Global Climate Change Talks

Gotta be a Better Way

This is day two of the latest United Nations’ climate change talks, known as COP28. To be honest there wasn’t a lot of hope for these talks to produce anything substantive. First off, the talks are being held in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), right smack-dab in Big Oil Middle East. Almost unbelievably, Sultan Ahmed al-Jaber, head of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, has been established as President of COP28.

I almost don’t know what to write because the situation is so insane, absurd, infuriating, and heartbreaking. Given the enormity and urgency of addressing climate change and the real-time damages we are experiencing from failing to do so, it is rather mind-blowing that al-Jaber and the UAE, one of the top 10 oil-producing nations in the world, is at the helm.

To make matters worse, yesterday, BBC revealed that it had received leaked documents showing the UAE planned to use its role as host of COP28 to strike more oil and gas deals with approximately fifteen nations. Al-Jaber is also chairman of renewable energy company, Masdar, and the leaked documents show intentions to try to use the COP28 meeting to advance that company’s projects as well.

Such personal profiteering is against the stated role of the COP president to remain unbiased and committed to pursuing the strongest climate-change reducing commitments from participating nations. However, given the nature of these talks I highly doubt this is the first time they’ve been used to broker private deals. The talks attract thousands of wealthy people, including Big Oil execs and lobbyists who arrive in fuel-guzzling, emission-spewing private jets and stay in posh, highly-wasteful, high-end hotels.

Lots of environmentalists and activists also show up to protest and try to influence the outcomes. I truly understand the desire to be there, to speak out, to try to push the national leaders toward some level of action that meets the level of the challenge, but this is the 28^th time such meetings have been held and still Big Oil is running amok and climate change related emissions are climbing. These kinds of events are attempts to take action while actually perpetuating the very problem they’re alleged to be trying to address.

I have said before, I am a fan of the United Nations and its current leader. At this point in human history, with globally connected economic and communications systems, and the fact that Earth’s ecosystems and atmosphere do no adhere to national boundaries, no nation alone can really solve the significant challenges before us. However, it really should be clear by now that the COP structure isn’t working. As long as world governments allow Big Oil the power it has – power fueled by our addiction to the current level of consumption, travel, plastic convenience, etc. – we will continue careening toward the hard reset that is inevitable.

It is easy to feel small and powerless in the face of global climate change and such brazen greed as using the global climate talks to broker more fossil fuel deals, but it is essential we remember that at the end of the day, governments and institutions are formed and run by the people. There are more of us out here caring and wanting change than in those seemingly comfortable bubbles sticking with the status quo.

This is a time for the people not to expect outside saviors, but to step into those roles ourselves. How?

·      Resist unnecessary consumerism. This doesn’t mean living dull, limited, sparse lives but rather stuffing our spirits, hearts and minds rather than our closets, garages, and storage units.

·      Speak out about the truth of these issues even if you don’t have the answers and, in some ways, are still part of the problem. Given the oil and plastic-soaked, consumerist system we live within, it is almost impossible not to contribute to climate change and damage to nature. It’s OK, and even useful to admit that. Long-time environmentalists learn to find peace in the cognitive dissonance of being part of the very system we are wanting to change. When we speak openly about this, and take measures to reduce our own damage, we help others do the same.

·      Take action on policy issues even when feeling dispirited about the state of our political system. One of the biggest current pushes for fossil fuel expansion is the build-out of Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) terminals along America’s Gulf Coast. This would be devastating for the climate but also for the human and non-human beings who live in those regions. Here is a petition you can sign.  

This is the message I included in case you want to use it as a template for your own thoughts:

At this time when the failure to adequately address fossil-fuel driven climate change is so evident and costly, it is madness to continue to invest in and build-out additional fossil-dependent infrastructure. In addition, the LNG terminals proposed along the Gulf Coast will further degrade ecosystems that have sustained massive damage yet are critical to protecting communities from increasingly intense weather events. Please do not allow fuel to be thrown on an already insane fire. I urge you to block LNG expansion in the Gulf Coast. – Cylvia Hayes

Finally, I want to leave you with a surprisingly positive outcome that has already resulted from COP28. At the end of COP27 one of the controversial measures was that lower income countries who were bearing the brunt of climate change had demanded reparations, what came to be called a “Loss and Damages” fund. The richer countries did not agree to fund it. Yesterday they did. It remains to be seen if this will have any teeth and it is yet another example that we’re more able to throw resources at symptoms rather than prevention, but is also shows it’s possible for some movement and agreement at the international level.

In the words of Jedi knight Qui Gon Jinn, "It matters which side we choose. Even if there will never be more light than darkness. Even if there can be no more joy in the galaxy than there is pain. For every action we undertake, for every word we speak, for every life we touch, it matters. I don't turn toward the light because it means someday I'll win some sort of cosmic game. I turn toward it because it is the light."

May the Force be with us as we strive to create a world that works better for all beings.

Much Love,

Cylvia