In spite of the harsh climate impacts the country is currently facing, Brazil’s president, Jair Bolsonaro, is absent from COP26. As our Brazilian fellow - Guilherme Justino - points out in his story, the South American country was also the only member of the G20 to retreat from the goal of reducing global warming emissions.
Keeping within Latin America, Argentina's environmental problems have become much more radical. Burdened by debt, drought, and increasingly intense forest fires, how will the country handle the energy transition? As Julieta reports, Argentina’s situation regarding the environment is dramatic and the country’s government continues to prepare for the development of new oil and gas projects. Regardless of its green pledges, the country invests 90 times more money in fossil fuels than in renewables, Clara reported in this other story.
While governments get ready to discuss a way forward though, young people are pretty much fed up with “empty talk.” As Ronald Musoke writes, Uganda’s youth have outlined a clear idea of what they believe should be the priorities at COP26. Some young activists fear the loss of things that cannot be compensated financially, such as cultures and traditions.
Youth has played an important role in climate action in the last couple of years, with Greta’s climate strikes inspiring a global movement. However, some young activists in the Caribbean have faced enormous barriers to attend COP26, Zico reports. Most UN-designated young climate ambassadors from this region won’t be able to attend COP.
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