Does COP look like a jolly?

[RobertaFlack]

These very important negotiations are taking place in Glasgow. I work in an area that is linked to the environment so I get it’s important. Yet, my social media (LinkedIn/Twitter) is full of people (Business people, NGOs, academics) having what looks like a lovely time presenting their company/projects/ research.

I get that the idea is to influence the negotiators, but it looks more like a big jolly for a lot of people. AIBU?

I hope not. But when the royal family were there last week it certainly looked like a big jolly- they were laughing away at their big fancy party.

This is obviously different but at industry conferences more is sometimes discussed and achieved outside the set programme in the evenings and breaks

Looks like it. What has it achieved?

Why isn't it allowed to include fun? I know it's a serious topic but the people attending don't have to be serious all day long.

I might be being uncharitable. It’s just I see there needs to be the negotiating parties there and their advisors. Journalists need to be there to report on it. Civil society has an influencing role. I see a lot of people there whose aim is to promote their business/research and to network, meet old friends, rather than to influence the negotiations.

If I could draw a parallel it feels a little like Yalta during World War 2 where outside the negotiating room with Stalin, Roosevelt and Churchill, there would be manufacturers of tanks displaying their wares and Professors of History presenting their research.

Revising my historical analogy above, perhaps the Versailles Conference is a better analogy as I think that was also a bit of a jamboree outside.

It looks like every other academic conference I've ever been to tbh

My friend said the reason they are portraying it this way is because it is utterly and absolutely depressing. Loads of speakers breaking down in tears, a general sense of dread and inevitability and everyone feeling pretty hopeless doesn't make a good social media post.

Huge number of wee private jets bringing them all to and from Glasgow. Very green.

This event has caused huge disruption for the city with road closures and protests. They better make some huge breakthrough.

Of course it was, most of the people didn't need to be there

Looks boring to be fair. Jo Biden getting a cheeky nap in.

From those I know there it’s a lot of different things for different people/industries.

There is a section of it that’s about showcasing greener technologies and alternatives. These businesses are often driven by a genuine desire to help fix the problem but in our current capitalist system they still need to be viable businesses and attract investors, sales and government support. Often they need subsidy as they’re more expensive than traditional polluting solutions.
Friends of mine have been in and out of sessions about financing, including what options there are for ethical green financing for those who do really care (hint: not many!)

My friend said the reason they are portraying it this way is because it is utterly and absolutely depressing. Loads of speakers breaking down in tears, a general sense of dread and inevitability and everyone feeling pretty hopeless doesn't make a good social media post.

And then they all jumped on their private jets and flew home

And then they all jumped on their private jets and flew home

This is unfair. The people who I know are attending are good people who have travelled by train, or normal flights, and they’re doing good work that benefits people.

This has disrupted Glasgow but if some good comes out of it i dont mind.
Im cynical. The big hitters aren't there. Politicians are usually in the pocket of big business. Scientists and younger people protesting in the streets outside and being portrayed as silly by the media.
Personally i think the climate is fucked and i feel helpless. Like i feel helpless with the tories, brexit, Richard radcliffes hunger strike, the nhs and many many other things happening in the world.
So i put my head down and plough on as theres no alternative.

Of course it's one big jolly it could and should have been done on zoom. The whole thing has been a nightmare for anyone living or working in Glasgow, roads have been closed. Protesters have been absolute wankers, they let down tyres on residential streets, blocked roads, threw paint on buildings and have caused so many more problems.

Locals were locked in/out of their homes when the elite had their fancy dinner in the art galleries. Police apologised the next day for telling people to take the long way through a pitch dark park.
The whole thing has just been one big party for the important people to pat each other on the back

I feel the same as ssd.

We will never fix the climate crisis whilst we live in a capitalist patriarchy, I feel I can do nothing except try and be the person I want to be despite all the selfish bastards.

I visited Nazanin's husband the other day and its just heartbreaking. Honestly would pay the fucking debt myself if I could. The government is a disgrace.

The whole thing looks bloody obscene to me. Like they're asking for a revolution.

Christ is it still going on?

Its pist me right off - it should never have gone ahead, given the restrictions we're still being subject to in Scotland 😡 My daughter is P7 and, for the second year in a row, there is no xmas concert, fayre or panto trip; the local authority has essentially, on instruction from scotgov, cancelled xmas. Sturgeon, on the other hand, has spent the last 2 weeks hooring herself about at COP, in huge crowds of strangers, getting selfies with everyone and their granny - laughing it up like she has not a care in the world (and achieving, typically, the sum of f all). Swinney meanwhile is taking briefings in the chamber in her absence, his delivery is scrooge meets grim reaper - its like they're inhabiting parallel universes.

Very much agree with this. Climate protestors from around the world have arrived in Glasgow, marching through the city in their hundreds of thousands, eating out in restaurants, meeting in large halls.

Meanwhile, the rest of us have to still wear our masks to go to Tesco and our kids have to wear them all day in schools. Vaccine passports for large events. My 18 year old is doing Uni from his bedroom and has only 3 sessions in Uni until January. Uni library still has every other desk taped off, one way systems. Opticians, GPs and dentists have their doors locked up. No Christmas parties/shows at school, no in person parent events, no support groups for my parent coping with dementia.

And yes, after this has all finished and Queen Nicola has finished her selfies and Irn Bru promotional activity with any fucker who will have their photo take with her, those of us who live in Glasgow will be blamed for any increase in Covid rates.