We woke to the sound of sheet rain. The weather apps on our phones marked our location on the edge of cyclonic weather system, its eye over Ireland. A yellow weather warning was in place for the South of the England. On way to The Photographers' Gallery, our location for the satellite pass, a branch fell on the car’s windscreen. A man on the radio ranted about the hypocrisy of world leaders flying into COP on “their private jets”, while he was expected to holiday on the Gower Peninsula. An Extinction Rebellion spokesperson joined in, live from Glasgow, only to be thrown off message by hostile questioning. We were in heavy weather!

The conversation in the car shifted to the more-than-meteorological weather, of London and the UK. What are the conditions that weigh and press on us and the people we know? London is vibrant with events and open pubs after years of lockdown, yet we know we do not weather the unfolding pandemic equally. There are signals of political and social movement. University workers are voting this week to potentially take strike action due to precarious labour conditions, an unacceptable gender pay gap and unequal policies in higher education.

By the time we reached the gallery, the rain had stopped. During the satellite pass it was still grey and squally, but by the end of the pass there was bright blue sky.

In background, the spinning screens of the BT tower announced the first day of COP26.