The UK will host the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow on 31 October – 12 November 2021. Many believe this is the world’s last, and best chance to get climate change under control. Each day 8 NGOs from around the world have been invited to have a stall in the Green Zone of the event that delegates and members of the public can visit. Froglife is honoured to have been selected as one of these organisations and will be attending on Monday 1st November.
We want to share this opportunity to have our voice heard by asking you to send us your messages for world leaders
What is it?
COP26 is the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference taking place in Glasgow in November 2021. COP comprises 197 countries (known as parties) which signed the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convent on Climate Change) in 1994. COP member countries are encouraged to set ambitious climate targets in order to combat climate change. At COP26 these targets will be reviewed and debated, and decisions made on what actions need to be taken.
Why is it important?
COP26 is important because it facilitates a global assessment of the climate crisis, and monitors the climate actions (or lack thereof) of member countries. It is also an opportunity to inspire climate action both amongst world leaders and the general public, and enables new solutions to be discussed and debated.
What is Froglife doing?
Climate change poses a huge threat to amphibians and reptiles. The UK Government must set binding targets to keep global temperature rises to below 1.5°C. Froglife, in collaboration with The British Dragonfly Society, is one of a few organisations that have been selected to run an Exhibition Stall in the Green Zone on November 1st. The aim of our stall is to highlight the importance of ponds as carbon sinks and for biodiversity, and encourage people to take action by creating their own garden ponds.
Our stall will be created from sustainable materials. We will offer a model pond activity using re-purposed containers filled with water, and a selection of pond props which attendees can use to create ‘good’ and ‘bad’ wildlife ponds. We will have a third mini-pond filled with your messages which people can ‘pond dip’ for. These messages will also be displayed on screens at the event and with participants accessing the event online around the world.
In addition to our pond activities, we will be highlighting the issues of habitat fragmentation and road mortality using our VR video of a toad trying to migrate to its breeding pond.
Your messages to world leaders
We want you to send us your messages to share with world leaders and participants from around the world at COP26, so we can help make their voices heard. The messages can be any comments, opinions or ideas you have relating to climate change. Messages featuring amphibians and reptiles and their habitats are encouraged!