Amid COP26, are fireworks really appropriate?

When COP26 is vital to the future of our planet, and world leaders have all gathered in one of our own UK cities for what is possibly the last opportunity to mitigate climate change, is releasing unnecessary greenhouse gases into our environment the UK’s brightest idea?

 

On the 5th of November, the United Kingdom will celebrate bonfire night in order to commemorate the failure of the gunpowder plot. Since 1605, people across the UK have celebrated this day with a combination of firework displays, bonfires and sparklers. 

 

Fireworks have always had a negative effect on the environment due to the noise pollution and air pollution that they cause. Fireworks release the toxic gases carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen into the atmosphere- all of which are greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change. Also, the explosive and cacophonous sounds that fireworks produce disrupt animal life and ecosystems in the surrounding area, scaring them, effecting their health and resulting in the change of animal behaviour. This contributes to the reduction of biodiversity because noise pollution can affect an animals reproductivity, interfering with breeding cycles and causing animals to migrate unnecessarily. 

 

This year, when we are celebrating firework night for our own entertainment, world leaders will be in the middle of the most important discussion yet: COP26- a climate change conference agreeing on global targets that are essential for the future of our planet. Being the short-sighted and selfish human race that we often are, we will be releasing greenhouse gases into the atmosphere meanwhile goals are being set to reduce emissions. If people really understand the crisis that we are in environmentally, then shouldn’t COP26 be a big enough hint to find eco-friendly alternatives to fireworks?

 

An obvious solution would be to replace firework displays with drone light displays. These light displays already take place in China and with the technology we have available to us, it would be easy to transfer from fireworks to lights. Drones do not pollute the air or scatter the land with plastic. Light pollution from light displays is still an issue, however light displays are drastically better for the environment than fireworks.

 

With COP26 taking place on our doorsteps, think before you host firework displays and make bonfires. The UK can lead by example in irradicating the use of explosives for traditional celebrations and every firework counts.