Young Leadership at COP26

Christensen Global attending the World Climate Summit. From left to right: Aimée Christensen, Madeleine McLean, Sara Lichtenberg, Franny Wood

My name is Madeleine McLean and I am a fourth year undergraduate student working to obtain a joint international honors degree from the College of William and Mary and the University of St Andrews. Splitting my years between the two schools, I was fortunate enough to be studying in Scotland during COP26, and as such had the opportunity to participate in part of the conference. 

I am not someone particularly well versed in climate policy. It has always been on the periphery of my academics - a supplement to my other studies. Studying international relations with an emphasis in human rights, I have mainly focused on the material challenges that face the world’s population. So, when I was given the chance to spend a weekend in Glasgow and attend a climate investment summit, I had no idea what to expect. What I found surprised me in three ways.

First, the investment summit showed me that climate change is, itself, an economy. In a capitalistic society, this is a good thing. The money and investments that are going toward climate orientated solutions have surpassed policy-makers’ attempts at regulations, and are working to create a viable future that is oriented toward climate neutrality. This new economy will form the backbone of any solution set to solve global warming. 

Second, the innovation that has been put forward to reuse, reinvent, and reform current processes both inspires and holds accountable organizations. The so-called circular economy works because, without reducing productivity, it aims to repurpose left-over materials. Many first steps have already been taken, and this not only makes it easier to turn stumbling into a sprint, but also challenges others to keep pace. I think that the different pledges made throughout the conference, by governments and organizations alike, will encourage others to join this path of progress. 

Finally, I was surprised by the overall sense of opportunism and optimism throughout the summit. The media portrays climate as a disaster - part of which is true - but this overall sense of doom works to instill cynicism into the general population. Having left the conference, I am pleasantly refreshed. 

I look forward to seeing where the consequences of COP26 take us, and to working with the current and next generation of climate activists to ensure the continued implementation of proactive solutions to the worlds’ climate crisis.