COP26: Youth from Global South ‘need their voices to be heard’

Climate action is complicated, and there will be lots of talk about 1.5 degree pathways, abatement strategies and carbon lock-ins at the UN climate conference in Glasgow. What does it all mean?

At the heart of the climate crisis is a profound injustice: poorer countries are the most vulnerable to climate change and the least responsible for it. According to British charity Oxfam, the poorest half of the world's population accounts for just 10 percent of global carbon emissions. One young leader from the Global South who's in Glasgow for COP26 is Kenyan activist Kevin Mtai, who joined us for Perspective. While Mtai is hopeful about the summit, he said he was disappointed by the presence of corporate sponsors, especially in contrast to the limited access given to climate activists.

DELIVERING a speech to world leaders in Rome ahead of the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow, Prince Charles did not mince his words on the state of the climate crisis. The heir to the throne said the summit was “quite literally the last chance saloon”.

India's Narendra Modi has spoken in Glasgow on Monday and Japan's new Prime Minister Fumio Kishida was en route. But President Xi Jinping of China, the world's biggest emitter of greenhouse gases, skipped attendance.

European Commission Chief Ursula von der Leyen has said a global methane reduction pledge sponsored by the EU and the US will "immediately slow down climate change." Over 80 countries have signed on to the pledge.

“If you live in Nigeria, you can survive anywhere,” and it’s not by chance. The Soro Soke generation has shifted the narrative, creating an online and offline movement that seeks to effect change, a change that cuts across national boundaries. Amid these calls for change is The Culture Squad echoing the demands of the people for all who need to hear it. These select few are the VJs who highlight societal issues that spark change and revolution in the hearts of many youths. Grab a copy of Guardian Life tomorrow as Nenny B, Folu Storms and Ilo take us on a journey on the impact of ViacomCBS on youth expression.

Major deals struck — including on coal — at the UN climate conference have been met with mixed reactions. But can they lay the groundwork for a comprehensive strategy to meet climate targets?

Around 30 countries, cities and car manufacturers are planning a total shift to emission-free vehicles by 2040. But a number of major automaking countries — including China, the US and Germany — are not on board.

At COP26, richer countries are told to pull their head out of the sand and deliver on climate change promises. Africa is paying dearly for the environmentally destructive policies of developed nations. Also, Covid-19 has kept the border between DR Congo and the Republic of Congo closed for a year and a half. The impact on trade has left communities struggling. And more than a century after they were looted by French colonisers, dozens of artefacts are finally back home in Benin.

Climate negotiations at COP26 are running into overtime in Glasgow. A fresh draft deal urges a speedy transition from coal and fossil fuel subsidies, but it needs to be agreed by nearly 200 countries.

The UN climate summit has been slammed as a failure after India and China weakened language on phasing out fossil fuels and historical polluters refused to accept liability for damage caused by extreme weather.

Whilst the imperfect progress made at COP26 is welcome, some of Africa's top priorities when it comes to getting support and policies to effectively tackle the climate emergency were not achieved. We take a look at what's now on the agenda on the road to COP27 in Egypt next year. Also, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken heads to Africa on his first official trip. High on the agenda will be Ethiopia's deepening conflict and fears that it could destabilise the region. Finally, we meet some of the Central African entrepreneurs trying to ramp up industrial farming of cassava in the hopes of tackling food insecurity.