COP26: activists protest, bankers celebrate, and other highlights from day six

Glasgow, UK - Protesters gather in Glasgow to demand action, but even though all COP26 has accomplished are minor pledges with loopholes and exceptions, the finance sector is claiming victory.

Around 100,000 protesters gathered in the streets of Glasgow during the COP26 climate summit to demand real action and an end to greenwashing.
Around 100,000 protesters gathered in the streets of Glasgow during the COP26 climate summit to demand real action and an end to greenwashing.  © IMAGO / ZUMA Press

The biggest protest march during COP26 took place at the end of week one.

Glasgow police estimated there were around 100,000 protesters on the streets, about ten times as many as there were at the Fridays for Future march on November 5.

The protesters have been demanding more climate justice as well as an end to empty promises, meaningless pledges, and greenwashing at this year's climate summit.

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Many participants of COP26 are in agreement that despite pledges and new goals, not enough is being done to halt climate change.

At the same time, bankers used the day to celebrate the financial sector's decarbonization goals as if the goals had already been met.

Banks that committed to dropping carbon emissions in their operations by 2050 also promised to base their changes on scientific guidelines – and provide goals for 2030, too.

Many inside and outside the conference have criticized the bankers' celebrations for being too soon and based on goals that haven't been met.

Meanwhile, China is still absent from pledges and updated climate goals, kneecapping a united global fight against climate change, especially since China is one of the top polluters with the least to show for concrete actions against climate change.

One week of climate inaction is what protesters are calling the "progress" at COP26. As the second week is all that remains for delegates to nail real deals, it's high time for the negotiators to walk the talk.

Cover photo: IMAGO / ZUMA Press

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