The UK is pleased to be able to provide an update to the
Committee on planning for the COP26 UN climate conference.
On 28th May, the Bureau of the Conference of the Parties to
the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change), with the UK and its Italian partners, agreed new
dates for the COP26 UN climate conference, which will now
take place between 1 and 12 November 2021 in Glasgow. As
COP president, together with our partner Italy, we see this
as a crucial moment for the world to come together and
commit to a climate resilient, zero carbon economy. This
means more ambition to reduce emissions, more ambition to
build resilience, and more ambition to cooperate and
support one another.
In the wake of COVID-19, we need action through
multilateral institutions – including the WTO - to support
a clean, inclusive and resilient recovery that builds on
the principles of the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable
Development Goals.
Despite the pandemic, the UK’s commitment to urgent climate
action has not wavered. As we work to protect our citizens
and repair our economies, we must also act on climate
change, and meet these two joint challenges together. In
fact, coronavirus has provided a stark reminder of what
happens when humanity’s relationship with nature breaks
down. As we recover, we have an opportunity to build back
better in every sense. We must use this opportunity to
protect and restore nature, whilst reducing our exposure to
deadly viruses and climate impacts.
Our overarching goal at COP26 is to raise ambition at the
country level. While we recognise the constraints that many
countries are facing in light of the ongoing pandemic, we
encourage all countries to make every effort to come
forward as soon as possible, and well ahead of COP26, with
more ambitious NDCs and long-term strategies. Coming out of
COP25, the Climate Ambition Alliance has brought together
countries, businesses, investors and other institutions
committed to reaching net zero by 2050. The UK recently
launched the ‘Race to Zero’ campaign to build on this
success and to encourage others to make the same
commitment.
The Committee on Trade and Environment is the place to
bring together objectives on trade liberalisation and
climate ambition and to ensure that these are mutually
enabling. We want to see this CTE do this by facilitating
discussions on how to remove barriers to trade in
environmental goods and services, encouraging innovation in
the low-carbon and circular economies, and ensuring
transparency in relevant policies and regulations. We look
forward to working with the Secretariat and Members on
achieving those goals.
