COP26: the climate change conference

COP26 is taking place from 31 October to 12 November in Glasgow.

This is the United Nations conference on climate change where we will take stock of the strategies that all countries are required to implement to combat global warming, both in the short term and in the long term.

In the twenty-sixth Conference of the Parties on Climate Change, 197 countries will have to agree on how to contain emissions of climate-altering gases in each nation, the timing and how much responsibility each state has compared to what they have already historically emitted.

Certainly an ambitious objective and one that will bring a lot of tension as redesigning the emissions system means putting energy transition plans into action and, for the most part, also means revolutionizing the transport system.

This is a now well-known issue for workers in the sector.

This year's novelty lies precisely in the indications given by the world of science: not only critical data and numbers relating to gas emissions scattered into the atmosphere, which play a central role in the transport issue, but also recommendable solutions.

In this sense we are linked to the report from last August which stated that one of the main solutions for a greener future is the bicycle, as it is a means of transport that does not produce emissions.

Suffice it to say that switching from a bicycle to a car saves 150 g of CO₂ per kilometer and that cargo bikes reduce the 90%'s carbon emissions compared to a van.

Of the same opinion is also theEFC, European Cyclists' Federation, which, in a document addressed to politicians at COP26, affirmed the central role of the bicycle in reducing energy consumption throughout the Union.

The document was signed by over 60 international organizations involved in promoting cycling, including FIAB (Italian Environment and Bicycle Federation) which also sent the Italian version to the Prime Minister Mario Draghi, to the owner of MIMS Enrico Giovannini and to the owner of MiTE Roberto Cingolani.

Jill Waren, CEO of ECF, said: “Significantly increasing cycling is the only way governments can reduce emissions quickly enough and avoid the worst of the climate crisis. The devastating effects of accelerating global warming should be clear to all and increasing levels of cycling could be the best way to rapidly reduce carbon emissions from transport on a large scale.”

Furthermore FIAB added in a note that “The world needs many more people on bicycles if we want to fight the climate crisis. Without faster and more determined action by governments around the planet to reduce carbon emissions from transportation, we will condemn current and future generations to a far less habitable world.”

Finally Henk Swarttouw, president of ECF and the WCA (World Cycling Alliance): “Cycling should be a cornerstone of global, national and local strategies to achieve zero carbon targets. At COP26, governments must commit to providing funding and legislation for a safe and equitable space for cycling everywhere. Citizens are ready for change; now our leaders must implement it.”