Covid-hit UK begins 18-month preparations for UN climate summit

(Climate Home News, 29 May 2020) The UK government has 18 months to prepare to host a critical UN climate summit, as it grapples with one of the worst Covid-19 outbreaks in the world.

On Thursday, the UN Climate Change bureau approved the Cop26 presidency’s proposal to hold the summit in Glasgow, 1-12 November 2021.

It gives the Cop26 presidency an extra year to press leaders into making stronger climate commitments, while considering how to safeguard up to 30,000 conference delegates from the novel health threat.

The response to coronavirus raises the stakes: billion-dollar economic recovery packages could speed the transition to clean energy or lock in dependence on fossil fuels.

“While we rightly focus on fighting the immediate crisis of the coronavirus, we must not lose sight of the huge challenges of climate change,” said Cop26 president Alok Sharma, in a statementannouncing the decision.

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Climate Home News, 29 May 2020: Covid-hit UK begins 18-month preparations for UN climate summit