Peoples' Forces Walk Out in DisgustClimate activists walked out of COP26 en masse in disgust on November 13, the final day of the conference that had been scheduled to conclude the previous day. The COP26 Coalition issued a statement the day after the walkout, responding to the Glasgow Climate Pact, the communiqué issued by COP26. The COP26 Coalition is a UK-based civil society coalition comprised of some 240 groups and individuals that mobilized around climate justice during COP26. Members include environment and development NGOs, trade unions, grassroots community campaigns, faith groups, youth groups, and migrant and racial justice networks -- to name a few. Their statement reads: "Yesterday, the packed out Conference of the People walked out in protest at COP26. We are frustrated and angry that another COP has further entrenched the injustices causing misery for millions around the world, while shoring up the profits of corporations and rich countries. "The UK was tasked with the 1.5 [degrees Celsius] COP, but what they've delivered is the 2.5C COP. More interested in preening their feathers with press releases and announcements, they've failed to do their job. "We needed rich countries to step up and finally do their fair share of climate action, while providing compensation for the destruction to lives and livelihoods already being caused by climate change in countries who have done least to create this crisis. Instead, the needs of poorer countries have been kicked to the curb, in favour of keeping the hugely over represented fossil fuel lobbyists happy. "Rich countries have tried to make it look as if they care about climate change -- but it is clear that they plan to continue polluting with impunity, sacrificing the poorest as they do so. The oil and gas industry, once again, is off the hook and leaves COP26 laughing all the way to the bank. "Developing countries, already overwhelmed by the COVID crisis, inequality and a spirally debt crisis, desperately needed huge increases in financial support to deal with the impacts of climate change, and compensation for the damage already done. Yet rich countries flatly refused to put hard cash on the table, offering a pitiful advice helpline instead. "At COP26, the richest got what they came here for, and the poorest leave with nothing."
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