The COP26 2020 talks are viewed as being the most critical since the 2015 Paris talks where the climate accord was struck.
If the UK’s bid is successful, as many as 30,000 delegates along with world leaders would attend the summit at the end of 2020, with other events held in Italy. A deal with Italy would see them co-host and open the proceedings with a pre-cop meeting as well as a youth event.
The Italian Environment Minister said the partnership between Italy and the UK represented “a strong signal of determined and informed cooperation on climate change”, which he said required a “change of paradigm.”
The COP26 talks are viewed as being the most critical since the 2015 Paris talks where the climate accord was struck.
It is also hoped that the choice to elect the Scottish city will unify the country around climate action and highlight the need to move towards a low carbon economy. Scotland already boasts a more ambitious move towards zero emissions than the rest of the UK having pledged to achieve neutrality by 2045 as opposed to the 2050 deadline.
The UK’s former Clean Growth Minister, Claire Perry, said, “Glasgow is the right choice to showcase the UK’s commitment to the environment.” She also added that having cut emissions by more than 40% since 1990, the UK should be viewed as “a world leader in emissions reduction.”
The choice to elect Glasgow represents another diplomatic coup from UK on climate change having also recently passed historic law on net zero emissions making it the first major economy to do so.
Countries attending the summit are due to submit updated climate plans to bridge the gap between national pledges and the overall goal of the Paris Agreement to hold global warming “well below” two degrees.
Author Nick Witts
PR, Media & Communications – Climate Specialist at Treasure Earth Prize
