Week 44: "Rich countries must contribute more to climate change"

The UN climate conference COP26 in Glasgow has begun and the focus of the Swedish debate is on climate justice, global cooperation and young people's participation in the climate issue.

During the week, the UN climate conference began, which this year will be held in Glasgow, Scotland. Representatives from countries around the world meet with researchers, innovators, entrepreneurs and companies and discuss the work for a sustainable world.

One topic that several researchers believe will receive too little attention during COP26 is the oceans. Lena Gipperth, environmental lawyer and director of Center for Sea and Society at the University of Gothenburg, says that the oceans are the solution to the climate issue and something that should be prioritized by the Swedish government and representatives at COP26.

- We need to push for the financing of protecting marine environments, especially in poor areas. It is especially important that we protect seagrass, mangroves, wetlands in coastal zones that bind carbon, says Lena Gipperth to Deep Sea Reporter.

A key concept during the conference has been climate justice. Island nations and other countries where climate change has long been clear have during COP26 pointed out how the world rich countries must take their responsibility to reduce their emissions and help poor countries in climate change. A proposal for global carbon pricing and conditional assistance to encourage countries to increase their emissions has been criticized for being ineffective and punishing already vulnerable groups.

Left-wing parties Elin Segerlind and Grith Fjeldmose write in one debate post at ETC that climate policy must be reconciled with a justice perspective in order to be successful - and that rich countries must contribute more to climate change.

- The rich's luxury consumption in Sweden and the world has a much larger climate footprint than other people's, they write.