I believe it is difficult to say whether having it online would’ve been as efficient, given all the experience we as a society now have with undertaking work online.
Speaking to youth activists and underrepresented groups, such as the indigenous individuals invited to COP26, seems like another opportunity for world leaders to try desperately prove that they are doing the right thing, when in reality it is a stunt.
This is a statement that’s all too familiar, our leaders love to comment on youth being the future as a distraction tactic from their own failures.