International. Due to the COVID-19 disease, the UN climate change conference (COP26), which was to take place in Glasgow in November, has been postponed.
This decision has been taken by the COP Bureau of the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change), together with the United Kingdom and Italy.
The dates of a conference rescheduled for 2021, hosted in Glasgow by the United Kingdom in partnership with Italy, will be set in due course once it has been discussed with the Parties.
In view of the current effects of COVID-19 on the world, it is no longer possible to ensure an ambitious and inclusive celebration of COP26 in November 2020.
Rescheduling the conference will ensure that all Parties can focus on the issues to be discussed at this essential conference, and will allow more time for the necessary preparations to take place. We will continue to work with all stakeholders to increase climate ambition, build resilience and reduce emissions.
COP26 President-designate and Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Alok Sharma, said:
"The world is currently facing an unprecedented global challenge and countries are rightly focusing their efforts on saving lives and fighting COVID-19. That is why we have decided to reschedule COP26. We will continue to work tirelessly with our partners to realize the ambition needed to address the climate crisis and I look forward to agreeing on a new date for the conference."
UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa said:
"COVID-19 is the most urgent threat facing humanity today, but we cannot forget that climate change is the greatest threat facing humanity in the long term. Soon, economies will restart. This is an opportunity for countries to recover better, to include the most vulnerable in those plans, and an opportunity to shape the economy of the twenty-first century in a way that is clean, green, healthy, fair, safe and more resilient. In the meantime, we continue to support and urge countries to significantly boost climate ambition in line with the Paris Agreement."
The Italian Minister of Environment and Protection of Land and Sea, Sergio Costa, said:
"Although we have decided to postpone COP26, including the Pre-COP and the Youth Conference (COY), we remain fully committed to meeting the challenge of climate change. Addressing climate change requires strong, global and ambitious action. The participation of the younger generations is imperative, and we are determined to host the 'Youth for Climate' event, alongside the Pre-COP and outreach events. We will continue to work with our British partners to make COP26 a success."
The President of COP25, Minister Carolina Schmidt, said:
"The Bureau's decision on the postponement of COP26 is unfortunately a necessary measure to protect all delegates and observers. Our determination is to ensure that the momentum of climate ambition continues, in particular for the preparation and presentation of new NDCs this year."
