The UN’s COP 26 climate change summit due to take place in the Scottish city of Glasgow in November has been postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic, the British government said on Wednesday.
“In light of the ongoing, worldwide effects of COVID-19, holding an ambitious, inclusive COP26 in November 2020 is no longer possible,” the government said in a statement, adding that dates for a rescheduled conference in 2021 would be announced later.
Some 30,000 people, including 200 world leaders, had been due to attend the 10-day conference for crucial talks to halt rising global temperatures.
A UN panel in 2018 concluded that avoiding global climate chaos needed a major shift in society and the world economy.
NEW: Attention in govt is turning to what happens with COP26 climate change summit in November- UK is due to host. I've spoken to several officials in the last week who expect it not to go ahead, one suggested the request is going in to the UN to postpone (they have to sign off).
— Lewis Goodall (@lewis_goodall) April 1, 2020
Global CO2 emissions needed to drop 45 percent by 2030 and reach “net zero” by 2050 to limit temperature rises at 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) — the safe cap set as a goal in the Paris accord.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he supported the decision to postpone as “the need to suppress the virus and safeguard lives is our foremost priority”.
“This dramatic human crisis is also an example of how vulnerable countries, societies and economies are to existential threats,” he said in a statement.
Read more: UN chief says focus on climate crisis too beside Coronavirus
“Countries must work to protect the health of people and the planet has never been more at risk.”
UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa said postponement was unavoidable but that the pandemic should not divert the world from the climate change challenge.
“COVID-19 is the most urgent threat facing humanity today, but we cannot forget that climate change is the biggest threat facing humanity over the long term,” she said.
Climate activists recognized the need to delay the conference because of the global health crisis, but urged governments not to forget their climate commitments.
Read more: The Climate and the Coronavirus: Opportunities and risks
“While events can be postponed, climate change won’t pause even for a pandemic of epic proportions,” said Alden Meyer, a climate negotiations specialist.
AFP with additional input by GVS News Desk