16 September 2019
16th September 2019
Glasgow is to host the 26th Conference of the Parties, known as COP26, the biggest-ever of its kind in the UK.
Up to 30,000 delegates and many heads of states are expected to attend the prestigious two-week event at Glasgow’s Scottish Events Campus (SEC) in November 2020.
It is designed to produce an international response to the climate change emergency, with the UK winning the bid to host the main COP summit while Italy will host preparatory events and a significant youth event, as part of a joint agreement.
Glasgow Chamber of Commerce’s Chief Executive, Stuart Patrick, warmly welcomed the news: “This is a major event for the SEC and reinforces both its reputation and that of Glasgow as a location for occasions of such scale on the world stage.
“It is an opportunity for the city to establish its growing credentials as a sustainable city, with recognised achievements in the circular economy via Circular Glasgow, a nominee in the most recent World Economic Forum awards.”
Claire Perry, UK nominated president for COP26, said: “In 2020, world leaders will come together to discuss how to tackle climate change on a global scale – and where better to do so than Glasgow, one of the UK’s most sustainable cities with a great track record for hosting high-profile international events.”
The Scottish Government’s Climate Change Secretary Roseanna Cunningham said the decision to host COP26 in Scotland was right “given our leadership on climate action”.
She continued: “Scotland was one of the first countries in the world to acknowledge the global climate emergency and the Scottish government has introduced the toughest targets in the UK to ensure our action matches the scale of our climate ambitions.”
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said the announcement was a “vote of confidence” from the UK’s international partners.
He added: “The UK is leading the world in tackling climate change. We’re the first major economy to pass laws to end the UK’s contribution to global warming.
“Since 1990 the UK has reduced its emissions by over 40% while growing the economy by over two thirds.”
The 2020 conference is seen as a major crossroads in the battle against global climate change. It will likely be held just after the next US presidential election.
It will also be the year in which governments are due to review their promises to cut carbon emissions in line with the latest science.
Earlier this week, our Project Manager Cheryl McCulloch, was one of two featured speakers at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Disruption Innovation Festival (DIF). This online interactive live event series features discussions around disruptive and innovative ideas that aim to shift mindsets and inspire action towards a circular economy.
Cheryl joined co-speaker Luigi Acquaviva, coordinator at the Joint Office of Environmental Sustainability, a planning institution that supports four City Councils of the province of Napoli. The live session focused on the importance of training and collaboration can help to equip policymakers with the insights and approaches they need to bring the circular economy to life in cities.
To watch Cheryl’s session and other talks from DIF, visit their website here.