26th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP26)

Summary:

Overview, information and reports on the 26th Conference of Parties to the United Nations (UN) Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) - also known as COP 26. This Conference was held in Glasgow (United Kingdom) between 31 October and 12 November 2021.

Further information:

The Conference of the Parties (COP) is the supreme body of the UNFCCC Convention. It consists of the representatives of the Parties to the Convention. It holds its sessions every year. The COP takes decisions which are necessary to ensure the effective implementation of the provisions of the Convention and regularly reviews the implementation of these provisions.

The 26th COP was officially launched on 4 February 2020, in a partnership between the United Kingdom (UK) and Italy. On 13 February, Alok Sharma was appointed COP26 President. It was initially scheduled to be held on 9-20 November 2020. On 1 April, it was announced that the Conference was to be postponed amid efforts to contain the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. New dates were later agreed for 1-12 November 2021.

The Council of the European Union adopted the EU's mandate for this Conference on 6 October 2021.

Commentary and Analysis

UK Parliament: House of Commons Library: COP26: Briefings for the 2021 conference https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/science/cop26-briefings-for-the-2021-conference/

Wikipedia: 2020 United Nations Climate Change Conference https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_United_Nations_Climate_Change_Conference

Official Website of the COP26 Universities Network https://www.gla.ac.uk/research/cop26/

LSE: Grantham Research Institute: The COP26 United Nations climate change summit https://www.lse.ac.uk/granthaminstitute/cop26/

Chatham House: COP26 Diplomatic Briefing Series https://www.chathamhouse.org/about-us/our-departments/environment-and-society-programme/cop26-diplomatic-briefing-series

World Bank Group: COP26 Climate Briefs https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/climatechange/publication/world-bank-group-cop26-climate-briefs

The Conversation (UK): Topics: COP26 https://theconversation.com/uk/topics/cop26-80762

World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF): COP 26 https://wwf.panda.org/discover/our_focus/climate_and_energy_practice/cop26/

Climate Action Network International: COP26 - Glasgow: Time for Solidarity and Ambition https://climatenetwork.org/cop26/

The Conversation, 08/01/2020: Climate change: COP26 Glasgow will provide world stage for Scotland’s green innovation https://theconversation.com/climate-change-cop26-glasgow-will-provide-world-stage-for-scotlands-green-innovation-129158

UK House of Commons: Library Research Briefing, March 2020: COP26: the 2020 climate change conference, Glasgow, UK https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-8868/

Forbes: Editors Pick, 08/04/2020: Climate Change Experts: Here’s Why A Virtual COP26 Won’t Work https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidrvetter/2020/04/08/climate-change-experts-heres-why-a-virtual-cop26-wont-work/?sh=60cbd6e84ec5

Nature: Editorial, 02/06/2020: Delaying COP26 is not a reason to delay climate action https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-01621-0

Open Access Government, 17/06/2020: The leadership challenge of COP26, 2021 https://www.openaccessgovernment.org/the-leadership-challenge-of-cop26-2021/88607/

Institute for Public Policy Research: IPPR Briefing, 08/11/2020 The road to COP26: A clean and fair recovery at home and a leader on climate and nature abroad https://www.ippr.org/research/publications/road-to-cop26

IDDRI: Blog, 15/12/2020: From Paris to Glasgow: how can COP26 accelerate the advent of a low-carbon and resilient future? https://www.iddri.org/en/publications-and-events/blog-post/paris-glasgow-how-can-cop26-accelerate-advent-low-carbon-and

The New Statesman: Spotlight, 17/12/2020: Moving to net zero ahead of COP 26 https://www.newstatesman.com/spotlight/2020/12/moving-to-net-zero-ahead-of-cop-26

UCL: The Bartlett: Explainer, 13/04/2021: What is COP26? https://www.ucl.ac.uk/bartlett/news/2021/apr/explainer-what-cop26

Scottish Parliament: SPICe Briefing, 31/05/2021: COP26 - An Introduction to the UN Conference of the Parties https://sp-bpr-en-prod-cdnep.azureedge.net/published/2021/6/2/65344c5f-7066-4f46-aad8-92a91a4033e5/SB%2021-28.pdf

Greenpeace UK: News, 27/08/2021: Everything you need to know about the COP26 climate conference in Glasgow https://www.greenpeace.org.uk/news/everything-need-to-know-cop26-climate-conference-glasgow/

British Medical Journal: Blog, 24/09/2021: Richard Smith: COP26 needs to happen in-person but must be as safe as possible https://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2021/09/24/richard-smith-cop26-needs-to-happen-in-person-but-must-be-as-safe-as-possible/

National Geographic: Environment & Conservation, 08/10/2021: What is COP26 – and why is it a big deal? https://www.nationalgeographic.co.uk/environment-and-conservation/cop26-explained

Nature: News, 05/11/2021: COP26 climate pledges: What scientists think so far https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-021-03034-z

The Atlantic, 12/11/2021: Climate Hype Might Be the Ticket to Decarbonization https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2021/11/glasgow-climate-conference-paris-spectacle/620694/

The New Statesman, 13/11/2021: The good, the bad and the ugly: What did Cop26 achieve? https://www.newstatesman.com/environment/cop26/2021/11/the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-what-did-cop26-achieve

The Conversation (UK), 14/11/2021: The ultimate guide to why the COP26 summit ended in failure and disappointment (despite a few bright spots) https://theconversation.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-why-the-cop26-summit-ended-in-failure-and-disappointment-despite-a-few-bright-spots-171723

Nature, 14/11/2021: ‘COP26 hasn’t solved the problem’: scientists react to UN climate deal https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-03431-4

The Economist, 14/11/2021: Was COP26 in Glasgow a success? https://www.economist.com/international/2021/11/14/was-cop26-in-glasgow-a-success

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News

BBC News: Topics: COP26 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/topics/cgdwpywgeegt/cop26

The Guardian: Topics: COP26: Glasgow climate change conference 2020 https://www.theguardian.com/environment/cop-26-glasgow-climate-change-conference-2020

Deutsche Welle: COP 26: Everything you need to know https://p.dw.com/p/421qz

Politico: Tag: COP26 https://www.politico.eu/tag/cop26/

EurActiv: Topics: COP 26 https://www.euractiv.com/topics/cop-26/

Euronews: Tag: COP26 https://www.euronews.com/green/tag/cop26

Sky News: COP26 - Climate Crisis https://news.sky.com/cop26

The Scotsman: Topics: COP26 https://www.scotsman.com/topic/cop26

Politico, 01/04/2020: UN delays global climate talks amid coronavirus crisis https://www.politico.eu/article/cop26-climate-summit-postponed/

Euronews, 20/08/2020: COP26 may refuse sponsorship from big polluters https://www.euronews.com/green/2020/08/20/cop26-may-refuse-sponsorship-from-big-polluters

Sky News, 11/11/2020: Coronavirus: COP26 conference in Glasgow could still be held virtually in 2021, minister fears https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-cop26-conference-in-glasgow-could-still-be-held-virtually-in-2021-minister-fears-12128311

Euronews, 13/11/2021: COP26: Governments adopt Glasgow Climate Pact after watering down language on coal https://www.euronews.com/green/2021/11/13/cop26-latest-new-draft-deal-released-as-climate-negotiations-drag-on

The Guardian, 13/11/2021: Cop26 ends in climate agreement despite India watering down coal resolution https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/nov/13/cop26-countries-agree-to-accept-imperfect-climate-agreement

BBC News, 14/11/2021: COP26: New global climate deal struck in Glasgow https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-59277788

Deutsche Welle, 14/11/2021: COP26: World leaders fail to honor climate pledge https://p.dw.com/p/42xvI

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Official

Official Website of the 26th Conference of Parties (COP) to the UNFCCC https://www.ukcop26.org/

UK Government: Topical Events: COP26 https://www.gov.uk/government/topical-events/cop26

General Secretariat of the Council: UN climate change conference (COP 26), World Leaders Summit, Glasgow, UK, 1 November 2021 https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/meetings/international-summit/2021/11/01/

Twitter: COP26 Official Account https://twitter.com/cop26

European Commission: Statement by Frans Timmermans, Executive Vice-President for the European Green Deal, on the announcement to postpone the COP26 (1 April 2020) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/statement_20_583

UK Government: Press Release, 28/05/2020: New dates agreed for COP26 United Nations Climate Change Conference https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-dates-agreed-for-cop26-united-nations-climate-change-conference

UK Government: DEFRA Blog, 30/06/2020: Government and businesses join to pledge action on climate change and biodiversity at COP26 Business Leaders Event https://deframedia.blog.gov.uk/2020/06/30/government-and-businesses-join-to-pledge-action-on-climate-change-and-biodiversity-at-cop26-business-leaders-event/

World Health Organization: Publications, 05/11/2020: COP26 Key Messages on Climate Change and Health https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/cop26-key-messages-on-climate-change-and-health

European Commission: DG CLIMA: News, 18/06/2021: The Road to COP 26: the Bonn Climate Change Conference https://ec.europa.eu/clima/news-your-voice/news/road-cop-26-bonn-climate-change-conference-2021-06-18_en

UN: World Health Organisation (WHO): Report, 11/10/2021: COP26 Special Report on Climate Change and Health. The Health Argument for Climate Action https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/cop26-special-report

European Commission: Press Release, 28/10/2021: COP26: EU encourages partners to turn ambition into action and deliver on the Paris Agreement https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_21_5623

European Commission: Questions and Answers on COP26 (28 October 2021) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/qanda_21_5482

European Commission: Statement by President von der Leyen ahead of the G20 Summit and the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) (28 October 2021) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/STATEMENT_21_5643

European Council: COP 26 - World Leaders summit - European Union statement by President Charles Michel (1 November 2021) https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2021/11/01/cop-26-opening-ceremony-1-november-2021/

European Commission: Speech by President von der Leyen at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) (1 November 2021) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/speech_21_5741

European Council: COP26 « Action and Solidarity Debate » — Intervention by President Charles Michel (1 November 2021) https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2021/11/01/cop26-action-and-solidarity-debate-intervention-president-charles-michel-1-november-2021/

UK Government: Press Release, 02/11/2021: Over 100 leaders make landmark pledge to end deforestation at COP26 https://www.gov.uk/government/news/over-100-leaders-make-landmark-pledge-to-end-deforestation-at-cop26

European Commission: Press Release, 02/11/2021: COP26: European Commission announces €1 billion pledge to protect world forests https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_21_5678

European Commission: Press Release, 09/11/2021: EU at COP26: Commission pledges €100 million to the Adaptation Fund https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_21_5886

European Commission: Executive Vice-President Timmermans' remarks at the high-level plenary session at COP26 (9 November 2021) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/speech_21_5888

United Nations: News, 13/11/2021: COP26 closes with ‘compromise’ deal on climate, but it’s not enough, says UN chief https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/11/1105792

European Commission: Press Release, 13/11/2021: COP26: EU helps deliver outcome to keep the Paris Agreement targets alive https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_21_6021

European Commission: Statement by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on the outcome of COP26 (13 November 2021) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/statement_21_6023

European Commission: Speech of Frans Timmermans at the informal COP26 Plenary (13 November 2021) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/speech_21_6022

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