People for the Planet: the Spirit of the Green Zone

Glasgow, 1 November 2021. It's Day 2 at COP26 with over 120 world leaders and thousands of climate negotiators gathering in the official Blue Zone. Across the River Clyde, the Green Zone opens with organisations from all of the world expressing their hope for decisive action.

Our world and the future of our planet is in the hands of those launching negotiations in the Blue Zone.

"Perhaps the fact that the people most affected by climate change are no longer some imagined future generations but young people alive today. Perhaps that will give us the impetus we need to rewrite our story. To turn this tragedy into a triumph.” 

Here the UK government invited contributors to share experiences, highlight climate action and concerns, and celebrate solutions. 

“We are showcasing children’s activism from around the world. We have collected the stories, the experiences and demands of children through their activism work.”
Jess, Save the Children International

“Through our forest of promises we are bringing children’s voices into COP26”. 
Kathryn Machin, WWF-UK

We urge leaders for green jobs and ask them to join us in believing that “there are green pathways that we need to follow” 
Daryl Bosu, A Rocha Ghana

“We are all part of the solution.”
Martin Kennedy, UK farming

“We are putting people at the heart of climate change action and promoting lifestyle changes to achieve a low-carbon world.”

Dr. Susie Wang, Climate Outreach

Some, like the interfaith group Faith for the Climate had prepared for COP26 for 2 years. Their contributors Shanon Shah and Giles Goddard presented their group's work to “encourage more environmentally conscious climate justice actions within faith communities.

“We encouraged almost 50 communities to sign up to our eco charter about eco and sustainable living. And seeing so many people around gives me hope in the future that we can together make a difference.” 

Rabbi Tanya Sakhnovick, Ecosynagogue

“For me this has been the highlight: the awareness of how fragile our planet is and how all of us together have to take care of it.” 

Sister Jayanti, Brahma Kumaris

“We are finding being in the Green Zone massively valuable. It’s really rewarding to speak with people involved in actually delivering action on the ground. Because we are hoping to set policy and influence people and need to make those connections.” 

Nick Everett, NatureScot

We now understand this problem.  We know how to stop the number rising and put it in reverse.