As the SB56 comes to an end, a sigh of relief can be heard throughout the convention centre. Alas! Soon, two weeks of endless negotiations will be over, and delegations will return back to their capitals with the comforting sense of professional accomplishment. Alas! Soon, the ranting of climate activists, youth, and the victims of inaction shall no longer be heard, and governmental officials may go back to the blissful silence of their ministries – troubled only by the languid rustling of their offices’ air conditioning. Alas…!
Unfortunately, the planet cannot afford the euphoric perspective of your uneventful homecoming. Honourable delegates, as you will soon enjoy the ‘well-deserved’ praises of your superiors (or not…?), ECO would like to address – one last time during this SB56 – their most apologetic condolences for the loss of your bureaucratic tranquillity. The end of SB56 does not amount to the end of our engagement and rest assured that you will continue to hear the voices of our outrage well beyond the Bonn UN Campus. The walls of your ministries will never be thick enough to silence the united voice of millions of victims and the many more that are to come in face of your undelivered promises.
Luckily, your misery is not carved in stone – albeit ECO is saddened to inform you of the insufficiency of your SB56 performance. Would you finally act upon the responsibility that falls on your shoulders to ensure the passing of a liveable planet to – to whom indeed? Future generations? Your children? Yourselves in your final years? – only then would we stop our lament. Honourable delegates, if you won’t take action for the sake of the Earth, the security of its inhabitants and the richness of its biodiversity, do it for your own sanity and the sweet vindication of knowing that you would finally shut down our complaints. On that note, we look forward seeing you in Sharm el-Sheikh. Have a safe return home!