The United Nation’s annual climate change conference, COP26, will be held in Glasgow, Scotland this week. The important meeting will bring together 200 heads of state, climate experts, indigenous leaders, and activists to (hopefully!) agree on coordinated action to tackle climate change.
What is “climate change” anyway?
Climate change (or global warming), is the process of our planet heating up.
Scientists estimate that since the Industrial Revolution, human activity and especially greenhouse gasses has caused the earth to warm by approximately 1°C. OK, that might not sound like much but it means big changes (most of them bad) for people, plants, and animals everywhere. Read more here.
To try and tackle a huge global problem like climate change, all countries on earth need to work together, and quickly. This week at COP26, governments from around the world will try to agree on targets for the future, with the aim of reducing greenhouse gases and protecting the planet. These decisions affect people all over the globe; they help us ALL to work together to become greener and more sustainable.
Five years ago at COP21 in Paris, every member of the UNFCCC signed the Paris Agreement – an international commitment to tackle climate change. At COP26, members will review whether this agreement is working, and highlight any progress.
Learn More
Here are some helpful links to learn more about the conference, why you should care, and things you can do to become involved in protecting the planet from climate change:
Lego Shows Children How to Tackle Climate Crisis
‘Honour our knowledge’: Māori climate activist speaks at COP26 summit opening.
COP26 for Kids:
What’s It All About?
MOTAT FUN also has some little ideas for making a big difference here in Aotearoa, right in our own backyard!
Better Smarter Greener Articles
“You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference and you have to decide what kind of a difference you want to make.”
—Jane Goodall
