This weekend, 25,000 people are gathering in Glasgow for COP26, the United Nations climate summit, which will run until November 12. “A defining moment for the world, but also for Boris Johnson personally,” says Great Britain correspondent Leah van Beekhoven.
“Britain was the first major economy to pledge to be energy-neutral by 2050,” says van Beekhoven. Johnson’s ambitious climate plans gave him enough leverage to invite world leaders to the United Nations at the time to end their immature behavior and take responsibility for themselves.
Listen also | Towards Glasgow: many options, not one easy one
According to Van Beckhoven, Brexit was an opportunity to give the UK a new and prominent place on the international stage. “And now Johnson has to live up to that.” Johnson himself points to what has already been done, such as shutting down nearly all coal mines, and promising that all energy will be green by 2035.
Far from climate goals
But that’s not the whole story, says Caroline Lucas of Britain’s Green Party, among others: “Britain itself is talking about a coal mine in Cumbria, Britain itself is talking about a new oil field. Billions are being invested in new roads and airport expansion. We are very far from Our climate goals.
Listen also | Towards Glasgow: what states have promised and what you can do
Lucas believes that if the British did not have their own affairs in order, it would also be difficult to convince the rest of the world. It is crucial to diplomacy to do what it promises. Nor did Boris Johnson. I think there will be quite a few grimaces because it’s what you do, not what you say, that counts.
