Salmaan Nasser, Chief Vision Officer of The Forest of Memories shares a critique of COP26 with the BBC – Recorded on the 14th November 2021
Interviewer
Let’s talk about Cop 26. The climate conference in Glasgow is over. After two weeks of talks, a deal has been reached. The critics say it doesn’t go far enough, particularly on getting rid of fossil fuels. Others, including US Climate Envoy John Kerry, said he’s optimistic about the future. We’ve heard from our very own PM Boris Johnson in the last hour, who has said the climate deal sounds the death knell for coal power. But he said the achievements of the Glasgow sonnet are tinged with disappointment. Let’s get a reaction now from Salman Nasser, who is from an organisation called Forest of Memories.
Interviewer
Salman Nasser, how are you?
Salmaan Nasser
Very well. How are you doing?
Interviewer
I’m well, thank you very much indeed, Salman. First of all, before we talk about Cop 26, let’s talk about Forest of Memories. Tell us about the organisation.
Salmaan Nasser
Yeah. So I worked for the Forest of Memories, and what we’re doing is that we are planting trees in honour of our loved ones who have passed away from COVID-19 or because of COVID-19. So our organisation really started with the vision to use tree planting and technology together to celebrate the lives and achievements of people. So we actually aim to plant at least 160,000 trees over the next twelve months. And we’re working very closely with the National Trust and also the Woodland Trust to create beautiful, accessible green spaces for reflection.
Salmaan Nasser
Our first forest will be opening in December in Running Meade in Surrey shortly followed by several others, including Kent, Leeds, Yorkshire, Midlands and also in Scotland and Wales. Wow. We see tree planting as a vital part in our fight against climate change. Trees not only trap carbon from the atmosphere, but they also give life, giving oxygen to the environment. And the campaign that we’re running at the moment is to try to persuade people to number one plant trees for people who have passed away and two, instead of buying flowers for funerals or gifts, to instead encourage the planting of trees.
Salmaan Nasser
The amount of water that’s required and the resources required to grow and provide flowers is absolutely enormous. And the flowers just died after a few days. So we actually believe in planting trees to save our environment.
Interviewer
Good ideas and good work you’re doing. Let’s talk about Cop 26 and what’s been going on up there. Has it been good work? The deal in particular? What do you make of what you’ve heard in Glasgow?
Salmaan Nasser
Well, I have to say that I’ve personally been very disappointed with Cop 26, and it’s made me feel very powerless. While our politicians have been discussing our future and our children’s future, we’ve had very little say leading up to Cop 26. We knew that something had to be done to fix this climate emergency and we knew that this is the time for action and for policies to be made. And the watering down of the statement, I feel is a real slap in the face to climate change.
Salmaan Nasser
And it shows that our world leaders are not putting climate change at the top of the agenda. Now, I don’t take Greta’s point of view and this is all pointless. Far from it. I think we need decisions like this. We need events like this repeatedly annually, so we don’t forget about our responsibilities and we can move further and further towards implementing measures that will actually help all our planet. I mean, ten years ago we were debating whether climate change was even real. So in that respect.
Interviewer
Progress has been made sure about fossil fuels. There’s been a statement made on fossil fuels. They will be phased out instead of ditched completely. That’s got a lot to do with India’s intervention at the last minute, but on coal. The Prime Minister in the last hour or so has said that this climate deal has sounded the destination for coal power. Specifically, what do you make of all the talk of fossil fuels?
Salmaan Nasser
Yes, Boris Johnson has come out and said that I simply can’t believe it, though I feel that the terminology that’s been used shows the intent, and I feel that the intent simply isn’t there. If countries truly believe that they wanted to move away from fossil fuels and then they would have been happy with the wording as it was to change, phase out to phase down, I think comes across as completely disingenuous. When has anyone ever achieved anything with sentiment? They haven’t.
Interviewer
Have they ever do we expect too much from politicians and expecting them to sort out our world problems, perhaps communities, individuals. We need to do more.
Salmaan Nasser
Absolutely. As I mentioned, I do believe 26 was vital to keep under pressure and also important to educate ourselves and to hold these worldwide discussion. These things do help we as the general public. We need to empower ourselves and community projects can actually make that difference. Whether you look at our full impact organisation, the Forest of Memories or any one of the countless amazing organisations that have these visions to improve the environment and to make saving the planet more accessible, community organisations can actually have a massive effect on the planet comparable to large nations and organisations as well.
Salmaan Nasser
You only need to really look at the work of the likes of Mark Robert, who is a YouTuber ex NASA scientist. The stuff that he’s been doing with Team Seas at the moment after his success with Team Trees, where they planted millions of trees, hundreds and thousands of people are being included in these programmes. They’re all being educated. They’re all being made to feel like they are part of the impact, and this not only helps us in the short to medium term by helping us plant trees or cleaning up the seas, but it also gives examples to our children to follow and makes them want to be part of the solution.
Interviewer
So man, thanks so much for joining us tonight and sharing your reaction to the Deal and Cop 26 generally, Solomon Nasser from Forest of Memories all the very best.
Salmaan Nasser
Thank you very much.
Interviewer
Cheers. And keep up the good work you’re doing there with Forest of Memories. Sounds great, doesn’t it? So, Salmaan Nasser, organisation The forest of Memories talking about Cop 26 and the deal.
