“I’m not going to COP27 for many reasons, but the space for civil society this year is extremely limited,” he said in a question-and-answer session at the launch of his latest book in London on Sunday. The online service has previously expressed its solidarity with political prisoners in Egypt on Twitter.
Thunberg said the COP conferences were largely used as an opportunity for people in positions of power to draw attention. Many different types of greenwash will be used.
He said climate summits are not actually aimed at changing the entire system, but instead encourage gradual progress. “COPs don’t really work as they are. Unless we use them as an opportunity to mobilize.”
The 27th World Climate Conference (COP27) will be held in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, from 6 to 18 November. The main focus here will be on supporting poorer countries more than rich countries, which are responsible for the majority of climate-damaging CO2 emissions.
(SDA)