A major change in the forest world

Chapter 13 The 26th Forest Community Video Conference on Climate Change

In the 21st year of the Forest Era, the epidemic continued to spread, and a dark cloud enveloped the entire forest.

The Phoenix Clan is working with great enthusiasm, celebrating the centenary of the Party and the convening of the Two Sessions; in particular, significant progress has been made in aerospace technology, and the technological innovation of the artificial sun has set a new record for forests.

Significant breakthroughs were also achieved in diplomacy, with the safe extradition of a well-known private enterprise executive who had been illegally detained by hostile foreign forces.

This was the third day after Eagle, Berlin Bear, and Condor's second video chat.

Looking out at the deserted streets under the pandemic, the eagle suddenly remembered what the eagle had once complained to him:

"Although the entire forest signed the landmark global climate agreement, the Paris Agreement, in 2015 to address climate change, very few groups are actually taking action to this day. Forest's highest temperatures are breaking records every year, and air quality is deteriorating."

Yes, with the spread of the virus restricting normal human interaction, we can hold video conferences to discuss specific implementation measures in response to climate change, and also create an opportunity for all ethnic groups in the forest community to communicate and get closer.

Thinking of this, the eagle immediately called the new Great Turtle Brother of the Great Turtle Clan. The new Great Turtle Brother was secretly pleased to see that his former little brother was so good at handling things, and that's how the deal was made.

As autumn deepens and the forests grow increasingly chilly, the 26th United Nations Conference on Climate Change, hosted by the Forest Clan in Glasgow, England, is being held as scheduled.

As the host of this conference, the Eagles began preparations a month in advance. They meticulously arranged every aspect, from refining the meeting rules and coordinating the agendas of various ethnic groups to mediating internal affairs and establishing online and offline discussion platforms.

Representatives from various ethnic groups, upon being invited, entered the conference hall one after another via video link. Seeing that all the groups had arrived, the eagle took the lead, spreading its wings to deliver the opening address, its tone steady and sincere: "Ladies and gentlemen, Brother Turtle, dear friends, first of all, a warm welcome to everyone for taking time out of your busy schedules to attend this conference."

Distinguished guests: As you have all felt and witnessed, the global climate change problem is becoming increasingly severe, and the ecological environment of our forest home, on which we depend for survival, is quietly deteriorating. The natural rhythms of the four seasons have been disrupted, and extreme weather events such as scorching heat and drought, torrential rains, strong winds and floods, and forest fires are occurring frequently, taking turns to unfold in various parts of our forests.

Glaciers at both the North and South Poles are melting at an accelerating rate each year, sea levels are rising slowly but steadily, large areas of wetlands are receding, and desertification is spreading. River and lake levels are plummeting, vegetation is withering on a large scale, and more and more wild animals and plants are losing their suitable forest habitats, leading to a continuous decline in biodiversity.

The unrestrained and continuous emission of industrial waste gas, vehicle exhaust, and greenhouse gases has led to repeated severe weather events such as sandstorms and smog in various places. If this continues, the natural environment on which we depend for survival will gradually lose its balance and deteriorate. In the end, what we will see is the last tear in our eyes.

Dear friends, protecting the environment and safeguarding the ecological balance are not just empty words. Mitigating climate change and practicing green and low-carbon development are the common missions that all of our forests urgently need to accomplish.

Here, in order to create a better shared forest home, I earnestly hope that all ethnic groups will work together, abide by and implement the Paris Climate Agreement, engage in frank exchanges, and come up with a practical and feasible way to address climate change, developing a detailed and concrete set of measures. Thank you.

The tall and honest Berlin Bear responded first: "Climate governance is an ongoing process, and the health of the forests is a matter of survival for all species. Our bear tribe has always adhered to a low-carbon lifestyle, strictly controlled pollution emissions, and actively responded to the Paris Agreement by planting grass and trees to increase forest coverage. Today, we will continue to do the same. We will fully support all the fair resolutions of this conference and are willing to work with all species to contribute to improving the ecological balance of forests."

The elegant and romantic eagle followed suit, stating: "The eagle tribe has always valued the ecological environment. Mountains and forests are interconnected, and water and mountains are linked. Addressing climate change is no small matter. We will strictly abide by the Paris Agreement, vigorously protect forest vegetation, reduce harmful emissions, and will not shirk responsibility or make perfunctory promises. We will take concrete actions to safeguard the health of the forest ecosystem."

The goat has a completely new image and has made a solemn commitment: "In the past, we only cared about the development of our tribe and neglected the protection of the forests. Now we have realized this and will definitely promote clean energy, strictly control indiscriminate discharge, accelerate afforestation, actively cooperate with global climate action, strive to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2070, and plan to expand the installed capacity of renewable energy to 500 gigawatts by 2030."

Under the sincere and pragmatic leadership of the Goat, representatives from other ethnic groups also made statements: 141 ethnic groups signed the Glasgow Leaders' Declaration on Forests and Land Use, pledging to stop and reverse forest loss and land degradation by 2030, and committing to invest 190 billion Glasgow dollars in public and private funds for forest protection and restoration projects; the atmosphere at the meeting was harmonious and congenial for a time.

However, as the discussions deepened and became more specific, involving core issues such as emissions reduction quotas, funding shares, responsibility allocation, and energy transition, differing positions and ideas emerged among the various ethnic groups, quickly leading to a stalemate in negotiations. Powerful groups were unwilling to shoulder more responsibility, while weaker groups were unable to cope with disasters alone, resulting in endless arguments and hindering the conference's progress.

At a critical moment when the conference was in disarray, the steadfast and majestic tortoise and the unassuming and reserved phoenix, the two leading groups, set aside their differences and joined hands in sincere cooperation. After several rounds of in-depth consultation and communication, they issued the important "Glasgow Joint Declaration of the Two Groups on Strengthening Climate Action in the 2020s," promoting the establishment of a "Working Group on Strengthening Climate Action" to put bilateral practical climate cooperation into practice!

This statement instantly turned the tide of the conference, dispelling suspicions and concerns among various ethnic groups and becoming the biggest highlight of the conference.

The giant tortoise spoke slowly, its tone solemn and serious: "Everyone, the climate crisis is sweeping across the entire forest, and no one can stand aside. Today, our Great Tortoise Clan is joining hands with the Phoenix Clan to take the lead in promoting strengthened climate governance, earnestly fulfilling our obligations under the Paris Agreement, and implementing our respective short-, medium-, and long-term emission reduction targets. We hope that all clans will take immediate action, actively follow up, and work together to do this well."

After the giant tortoise finished speaking, the phoenix gently spread its wings, its voice warm yet powerful: "Dear friends, in our work, we have always upheld the common yet differentiated responsibilities of our ethnic groups, considering the current development status and practical difficulties of each group. Our group, together with the giant tortoise, has made a good start in deepening green cooperation, accelerating the low-carbon transformation of forests, helping vulnerable groups resist climate risks, and promoting comprehensive forest climate governance. We hope that climate change work will continue to be carried out fairly, reasonably, and in a long-term and orderly manner with the joint efforts of all ethnic groups. Thank you."

The two major ethnic groups joined hands and reached a consensus, instantly reassuring all other ethnic groups. As a result, the original conflicts and disagreements were quickly resolved, and various climate issues were successfully addressed.

As a classic saying from that era goes: "In the face of climate change, no one will back down; only those who forge ahead will. We must all work together to overcome the climate change crisis."

The conference concluded successfully after thirteen days of repeated discussions, refinements, and finalization of plans by various ethnic groups.

The conference clarified the direction of energy transition, finalized the implementation details of the Paris Agreement, improved the financial assistance mechanism, delineated the red line for global warming control, achieved a number of historic climate achievements, made up for the shortcomings in climate governance over the years, and took a big step forward in global forest climate governance.

But everyone understands that no matter how wonderful the agreements on paper are, they are ultimately no match for concrete actions. The Paris Agreement has a long way to go before it can truly take root and be implemented in relation to the forests; much work still needs to be done.

The giant tortoise and the phoenix have set a good example. The eagle, the Berlin bear, the hawk, and the goat also acted promptly according to the agreement after the meeting. Other groups, large and small, have seen this and are reducing emissions where possible, transforming heavily polluting industries as quickly as possible, and even smaller groups are actively responding by planting trees and grass, fully cooperating with the overall plan outlined at the meeting. Regardless of distance, strength, or priority, everyone is working with great enthusiasm!

As the saying goes: We share weal and woe in the mountains and forests, and all things are interdependent.

Although the pandemic is terrible and ruthless, the enthusiasm and efforts of all ethnic groups in protecting the green mountains, clear waters, blue skies, and white clouds of this ancient forest are enough to extinguish it.

The end of the pandemic is just around the corner. New Turtle and Eagle looked at the scene before them and smiled at each other!