COP26: The Critical Time for Global Climate Action

By Michael Colijn, CEO of Heliox, 

Why COP26 is the best opportunity to make the world a better place for future generations

COP26 is almost upon us. No, this is not a drill, and should under no circumstances be considered one. World leadership will be travelling from far and wide, with a real chance at implementing top-down measures to reduce our carbon footprint. Whilst prior efforts have amassed few concrete results, COP26 needs to be the platform for the world to kickstart the era of real climate action.

The UK’s pledge of £620 million to support vehicle grants and charging infrastructure offers a promising start to honour their climate targets. Furthered by their promises for a zero emission vehicle mandate, all eyes will be turned to the host nation to assure that their hosting experience, and commitments, are solid.

My predictions for COP26 outcomes are centred around two key points:

Climate leadership up in the air

No nation has come forward and demonstrated a willingness to accept leadership over the goals set within the COP26 framework. China’s absence further muddies any attempts to make strong commitments, as the world’s largest emitters. When looking at other nations, it is much easier to pinpoint those avoiding tough measures than a strong team inclined to impose more stringent actions.

Without clear and strong world leadership, the mantle may instead be taken up by motivated but decentralised options, which could include nations but could also trickle to local municipalities. For example, already participating in the spirit of the event, city planners have made commitments. We can also learn from bigger businesses and larger governments, to understand how we can bring their successes and scale them to local municipalities in order to contribute to the bigger picture.

The past two years have seen us work closely with cities working towards a ‘model city’ energy ecosystem – Den Bosch in the Netherlands, Glasgow in Scotland and Montgomery County in Maryland (USA). These kinds of empowered municipalities and cities have the desire and understanding for actionable transitions to greener energy solutions, particularly in individual and shared transport systems.

The summit serves as an important opportunity to rejuvenate climate goals and assemble to achieve real, tangible, permanent change. I always re-iterate that my personal and professional motivation is to leave behind a liveable, ecologically viable planet for my daughter and her generation. COP26 is the perfect place to start listening and responding to the future generations’ environmental concerns and targets.

1.5 degrees needs to be kept alive 

2021 has not been a good year so far. Climate action projections estimate the second-biggest emission rise ever recorded. Global emissions are expected to increase 16% by 2030 compared with 2010 levels. We’re racing ahead but in the wrong direction. As it stands, we required a 45% reduction in current emission levels to achieve the intended goal, but apart from the brief plunge created by global lockdowns last year, we’re not heading in that direction.

Here’s how we could stop and re-align.

E-mobility: The pressure to meet the initially set targets would be on e-mobility. The partnership that Heliox has initiated with First Bus has allowed us to support the event’s official electric transportation. We will be moving thousands of people across the city of Glasgow to the event and around the city, as part of our efforts to reduce carbon emissions from public transport. With over 25,000 people flying and driving to Scotland to join the summit, however, it is important that we do all we can to balance the emissions created. With this in mind, the event will be a pivotal moment for the industry, and provides an opportunity to set ambitious targets for the future of mobility.

Electrification policies: Legislation regarding electrification policies is something that I am hopeful to see increase further, with infrastructure commissioned to support the continuing demand for EVs. Business owners who are looking to electrify their fleets will require this assurance, and it is the perfect opportunity to do this. With goals such as having no diesel buses by 2030, the uptake of e-buses is predicted to grow 10x in the next decade. Rapid-charging infrastructure has to be implemented ahead of time to ensure a seamless transition to an emissions-free fleet.

As climate goals loom large, and questions regarding a transition grow, the Summit and surrounding events become the perfect opportunity to start an e-transition conversation.

Our climate goals are not doomed just yet, and COP26 offers a platform for the change necessary. Amongst other nations, the ones not present have harmed climate efforts but this should not stand in the way of what this event could achieve. Local municipalities have demonstrated the benefits of empowering people and this can be replicated on a grander scale. COP26 will require leaders of the world to do just what their job description details – lead. The time to act is now.