COP26 (2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference)

COP26 is the 26th edition of the United Nations Climate Change Conference, set to be held in Glasgow in November 2021.

What is COP26?

The 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP26, is being hosted by the UK in November 2021. This will be the latest Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

The major goals of COP26 are to:

  • review indicators of global progress towards limiting climate change
  • review progress towards meeting the goals of the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement

COP26 in Glasgow

Glasgow will be the host for COP26, at the Scottish Event Campus. This venue includes five exhibition spaces, a 3,000-seat auditorium and the 14,300-seat SSE Hydro, one of the world’s busiest concert and sporting venues.

COP26 dates

  • Youth Summit, Milan, 28-30 September 2021
  • Pre-COP, Milan, 30 September - 2 October 2021
  • COP26, Glasgow, 1-12 November 2021

Road to COP26

Ahead of COP26, negotiations and talks are happening around the world to promote the goals of the conference. There are pre-COP events, including several organised by the UK’s COP26 partners, Italy. These include a ministerial meeting in September 2021 and a youth summit in October 2021, both in Milan.

What will happen at COP26?

COP26 will be the first occasion when countries submit updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to the Paris Agreement. These are enhanced commitments to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. This will enhance the ambition to mitigate climate change, since the Paris Agreement was first made five years ago. Further developments will take place every five years.

Any agreements made at COP26 may take effect immediately, or they may require further ratification and come into effect later, like the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement. This depends on the course taken by the negotiations.

How to attend COP26

Members of the public can attend COP26 as a representative of a permitted observer organisation. Alongside COP26, there will be events and exhibitions. Members of the public can also volunteer to help at COP26.

How to follow COP26

You can find out more information on COP26, including the latest updates, from many sources:

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