Agreement of 2015. COP26 arrives at a time of rising awareness across the world of the threat of the climate emergency, and amidst growing exasperation that governments have promised much but achieved very little. As the pandemic rages on and throws into doubt the attendance of developing nations at the conference, many feel that COP26 represents humanity’s last window of opportunity to halt carbon emissions and limit global temperature rise to 2 degrees Celsius.
Glasgow is Scotland’s largest city and will soon play host to delegates from around the world as they descend on the banks of the River Clyde. It is a place with a rich political heritage and a strong progressive lineage, testament to its past as an industrial powerhouse famed for its shipbuilding and central role in the formation of the labour movement. The city suffered greatly in the latter half of the 20th century as much of its manufacturing base disappeared, and even today the effects of this are still felt as inequalities remain commonplace. Yet Glasgow is a place that continues to reinvent itself, and today it can rightfully lay claim to being a destination of culture, vibrancy and friendliness that showcases the very best that modern Scotland has to offer. As the eyes of the world turn to the city, it is hoped that it shall be the stage upon which a transformative and meaningful agreement will be reached.
SYG COP26 Working Group ✍
The Young Greens run a working group dedicated to COP26, working alongside the wider party’s COP26 group as well as organisations like the Federation of Young European Greens. The working group is comprised of three sub-groups, which meet and organise independently but work together as part of the wider group. These are:
Events & Outreach
Our events and outreach team are busy organising workshops and webinars in the weeks leading up to COP26 in November. During COP, we will be working with our other Young Greens from across the world to make young voices heard and amplify the voices of those most vulnerable to the climate crisis! Keep an eye on our social media to find out more about our next events 🌍
Communications
Our Communications team is responsible for our SYG COP26 newsletter and making digital content to support our Events and Campaigns teams. We have created a COP26 section of the Scottish Young Green website to keep you up-to-date on all things SYG COP related as well as highlighting some amazing work of other climate activists from Scotland and beyond!
News & Updates 📰
