I was sent by Bristol University to attend COP26 in Glasgow

I went to Glasgow as I thought COP26 would be the world’s most important event of my lifetime when it came to negotiation and international cooperation to tackle climate change. The University funded not only travel, but our food and stay too (we were put up in Edinburgh). I contributed as much as I could, by attending the Youth Conference alongside, and staying on for two weeks. Most of the action took place at the sidelines of the summit. 130,000 activists took to the streets on Friday 12th and Saturday 13th, so I took their comments away, rather than the bold statements from world leaders.

There were many fellow young activists doing great work, but to say a good deal was reached is controversial. Many people will tell you it wasn’t enough, and I’d add myself to that spectrum. It wasn’t ambitious at all. However, all being said, we saw a promise to cut methane emissions by 30 per cent towards 2030, and over a hundred countries signed a promise not only to decrease deforestation, but to increase reforestation too. The Paris Article 6, in which countries agree to cooperate to decarbonise, was also kept alive, which is a very positive outcome.

Adapted from an interview with Carlos Shanka Boissy Diaz