COP26 could be postponed for a second year running
The UK Government said the event will happen in person or not at all
Last updated 27th May 2021
COP26 could be delayed for the second year in a row as the UK Government has said the event will happen in person or not at all.
There have been some suggestions that November’s gathering could be held virtually or follow the hybrid model where some people attend in person to take part in the negotiations about climate change while others would attend virtually.
The government has said hosting COP via the internet isn’t an option which means it could be delayed again if the pandemic doesn’t allow representatives from across the globe to attend.
The issue was brought before the general purposes committee on Tuesday.
Colin Edgar, head of communication and strategic partnerships, said: “The UK government’s view is that Cop26 either happens in person or it doesn’t happen at all. You can’t have a virtual Cop and you can’t have a hybrid and that makes sense.
“There is a view that Paris only got over the line because Barack Obama flew in and looked people in the eye and spoke to them. There are certainly advantages in doing something as high stake as that.
“Why we can’t have some people fly in and some people connect over the internet is because it puts those people who have signed in online at a disadvantage. They run the risk of not being able to take part in those side conversations.
“It is impossible to say the way the pandemic is going to run over the next few months, but the risk is that if you have a hybrid Cop you would only have wealthy modern countries able to appear in person and poorer countries in the global south being kind of excluded.
“I don’t think it has been finalised yet, but we can safely say Cop26 will either happen in person or it will be delayed. I don’t think there is going to be a virtual or a hybrid Cop.”
Despite the uncertainty Glasgow City Council is sifting through ten thousand applications for the volunteer programme at this year’s event.
The local authority is also promoting the Get Ready Glasgow Campaign which allows them to engage with citizens and businesses.
Mr Edgar added: “The campaign which originally started at the 2014 Commonwealth Games says this event is coming to the city. You can continue to come to the city to take part in the event, to go to work or enjoy cultural activities.
“We asked people can we have a conversation on how you want to do that because it will have an affect on how you travel in and out of the city. We want to have similar conversations this time with people and allow them to enjoy Glasgow during Cop26.
“It will be slightly more complicated as there is a lot of uncertainty because of the pandemic.”