Climate justice and sustainability: what will be happening at COP26

What Quakers in Britain and the Quaker United Nations Office will be doing ‘inside’ COP26

The formal negotiations at COP take place within what is known as the ‘blue zone’, which is only accessible to delegates and accredited observer organisations. The blue zone will be in the Scottish Event Campus (SEC). Glasgow Science Centre, just across the river, will host the ‘green zone’, which is managed by the COP26 Presidency (the UK government) and is open to the public. There will also be many unofficial activities and events taking place elsewhere in Glasgow.

The UK government says it is committed to an in-person COP. However, given the ongoing pandemic, it is not clear what this will look like. It does not seem likely that the negotiations themselves will take place virtually, but there may well be restrictions or primarily virtual events within the green zone.

Our partners, the Quaker United Nations Office (QUNO), has official observer status under the Friends World Committee for Consultation (FWCC). QUNO has been active at the climate negotiations since 2013, offering small, informal and off-the-record meetings for negotiators (known as ‘quiet diplomacy’) to help build communication and understanding between a diverse group of countries. QUNO facilitates these meetings to focus on sensitive issues facing the negotiations at that particular time. Over 60 countries have participated in the quiet diplomacy since 2013; the work has continued virtually during the pandemic, as negotiators say they continue to value the ‘safe and humane space’ and ‘sense of community’ that QUNO’s quiet diplomacy helps to create. In preparation for COP26, QUNO recently published the Climate Empowerment Trilogy, FWCC and Act Alliance, to host a side event in the ‘Blue Zone’ called “A moral call to conscience – fair share in finance for people affected by loss and damage”. QUNO will be present in the negotiation rooms throughout the COP, to support negotiators seeking effective, fair and ambitious guideline decisions needed to operationalize the Paris Agreement. Support from Quakers in Britain has been fundamental to the ability of QUNO to do this and related work in human rights, peace and disarmament, and sustainable and just economic systems.

Quakers in Britain have provisionally been granted observer status at COP26. If this status is confirmed, we hope to work alongside QUNO (FWCC) and QEW to support several British Quakers inside the blue zone, in addition to co-hosting the loss and damage event. Quakers in Britain will also be present in the unofficial civil society fringe 'outside' COP26. Scroll down to read more about this!

Be part of the team that brings climate justice to COP26! The climate justice movement needs your help in Glasgow this November. As part of the COP26 Coalition, we’re inviting you to be part of a team of volunteers that will be critical to making this November a success. From mobilisations to People's Summit to civil society hub - there are many ways for you to get involved.

Find out more and apply to become a Climate Justice Volunteer. Make sure to apply by 31st July. You don't need any particular skills or experiences, but you must be over 18 to volunteer. If you have any questions, email isobel@stopclimatechaos.scot.

From Friends in Scotland:
The Meeting House in Glasgow will be entirely devoted to COP events, apart from our regular meetings for worship on Sundays and Wednesdays. The Meeting House will be open every day from 8.00am to 10.00pm during the COP. It has a meeting room which can hold about 60 people as well as several other smaller rooms, one of which will be a drop in cafe.

We are planning to have periods of silent worship, meditation and reflection every morning and evening, which we feel would be a unique Quakerly contribution in what is going to be a highly charged event. We also intend to have a number of Quaker led events, including meetings with appropriate speakers and discussions and exhibitions and we would welcome suggestions from Friends in the UK and overseas for such events. We will also be open to events organised by outside groups, especially those who would otherwise find it difficult to get their voice heard. We are about to upgrade our audio-visual facilities in the Meeting House and look forward to hosting online events with Quakers and others from around the world to update them on the progress of the talks.

If you are within travelling distance of Glasgow and are willing to act as a warden please apply here as soon as possible. For further information email cop26@quakerscotland.org or view www.quakerscotland.org/cop26.

Arrival of Quaker and interfaith pilgrimages to COP26

As part of the build-up to COP26 in Glasgow in November, several pilgrimages are being planned or are already underway! We are aware of three pilgrimage-style actions that Friends are involved in, including the Young Christian Climate Network 'Relay to COP26', a participatory Quaker relay pilgrimage and an art & ecology Scottish pilgrimage.

All of the pilgrimages are planning to arrive in Glasgow just before COP26 begins on 31 October. Visit our 'COP26 actions' page to find out more about all three pilgrimages and to see future updates about when the pilgrimages will arrive in Glasgow.

Quaker stories of action

Thank you for submitting your stories of climate action for the new online database we are building to help Friends connect directly! As promised, we are featuring one of the stories from the database below. For a reminder about what the database will involve and how to share information about action you are taking, have a look at our website here.

From Friends in Newark Local Quaker Meeting, Lincolnshire Area:
Newark Quakers have produced 5 panels highlighting the extent of the climate crisis and the positive action we can all take. Alongside the panels will be a tabletop display challenging individuals to explore the impact of their decisions on the climate emergency. Children's activities will also be available. The "One World, One Climate" exhibition will be open 10.00-2.00 on 18 Sep, 22 Sep and 25 Sep at Newark Meeting House to coincide with The Great Big Green Week. In the run-up to COP26 it will be open 10.00-2.00 on 30 Oct, 3 Nov, 6 Nov and 10 Nov. Outside these dates we are planning to display the panels in other venues around the town.

You can read more on our website here www.newarkquakers.co.uk.