ADVERTISEMENT

U.K. Proposes One-Year Delay for Key Climate Talks

U.K. Proposes One-Year Delay for Key Climate Talks, PA Says

(Bloomberg) --

The U.K. is proposing that the United Nations climate conference scheduled for Glasgow in November this year is delayed by 12 months.

The talks are the world’s most important annual climate gatherings, with over 26,000 attendees, and were postponed in April due to the coronavirus pandemic. As the host country for the COP26 talks, the U.K. has asked to hold them between November 1 and 12, 2021, according to a letter sent by the Cabinet Office to UN member states seen by Bloomberg.

“Given the uneven spread of Covid-19, this date would present the lowest risk of further postponement, and the best chance of delivering an inclusive and ambitious COP,” the letter said. “The postponement of COP26 should not mean postponement of climate action.”

Climate experts and activists have expressed concern about the delay of the talks because it reduces political pressure on countries to present more ambitious climate targets. This year, nations were expected to update their plans to cut greenhouse gas emissions, after their commitments under the 2015 Paris Agreement were deemed insufficient to slow global warming.

Even with no talks expected for this year, some countries have gone ahead with climate plans and pledged trillions in stimulus measures to recover from the coronavirus shock. The EU Commission is due to present its package on Wednesday that’s widely thought to be the greenest recovery offering in the world.

U.K. delegates will present the proposal at the next meeting of the UN’s Framework Convention of Climate Change, on May 28. All parties consulted about the new dates agreed that the health of the participants, representation from all parties and allowing time for preparation should be considered priorities.

The U.K.’s letter was reported earlier by the Press Association.

©2020 Bloomberg L.P.