Climate activists across Sheffield come together for COP26

For a city renowned for its greenness and positive environmental action, it’s been no surprise that thousands of people have been rallying against climate change. 

COP26 has now come to an end, but Sheffield, and the rest of the world, is proving the fight for climate justice is growing stronger. 

The 26th annual discussions with world leaders aimed to make informed decisions on how to reverse the impact of climate change and reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050. 

According to The University of Sheffield, over 2,000 local governments and 20 national parliaments globally have declared a climate emergency.

Extinction Rebellion (XR) and the Sheffield Socialist Workers Party (SSWP) are just two of the groups keen to see instrumental changes to our approach to climate justice. 

In Sheffield City Centre, one of the most recent demonstrations saw XR members perform a ballroom dance in all black, donning masks- a more creative style that piqued the interest of the general public. 

Rebecca Kearley, a member of the Sheffield Socialist Workers Party, was in attendance to hand out flyers and encourage members of the public to join their cause.

 She said: “I think climate justice means justice that is for everyone in the world, not just people in the UK.  

“The people in the global South are the ones who are suffering the most already from climate change and will suffer the worst, but they often get left out of the conversation. So the key thing for me is making a future that is just for everybody. 

“It’s becoming increasingly obvious that the time to act is now, it’s already happening. There’s a quote from someone that says ‘The best time to act was 30 years ago, the next best time is now’. 

“So people can feel like it’s too late to do something but it’s never too late. Right now we’ve got an opportunity to shift things. COP26 coming to the UK has given us more of a platform to do that and expose the fact that they’ve already had 25 other COPs, and what have they achieved? Not a huge amount.

“So if our governments internationally are not going to do anything about it, then we have to force them or do it for ourselves.” 

Neil Hawksworth, an XR member, participated in the Burning Ballroom protest. 

He said: “I’m concerned about my grandchildren and children’s future. So I’m here to make people aware that there is a major problem but we can do something about it if we act now. 

“You can try to talk to your local councillor and get fobbed off with a standard answer, so unless you do something which is a bit daft, no one takes any notice, unfortunately.” 

Students and supporters at @SheffieldSU are preparing for a rally ahead of the National Climate Justice #Protest in #Sheffield city centre this afternoon #ClimateActionNow pic.twitter.com/mvR2FKMUIR

— Jasmine A. (@JasmineAlakija) November 6, 2021

A week after the Burning Ballroom protest, hundreds gathered in Sheffield on November 6th to call for the Sheffield COP26 Climate Justice Protest, coinciding with national and global action against climate change. Younger activists were at the forefront of the protests.

Dozens of students from the University of Sheffield held a rally ahead of the COP26 Global Justice Protests. 

Anesu Matanda Mambingo, the Welfare and Sustainability officer at University of Sheffield, believes that climate justice is a humanitarian issue.

Anesu said: “Personally I have such a strong connection with the world, and nature, and the outdoors, and it really enrages me when I continue to see a change over the years, just these few years that I’ve been around. 

“And I think we just need to protect it, it’s given us so much and I hope it continues to give future generations more. And just the way we’re living, not only damages the environment but it’s hurting other people. 

“We’ve had the science for a while now, and I think we’re all aware that something needs to happen. I mean we’ve known, and it’s not changed. 

“So I’m quite passionate and strongly believe in the power of the people to make change and to rally together, bring communities together, and do what’s best for humankind.”

The university’s Student Union Development Officer, Morgan McArthur, was pleased at the turn out. 

“I’m so grateful to see you all here today,” she said. “To see everybody come together for such an important cause that is touching every single person in our community, climate justice, we will make our voices heard. Especially here at the Students Union, and in Devonshire Green. 

“So thank you from the Students Union for turning up and showing that young people’s voices really do make an impact and they should make an impact on local, national and international stages when it comes to climate change.” 

Recent research from the International Energy Agency (IEA) suggests that taking rapid action to reduce methane emissions is one of the most impactful ways to limit climate change. As a result, more than 100 countries have promised to cut emissions of methane by 30% by 2030. 

It is thought by the IEA that if all climate change pledges made internationally are met as expected, the rise in global temperatures should be capped at 1.8 degrees celsius by 2100. 

Hundreds of protestors carried bold colourful banners, a live band performed through the streets, and the Sheffield public proudly marched side by side. 

Emma Ottanelli, a postgraduate at the University of Sheffield, showed her support at the march.

She said: “I decided to take part in the march because it’s really easy as a young person to feel anxious with climate change. When you want to be informed it’s easy to focus on what we can’t do and what’s going wrong in the world, but I think it’s really important to be part of a march or rally like this.

“As just a person, and also as a student, you feel part of a union and community that wants the same thing.

“Particularly after COVID and the lockdowns we’ve all been particularly isolated, and feeling like I’m part of this community gives me hope for the future. We’re all on board with this idea that we need to change our habits, which makes me less anxious.”

17 year old Molly Cowell is a Youth Strike 4 Climate member, and one of the young activists behind Sheffield’s successful COP26 protest. 

Molly said: “It’s such an urgent issue because it impacts everyone from across the globe. It’s not just impacting us here in Sheffield, it’s impacting every single community. We’re not the first to suffer, and we’re probably not going to be the last. 

“We’ve already seen an enormous number of people suffer horrendous consequences of high pollution levels, toxic air, and also the climate catastrophes that have come as a result of that whether it’s things like hurricanes, famine, and they’re only going to increase. 

“This is such an enormous existential threat. It’s the fight of our lives because it’s a fight for our lives. Especially for young people. 

It’s going to impact every generation, but it’s the future we’re concerned about. There are people now who are making the conscious decision to not have children because they don’t think it’s morally right to bring them into a world that’s dying.” 

Sheffield has a reputation for its eco-friendliness, but Molly feels more needs to be done. 

She said: “We almost have this ticking clock situation and we’re within our final hour to act, so world leaders’ apathy is really insulting. The only way we’re going to solve this is by working together. 

“It’s great that Sheffield’s been announced as the greenest city in the UK, but we can’t let that stop us from taking that further. 

“It’s things like re-pedestrianising areas of town, and looking at low emission zones to really combat the issue of climate change.” 

Molly clearly demonstrates her passion for saving the planet, and is aware of the role the younger generation have in raising awareness, but doesn’t think it should only be up to them. 

“In Sheffield we’ve had environmental movements for decades and to continue that, it’s so important that we stand on the shoulders of these giants and carry out with that message to get through what we’ve actually been asking for generations.

“Climate change has been painted as solely an issue for the future, but actually it’s an issue for the present, and even the past. 

“And for so long people have said ‘The kids will fix it’ but that pressure is enormous and has massive impacts on us. It’s about educating adults too.” 

Molly believes in the strength of rallying together to tackle this crisis. 

She added: “It’s so important that people come together in solidarity and understand that we’re a community in Sheffield and we all have a responsibility to look out for each other as well as the planet.” 

The current state of climate change has been referred to as a code red for humanity, but the Sheffield public are proving the fight is far from over.