The annual meetings of the Conference of the Parties (COPs) are always keenly anticipated in the Geography Department, although this year, as reflected in the national press and television coverage, we have been more excited, inquisitive and hopeful than usual!
Climate change has been a curriculum topic for over 21 years now, and we as a department are relieved that this issue is finally getting the attention it deserves. No longer the preserve of the geography classroom, climate change is a lived experience for us all and the calls for urgency in dealing with its causes and impacts are well overdue.
The Geography Department took the opportunity to host Prayers on Wednesday 3rd November, to explain to students and staff what the COP is about, why it is needed and its principal aims.
On Thursday 4th November, the Geography Society hosted a COP26 Q&A session for students - Mirabel and Minty (SFC1/Year 12) give their account of the meeting below.
We are currently living through a life-changing event - COP26. As geographers, we feel so privileged to see this first-hand, and are hopeful that this conference will be a turning point in the climate crisis.
As well as a COP26 simulation that took place before Half Term, this week in Geography Society there was a stimulating Q&A which allowed students to ask thought-provoking questions and offer fascinating contributions to the session. We started by exploring the events of COP26 so far, which led to further discussions ranging from whether one political system might be more effective at dealing with the climate crisis than another. We discussed the potential shortcomings of political democracies such as in the UK, where short-term ambitions often override long-term goals, as well as the prospects of geo-engineering such as ‘BladeBUGs’, which will minimise human interaction with offshore wind turbines.
We also considered carbon storage, debating the pros and cons of different courses of action and whether this would be enough, concluding that carbon storage must be used in conjunction with emerging technology. As well as this, we must protect the natural carbon stores such as the soil and seabed, which are being greatly disturbed and therefore releasing the vast volumes of carbon they sequester.
COP26 continues until 12th November, and the energy and enthusiasm for this landmark event will be maintained in the Geography Department.
Mrs G Brewis, Teacher of Geography
Photo taken during the September 2019 climate change demonstrations
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