Blog

Climate Emergency

one_small_step_blog_header

One small step for you, one giant impact for humankind

If you could only do one thing to minimise your ecological footprint, what would it be? There are so many options, and whilst it is good to have choice, we can find ourselves paralysed by the sheer amount of choice. We elect to use glass bottles instead of plastic, before hearing that this generates more emissions in transport; we buy products accredited as containing sustainable palm oil before discovering we have been <a href="https://www.thenation.com/article/archive/big-business-has-a-new-scam-the-purpose-paradigm/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">deceived</a>; we recycle, before finding out that much of this is ending up in<a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/recycling-waste-uk-overseas-landfill-pollution-nao-environment-defra-a8458991.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> landfill</a> on the other side of the world.
Whilst it is important to do our research and make the right decisions where we can, wouldn’t it be nice if there was a quick fix out there, where a one-off decision could outsource some of that eco-stress to the people with the time and expertise to see the bigger picture, ensuring maximum impact with minimum effort?
Well, it turns out there are, none more so than:

Since the Paris Climate accord in 2015, banks have invested <a href="https://www.ran.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Banking_on_Climate_Change__2020_vF.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">$2.7 trillion</a> in fossil fuel companies (to say nothing of tobacco, arms, gambling and other dubious investments). And unless you are explicitly invested in an environmental scheme, this likely includes<a href="https://www.greenpeace.org.uk/news/barclays-banks-climate-change-fossil-fuels/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> your money</a>. Conversely, it is estimated that it would cost about<a href="https://ourworldindata.org/how-much-will-it-cost-to-mitigate-climate-change" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> $300 billion of investment</a> per year to prevent runaway climate change by the oft-cited cut off point of 2030 (so, about $1.5 trillion in total). Strange how we continue to damage our planet almost to the exact extent that we need to do just the opposite. But it at least makes the solution fairly obvious: reinvest the money currently supporting climate-damaging activities into those that support our planet’s health.
Despite being the driver behind so much destructive activity, finance often slips under the rug as a point of focus for those who care about the climate. Because we do not see what our finances are doing on a day to day basis, we do not associate them with the havoc they can cause. But just as factory farms were causing environmental (as well as animal) harm before the public had any idea, so too your finances. In fact, because of the relative wealth of the average western citizen, the choice you make regarding how your money is put to use is likely the most powerful one you can make in terms of your relative impact as an individual.
A common argument is that green investments are riskier, constituting a new and unpredictable market built around unproven, fledgling companies and technology. But this is not born out on the level of data or common sense. Traditionally, fossil fuels have been considered a safe investment because the industrial-era economy was based upon them. But this is beginning to change. As the connection between our economy and the broader ecology on which it is dependent becomes more and more stark, investors are waking up to the unsustainability and counterintuitiveness of deleterious investments and beginning to redivert finance in more positive ways. It is estimated for example that the $380 billion California state pension fund lost out on<a href="https://fossilfreeca.org/2019/11/11/study-ca-and-co-pension-funds-lost-billions-on-fossil-fuels/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> $12 billion dollars</a> because of its decision to uphold investments in fossil fuels over the last ten years. And there is growing evidence to suggest that ESG investments generally (those that look at environmental, social and governance  metrics of company performance, as opposed to merely financial) are <a href="http://www.apple.com/uk" target="_blank" rel="noopener">outperforming conventional investments</a>. 
Another common argument against shifting our finances is that it’s a lot of effort. But whilst the initial cognitive load of researching your options may seem large, the benefit is that, once we’ve made the switch, our finances do the work for us. For most of us, our interaction with our finances constitutes little more than an occasional balance check, so in terms of our day-to-day, investing our money for good requires very little from us. Moreover, with the migration to online (as opposed to high street) financial services, the process takes less time than ever before. No action for the climate comes without effort, but they don’t come much easier than this, especially considering how far that one action can go. 
Of course, the subject is vast and there is no substitute for doing your own research. Whilst this article makes no claim to offering any financial advice, here are a few places to get you started:

artboard-1-copy-9

Artboard 1 copy 9

The last year has seen a range of banks announcing new climate change related products, from Natwest offering the UK’s first <a href="https://personal.natwest.com/personal/mortgages/mortgage-types-and-rates/green-mortgages.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">‘Green Mortgage’ </a>to the recently licensed <a href="https://www.forestcarbon.co.uk/our-partners/oxbury-bank" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Oxbury Bank</a> offering the first ‘carbon offset savings account’. But the bank which has always had the climate and ethics at its heart is <a href="https://www.triodos.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Triodos</a>, an ethical bank which uses the UN’s sustainable development goals as a yardstick for which companies it invests in. Rather than just avoiding harmful investments (eg tobacco, arms) they actively invest in communities, renewable energy schemes, sustainable food production and social enterprises generally. Their Energy Transition fund alone removed 60,000 tonnes of CO2 from the atmosphere and powered 30,000 homes with renewable energy.
If none of those feel right, you can find other options <a href="https://www.curiouslyconscious.com/2020/02/best-ethical-banks-current-accounts-uk.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here.</a>

For many of us, our pensions are the largest investments we have. In the UK alone, pensions account for <a href="https://makemymoneymatter.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">£3 trillion</a>. But most of us are enrolled by our employers into a default fund, tending to invest in FTSE 100 companies without considering their carbon footprint. According to Good with Money’s Good Guide to Pensions, “nine times out of ten, pension savings are going into tobacco firms, oil and gas majors, mining, big pharma and big banks: social, climate and environmental breakdown, in other words.” This makes it essential that we take control of our pensions and redivert our investments to combat climate change. The easiest option is <a href="https://www.pensionbee.com/fossil-fuel-free-pension" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pension Bee</a>, who have a range of environmentally friendly pension funds and provide an automated service which allows you to pool all of your previous pensions under one green plan. One option is their Future World Fund seeks to engage with fossil fuel companies and pressure them into divestment, whilst another is their Fossil Fuel Free fund automatically screens such companies from the outset. <a href="https://www.aviva.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Aviva</a> has also set a target of 2050 for its own auto-enrollment pensions to be carbon neutral. Whichever feels right to you, It really can take just a matter of minutes to make an impact that could last for generations. (To understand more about how our pensions are invested and what options you have, take a look at <a href="https://makemymoneymatter.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Make My Money Matter</a>).

artboard-1-copy-12

Artboard 1 copy 12

Whilst these low-effort, high impact solutions are addressed to individuals, they apply equally for businesses. Not only should any climate-conscious business seek to ensure their pension schemes are not harming the planet as indicated above. But simply by virtue of their size, finance isn’t the only easy win with significant consequences. Businesses account for <a href="https://www.moneysupermarket.com/gas-and-electricity/business-energy/a/renewable-business-energy/?__cf_chl_jschl_tk__=685a0262b7b872efb4b30d7fd88a14fa887b7e12-1609756959-0-AStc3cQp8rdo_zmmHfZoKzVefaR6yX8nrL0Br62FsqEHVJqTMc7zwvL69G7bkU4IGPu_fJ8FNhEdLs2dLHKC7DlZ_3SRQT0RuV3CsT5dkuAj0xn34tD15Mp3P6fZWI4gcwnqS1GZCxCzRtrJG5AnNngg3GXxS3rcHETyGXzHt5XA18DD9jAQ4Z1nZo0nT6d-XEiyz-gZLO4j8gEYPvw9F1-ergIV9z4QuXxhl4-UsNdq6sncz9d8sWjykuPe2-dJfVZT6m5EEs7a-UoS3jYjA0-vjIhJ2DrSvJL6Jp6VE97qOk2OvLzAwCV7JCuAoRWKRLmEPChKNqNQANsYVzeI6av4PrDqERRlGNjs6FuGFwS2zUfCmBVfD9dwLN0ypXHIhKNAw55mqNww881jfnbBamtI_vh9p5EhuAbjgVsGTHADFSwhv0mWBuUEd8VZZ725NQEE6UAl4ZCPuo3FXRgFmwU" target="_blank" rel="noopener">56%</a> of the UK’s energy consumption, so switching to renewable energy companies such as <a href="https://www.ecotricity.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ecotricity</a> can make a massive difference. Similarly, businesses produce a huge amount of waste, so you might consider using sustainable waste management services such as <a href="https://thefirstmile.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">First Mile</a>, who recycle all possible waste and convert the remainder to be used for tarmac.

artboard-1-copy-10

Artboard 1 copy 10

Whether as individuals or businesses, every decision we make has an important part to play in the fight against climate change, from what we eat to how we shop and travel. But through our investments we can support all of these areas, from green infrastructure, to investment in the natural world and renewable energy. Through your finances you are not only the consumer but the investor, creating pressure from both sides. So take ten minutes out of your day today and see how your finances could start doing some of the heavy lifting for you. To learn more about how businesses can help, visit our <a href="https://ecologi.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">carbon offsetting for business</a> page.

Updates

blog_janpriceincrease_header_01

Blog_JanPriceIncrease_Header_01

From 1st February 2022, the cost of purchasing a verified tonne of carbon reduction via our API is increasing from £3.70 to £6.50. The same change has been implemented on our platform as of today (18th January). These changes are due to significant increases in market prices. This will not affect subscription plans at this time.
Industry-wide, the cost of buying and retiring one tonne of carbon <a href="https://carboncredits.com/carbon-prices-today/">has increased dramatically over the past year</a>. This means we need to update the pricing for carbon via our API, so that it more closely matches the real cost of carbon in the market.
At Ecologi, impact is our foremost goal which means we continuously strive to balance cost and quality. <a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1dACvzjE5nBE1cKZBAhYzsUa7rIiLJqCWXVgY4bNS8_Q/edit#gid=766227634">Our public ledger</a> gives you direct insight into our purchasing philosophy and visualises how we distribute our income between operational costs and impact. 
If you have any questions, please contact <a href="mailto:sales@ecologi.com">sales@ecologi.com.</a>
&nbsp;

FAQs

blog_forestprotectionprojects_header_01

Blog_ForestProtectionProjects_Header_01

We love planting trees – but that’s not all we do. Ecologi also helps preserve the world’s existing forests by supporting carbon reduction projects that prevent degradation and deforestation.

Why are forest protection projects important?

Home to most of the world’s biodiversity, forests also play a crucial role in supporting the supply of water, and help to combat climate change. Additionally, forests all over the world provide livelihoods for local communities and are essential for food production. The forest protection projects Ecologi supports are important because forests across the planet are being destroyed at alarming rates. Since the 90s, roughly <a href="http://www.fao.org/3/ca8642en/CA8642EN.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">420 million hectares of forest</a> have been lost to make room for <a href="https://ecologi.com/articles/blog/industries-and-sectors-driving-deforestation-what-you-need-to-know" target="_blank" rel="noopener">other land uses</a>, like agricultural expansion.   
Tackling deforestation helps us to tackle our planet&#8217;s biggest problems: the climate crisis and the biodiversity crisis. Deforestation is the leading cause of biodiversity loss, while the associated carbon emissions of land-use change are thought to be <a href="https://drawdown.org/solutions/forest-protection" target="_blank" rel="noopener">10-15% of the world&#8217;s total</a> emissions – more than the entire global transport sector.

Avoiding deforestation is part of the solution

Put simply, we can combat deforestation just by planting more trees. The FAO 2020 <a href="http://www.fao.org/3/ca8642en/CA8642EN.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">State of the World’s Forest Report</a> says that we need large-scale reforestation to meet the <a href="https://sdgs.un.org/goals" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UN Sustainable Development Goals</a> and stop –and reverse– biodiversity loss. Through forest restoration can we restore habitats and ecosystems, and create jobs and generate income for local communities. Reforestation is an effective nature-based solution to climate change, but making sure areas of existing forest stay in tact is just as important.

Over <a href="http://www.fao.org/3/ca8642en/CA8642EN.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a third (34%)</a> of the world&#8217;s forests are primary forests. These are naturally generated forests of native tree species where there are no clearly visible indications of human activity. Primary forests are invaluable for their biodiversity, carbon storage and other benefits to ecosystems.
Comparing primary forests with both secondary (those established through natural expansion and around 14–16 years old) and planted forests, <a href="https://www.pnas.org/content/104/47/18555" target="_blank" rel="noopener">one study of species richness</a> found that 25% of the species were unique to primary forests, with almost 60% only present in primary forests. If we allow the destruction of primary forests to continue, we risk losing species that we can never get back.

Forest protection projects and carbon storage

Primary forests, or old-growth or virgin forests, are also a priority for valuable carbon storage. The likes of the Amazon, Congo and Great Bear Rainforest have mature canopy trees and complex understories, containing <a href="https://www.drawdown.org/solutions/forest-protection/technical-summary#:~:text=Project%20Drawdown%20defines%20forest%20protection,replaces%20non%2Dprotected%20forest%20land.&amp;text=They%20represent%20massive%20storehouses%20of%20carbon%20in%20soils%20and%20biomass." target="_blank" rel="noopener">an estimated 300 billion tonnes of carbon</a>. 
According to Project Drawdown, forest protection has the potential to avoid the emission of <a href="https://www.drawdown.org/solutions/forest-protection/technical-summary#:~:text=Project%20Drawdown%20defines%20forest%20protection,replaces%20non%2Dprotected%20forest%20land.&amp;text=They%20represent%20massive%20storehouses%20of%20carbon%20in%20soils%20and%20biomass." target="_blank" rel="noopener">5.52 to 8.75 gigatons of CO2e </a>between 2020 and 2050, while <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41558-019-0485-x" target="_blank" rel="noopener">another recent study</a> shows that avoided deforestation offers between 7.2 and 9.6 times the potential for low-cost climate mitigation as reforestation. 
Of course, forest restoration is still vital, but prevention is better than cure. As well as planting new trees, we should also protect existing forests because they store more carbon, and contain plants and animals that we may never see in planted or restored forests. That&#8217;s why, at Ecologi, we do both!

Forest protection projects Ecologi has supported

These projects are part of the Reduce Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (<a href="https://www.un-redd.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">REDD+</a>) scheme. They place an area of forest under protection through long-term forest management. These are some of the forest protection programmes Ecologi has supported most recently:

blog_forestprotectionprojects_banner_01

Blog_ForestProtectionProjects_Banner_01

<h3>1. Preserving prime Brazilian rainforests</h3>
This project is protecting and restoring 186,219 hectares of the Amazon rainforest in Brazil. This area of the rainforest hosts eight endangered mammal species, and numerous endangered bird and plant species. The project will prevent the deforestation of 30,0006 hectares over its 30 years project lifetime, which equates to 14,507,808 tCO2e in emissions reductions. 
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Emissions avoided by Ecologi through this project: 1300 tCO2e </li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Sustainable Development Goals supported: Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, Goal 13: Climate Action and Goal 15: Life on Land. </li>
</ul>

<h3>2. Protecting the Amazon Rainforest from deforestation in Brazil</h3>
Ecologi has supported a fantastic project protecting 496,988 hectares of the Brazilian rainforest, rich in biodiversity and containing several species of extreme ecological and social importance. Six critically endangered or threatened species will benefit from the reduction of threats as a result of the project activities. For the 30-year phase of the project, an estimated 15,491,971 tonnes of CO2e will be saved from entering the atmosphere.
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Emissions avoided by Ecologi through this project: 1750 tCO2e </li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Sustainable Development Goals supported: Goal 2: Zero hunger, Goal 4: Quality Education, Goal 5: Gender Equality, Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, Goal 13: Climate Action, and Goal 15: Life on Land </li>
</ul>

blog_forestprotectionprojects_banner_03

Blog_ForestProtectionProjects_Banner_03

<h3>3. Protecting and restoring the Pacific Coast of Columbia</h3>
This avoided deforestation project based on the Pacific coast of Columbia protects 83,452 hectares of land containing over 831 bird species, 195 amphibians, 167 mammals, 210 reptiles and 5124 plant species. Illegal timber extraction has historically been an important source of income within this project zone, and the project aims to relieve the pressure on the forests by supporting the development of sustainable economic and livelihood alternatives. 
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Emissions avoided by Ecologi through this project: 2500 tCO2e </li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Sustainable Development Goals supported:  Goal 1: No Poverty, Goal 2: Zero Hunger, Goal 4: Quality Education, Goal 5: Gender Equality, Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth and Goal 13: Climate Action.</li>
</ul>

blog_forestprotectionprojects_banner_04

Blog_ForestProtectionProjects_Banner_04

<h3>4. Preserving the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor in Guatemala</h3>
This project sets out to protect and restore 54,157 hectares of land in the Guatemalan section of the Mesoamerican biological corridor by saving the existing areas of forest, establishing areas of reforestation, reducing illegal logging and providing alternative revenue streams from forest production, like sustainable agroforestry. 
Additionally, this project offers community objectives, like providing full access to reproductive health information and care for local women, and ensuring that a sufficient household income for local people is provided from sustainable practices.
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Emissions avoided by Ecologi through this project: 4400 tCO2e </li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Sustainable Development Goals supported: Goal 2: Zero Hunger, Goal 3: Good Health and Wellbeing, Goal 13: Climate Action, Goal 14: Life below Water and Goal 15: Life on Land. </li>
</ul>

blog_forestprotectionprojects_banner_05

Blog_ForestProtectionProjects_Banner_05

<h3>5. Peruvian protection of the Amazon</h3>
We have supported this project which is protecting 98,932 hectares of the Amazonian rainforest in the Madre de Dios region of Peru. This project secures the long-term conservation and sustainable management of the forest, promotes a healthy wildlife habitat, and will prevent 659,793 tonnes of CO2e from entering the atmosphere each year. 
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Emissions avoided by Ecologi through this project: 4450 tCO2e </li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">SDG co-benefits: 
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="2">Goal 1: No Poverty, </li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="2">Goal 3: Good Health and Wellbeing, </li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="2">Goal 4: Quality Education, </li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="2">Goal 5: Gender Equality, </li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="2">Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, </li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="2">Goal 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure, </li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="2">Goal 10, Reduced inequalities, </li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="2">Goal 11: sustainable cities and communities, </li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="2">Goal 12: responsible consumption and production, </li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="2">Goal 13: Climate Action, </li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="2">Goal 15: Life on Land, </li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="2">Goal 16: Peace justice and strong institutions; </li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="2">Goal 17: partnerships for the global goals. </li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>

blog_forestprotectionprojects_banner_06

Blog_ForestProtectionProjects_Banner_06

The co-benefits of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)

Ecologi only supports and funds carbon offsetting projects which support SDG 13 – Climate Action. However, many of the projects we support – especially those avoiding deforestation – offer SDG co-benefits. This means that they provide a verified and well-documented benefit to other goals in addition to Climate Action. To find out more about our SDG co-benefits, have a look at our <a href="https://ecologi.com/articles/updates/ecologi-impact-report-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2020 climate impact report.</a>

Summary: Why forest protection projects are important

Protecting existing rainforests is a vital strategy to tackling the climate and biodiversity crisis. Forests contain vast amounts of biodiversity and store masses of carbon. That&#8217;s why Ecologi plants thousands of trees AND funds forest protection projects through carbon credits, benefiting both wildlife and the community. 
&nbsp;
<a href="https://ecologi.com/plan" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sign up</a> to Ecologi today to help fund these amazing projects to protect existing rainforests around the world.

blog_whathappensnow_cop26_header_01-1

Blog_WhatHappensNow_COP26_Header_01 (1)

COP26: What Happens Now?

<h3>Glasgow’s COP26 drew to a close in the late evening of Saturday 13th November, <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-59294180" target="_blank" rel="noopener">leaving many with mixed emotions</a>. As the media and public figures rushed to declare it either a roaring success or a catastrophic failure, for many people there has been an upswell in feelings of desperation, anxiety and confusion about COP, and about what happens next.</h3>
&nbsp;
According to <a href="https://www.york.ac.uk/news-and-events/news/2021/research/climate-survey-cop/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">one study supported by the University of York</a>, 78% of people reported some level of fear about climate change, with 41% reporting being very much or extremely fearful. It is understandable to feel overwhelmed, angry or despairing at the climate and ecological crisis. Exposure to coverage before COP, describing the recent IPCC report as ‘<a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-58130705" target="_blank" rel="noopener">code red for humanity</a>’ and COP26 as our ‘<a href="https://uk.news.yahoo.com/cop26-last-best-chance-keep-121817494.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">last best hope</a>’ of limiting warming, and subsequently the ample coverage after COP, <a href="https://www.ecosia.org/news?q=cop26%20failure" target="_blank" rel="noopener">which called it a failure</a>, can really heighten these concerns.
If you are feeling burned out, overwhelmed, or in despair, we’ve also collected some resources at the bottom of this post, from our friends and partners, to help you feel supported if you are feeling eco-anxious. 
In this post, we are going to explore some of the details and implications of COP26, as well as recount our team’s experience from being on the ground in Glasgow.
&nbsp;

blog_whathappensnow_banner_01-1

Blog_WhatHappensNow_Banner_01 (1)

In the immediate aftermath of the publication of the Glasgow Climate Pact (and in many cases, before it), the internet was full of analyses explaining why COP was &#8211; or was not &#8211; a success. For every article claiming victory, there was another despairing at defeat. 
COPs are immensely complex, sprawling, and lively events. Calling one a failure or a success in broad terms is often more reductive than is fair, and risks losing the nuance of the proceedings and outcomes from the COP. Additionally, COPs take place every year, and the progression of multilateral climate agreements &#8211; with nearly 200 parties involved &#8211; is incremental, and incredibly slow.
It can be more helpful to consider what the COP did and didn’t achieve, and compare this to what it was possible for it to achieve:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Has COP26 solved climate change? No (but it wasn’t realistic to expect it to).</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Did COP26 achieve more than previous COPs? Yes, in lots of areas (but there were others where it still didn’t go far enough, and <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-59308958" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lots of missed opportunities</a>).</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Were the commitments made at COP26 significant? Yes &#8211; but these always come with the caveat of whether or not they are going to be stuck to.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Are there reasons to be hopeful after COP26? Yes, absolutely. Not least because of the incredible power of the youth and Indigenous movements on the streets of Glasgow.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Does COP26 mean we can relax, or decrease the pressure for climate action? No &#8211; in fact, it’s the best time to step up our efforts to push for the future we need.</li>
</ul>
Really, whether you perceive COP26 as a success or failure depends on whether you think COPs are capable of bringing about the change we need &#8211; and in fact, many commentators on either side of the pile are actually making lots of the same points.
It is reasonable to argue that COP26 produced hugely successful outcomes for a COP, and also argue that the event itself was exclusive and discriminatory, that there remains a mountain to climb before we have made real progress on climate, and that we &#8211; organisations, civil society, communities and individuals &#8211; must continue pushing for climate action and climate justice.
&nbsp;

blog_whathappensnow_banner_02

Blog_WhatHappensNow_Banner_02

At Ecologi, we were pleased to see some of the political outcomes that arose during the two weeks of COP26. For example:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://ukcop26.org/glasgow-leaders-declaration-on-forests-and-land-use/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Glasgow Leaders’ Declaration on Forests and Land Use</a> – a pledge to end and reverse deforestation by 2030, signed by over 140 countries. This is a big commitment, covering over 90% of the world’s forests, and involving billions of dollars of finance for the protection of old-growth forests. However, <a href="https://forestdeclaration.org/about/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">this is not the first time</a> that global leaders have pledged to eliminate deforestation.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.globalmethanepledge.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Global Methane Pledge</a> to reduce methane emissions by 30% by 2030 (using a 2020 baseline) signed by over 100 countries, but China, India and Russia are not among them. Methane is a powerful short-lived climate pollutant, and it’s encouraging to see that &#8211; with all the conversation about carbon dioxide &#8211; it is not being forgotten.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.state.gov/u-s-china-joint-glasgow-declaration-on-enhancing-climate-action-in-the-2020s/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">US-China Joint Glasgow Declaration on Enhancing Climate Action in the 2020s</a> &#8211; this was an unexpected announcement by two big emitters who usually have quite a frosty relationship, committing them to cooperate in their efforts to limit warming to 1.5ºC. </li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://beyondoilandgasalliance.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance</a> &#8211; an initiative spearheaded by Denmark and Costa Rica, working as an international coalition to facilitate the phase-out of oil and gas production. This is complemented by the <a href="https://www.poweringpastcoal.org/members" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Powering Past Coal Alliance</a>, of over 40 countries pledging to move away from coal.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://unfccc.int/documents/310475" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Glasgow Climate Pact</a> &#8211; the final cover decision text adopted by the COP, which was weak in places, robust in others, and included the first ever explicit mention of the need to reduce fossil fuel consumption (in this case, to “phasedown” coal) from a COP agreement. The Pact also requires parties to revisit emissions reduction plans again in 2022.</li>
</ul>
You can read our own summary of the important points from the Glasgow Climate Pact text on our website, and for a brilliant and comprehensive exploration of all the different outcomes from COP26, we recommend <a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/cop26-key-outcomes-agreed-at-the-un-climate-talks-in-glasgow" target="_blank" rel="noopener">this in-depth article by CarbonBrief</a>.
&nbsp;

blog_whathappensnow_banner_03-1

Blog_WhatHappensNow_Banner_03 (1)

As you’ll know if you were following our coverage from Glasgow, some of our team spent almost the full two weeks of COP on the ground in Glasgow, organising and attending Green Zone and fringe events, meeting with our partners and friends, and reporting updates from across the COP.
You can <a href="https://ecologi.com/articles/blog/what-happened-at-cop26" target="_blank" rel="noopener">revisit our daily updates</a> on our website, but here we wanted to give our thoughts on some of the more general themes we picked up on, from on the ground in Glasgow:
&nbsp;
Youth. One of the more inspiring things that came out of Glasgow was an incredible turnout of youth. From the Conference of Youth, to the School Strike and the Global Day of Action, to speaking on panels in the Blue Zone and running fringe events around the city, there’s no doubt that the youth turned out for Glasgow. Whilst politicians and negotiators did their thing inside the heavily-insulated Blue Zone, the streets of Glasgow were full of song, from the thousands of youth who turned out to march for the future. If there is one major reason to feel inspired by COP26, it’s youth.
&nbsp;
Exclusivity. This was a very exclusive COP. Before COP, many delegates from the Global South were either priced out or excluded due to vaccine inequity, and even after arriving in Glasgow, a lack of inclusivity continued to pervade the event. Chatting with activists on the ground, we heard about <a href="https://twitter.com/xiyebastida/status/1454469497088270350?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">troubles with accommodation and visas</a>, and of <a href="https://twitter.com/toritsui/status/1457029246879154179?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">profiling within the Blue Zone</a>. There is also of course the now-infamous story of Karine Elharrar, an Israeli minister who was unable to attend on the opening Monday of COP26 because the conference <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-59131943" target="_blank" rel="noopener">was not wheelchair accessible</a>.
The Blue Zone (where the negotiators and world leaders were) was of course heavily security-protected, and the police presence throughout the city was enormous. The Green Zone, billed as a ‘window into COP’ for the public, was a good 20 minute walk away from the main conference, and featured only one screen in a small seating area showing what was actually going on in the Blue Zone. Far from being open to all, tickets for events in the Green Zone sold out almost immediately when they went online before the COP. Since security onsite spent most of the COP adamant not to let members of the public into the building without an event ticket (even though they did in fact have right of entry into the public spaces inside), the Green Zone was not, in our view, a ‘window into the COP’ for the general public.
&nbsp;
Money. A huge proportion of the negotiations that took place at COP <a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/cop26-key-outcomes-agreed-at-the-un-climate-talks-in-glasgow" target="_blank" rel="noopener">centred around money</a> &#8211; from reparations for loss and damage, to adaptation finance, to securing funds for forest conservation efforts. Many pledges on finance were insufficient, but it’s fair to say that the ‘mobilise finance’ aspect of <a href="https://ukcop26.org/cop26-goals/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the COP’s official goals</a> should receive a big tick.
Shortly before COP began, <a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-why-climate-finance-flows-are-falling-short-of-100bn-pledge" target="_blank" rel="noopener">there was a lot of discussion</a> about the failure of richer countries in the Global North to deliver on the $100 billion USD annual commitment “to <a href="https://unfccc.int/resource/docs/2009/cop15/eng/l07.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">address the needs of developing countries</a>”. Perhaps this was why so much of the focus was on finance, particularly regarding loss and damage and adaptation. In any case, whilst a huge amount of money was indeed mobilised, the general feeling post-COP is that it still isn’t enough &#8211; and there are still issues surrounding access to the funding for countries in the Global South.
&nbsp;

blog_whathappensnow_banner_04-1

Blog_WhatHappensNow_Banner_04 (1)

COP27 will take place in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, from 7-18th November 2022 and before then, there will be further G7 and G20 summits, as well as COPs for other UN conventions (such as on Biodiversity and Desertification), in the first half of 2022.
Parties to the Paris Agreement are “urged” to update their Nationally Determined Contributions (national-level plans for emissions reductions) before COP27. Parties who have not yet done so are also “urged” to submit (or update) their long-term strategies. 
COP28 will take place in the UAE from 6-17th November 2023, and COP29 will take place from 11th-22nd November 2024, but <a href="https://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/resource/cop26_auv_2g_Dates_and_Venues.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the host country has not yet been decided</a>.
Aside from the political, all the organisations, delegates and activists who attended COP26 will have now gone home to rest and recover after a truly chaotic and exhausting couple of weeks in Glasgow. Whilst national pledges and targets have been set, it often falls to civil society to do the work &#8211; and this post-Glasgow work will be measured in years, not days. It will be carried out not by politicians, but by everyone else.
This period in the aftermath of COP, then, ought to be one of rest and restoration, and all those pushing to heal the planet will come back around to keep on working. COP26 has not solved anything on a global scale &#8211; and far from it. But we have undoubtedly gained a lot of ground and collectively we must, after taking the time to rest and recover, get straight back to it.
&nbsp;

blog_whathappensnow_banner_05-1

Blog_WhatHappensNow_Banner_05 (1)

‘Eco-anxiety’ and similar terms can relate to stress, depression, anxiety, despair and other powerful emotions which are heightened as a result of the climate and ecological emergency. ‘Eco-grief’ or ‘climate grief’ also describe feelings of grief and mourning for the losses and destruction associated with the crisis &#8211; either those that have already happened, or those still to come.
If you are feeling burned out, overwhelmed, or in despair following COP26, we’ve collected some resources from organisations doing amazing work on eco-anxiety, which we hope might help.
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">The <a href="https://www.allwecansave.earth/project" target="_blank" rel="noopener">All We Can Save Project</a> is an amazing resource for community building and sharing deeper dialogue about the climate crisis. There’s a book, All We Can Save, to read &#8211; or you could <a href="https://www.allwecansave.earth/circles" target="_blank" rel="noopener">start an All We Can Save Circle</a> which you could start with your friends or in your workplace. The Project also lists resources for <a href="https://www.allwecansave.earth/emotions" target="_blank" rel="noopener">working with climate emotions</a>.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Force of Nature runs <a href="https://www.forceofnature.xyz/podcast" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a thought-provoking podcast</a> centred around eco-anxiety and how to turn eco-anxiety into agency, as well as <a href="https://www.forceofnature.xyz/the-bloom" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a media platform called The Bloom</a> for young voices to express their feelings, thoughts and actions in the face of the climate crisis.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.theresilienceproject.org.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Resilience Project</a> trains young people to run peer-to-peer support circles based on the latest insights from psychology and neuroscience to <a href="https://www.theresilienceproject.org.uk/our-work" target="_blank" rel="noopener">build a resilient generation of youth</a>.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.climatepsychologyalliance.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Climate Psychology Alliance</a> holds regular online ‘<a href="https://www.climatepsychologyalliance.org/events/500-climate-cafe-jan" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Climate Cafes’</a> which you can attend to discuss fears &amp; uncertainties about our climate &amp; ecological crisis, all while in a safe and empathetic space with others who feel the same. </li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.goodgriefnetwork.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Good Grief network</a>, also provides a framework, steps and a safe space to talk about eco-anxiety and climate grief &#8211; They also offer online support meetings across different time-zones.</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://ecologi.com/plan" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="https://ecologi.com/plan" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">Sign up today to take real climate action with Ecologi</a>.

One small step for you, one giant impact for humankind

Greening your finances

Sustainable Banking

Pensions

Businesses

More posts

Update for customers using our API to purchase carbon

Ecologi’s Forest Protection Projects

COP26: What Happens Now?

We send good things