Glasgow selected as host for UN summit bid

Glasgow has been selected to host a major UN climate change summit next year, if a UK bid is successful.

The 26th Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) would see around 30,000 delegates gather in the west coast city.

The UK Government is bidding to host COP26 over two weeks at the end of 2020, and has announced that the conference will be held at Glasgow’s Scottish Events Campus (SEC) on the banks of the River Clyde.

It would be the largest summit the UK has ever held, with up to 200 world leaders expected to attend for the final weekend.

Former minister Claire Perry, nominated as COP26 president, said: “As one of the UK’s most sustainable cities, with a record for hosting highprofile international events, Glasgow is the right choice to showcase the UK’s commitment to the environment.

“In 2020, world leaders will come together to discuss how to protect our planet and set the direction for the years to come.”

At COP21 in Paris in 2015, participating countries reached a landmark agreement to keep a global temperature rise this century below 2°C above pre-industrial levels.

The UK Government said that, five years on, COP26 will be the first major test of the international community’s commitment to scale up efforts to reduce emissions.

Scottish Secretary Alister Jack said: “Glasgow has world-class facilities to host a prestigious conference like this, which will also provide a significant boost to the local economy and attract people from across the globe.

“The UK Government is showing great leadership on this vital issue – becoming the first major economy to pass new laws to reduce emissions to net-zero by 2050.”

The Scottish Government wants to reach that target by 2045, and Climate Change Secretary Roseanna Cunningham said ministers are committed to taking action “that matches the scale of our climate ambitions”.

She said: “We have been supportive of the UK Government’s joint bid with Italy to host COP26 and are committed to working collaboratively to deliver an ambitious and effective conference that includes a strong role for Scottish ministers, represents the interests of Scotland and promotes increased global ambition on climate change.”