COP26: UK Government denies claims UN climate change conference in Glasgow could be postponed

The UK Government has denied claims that the UN Climate Change Conference (Cop26), expected to take place in Glasgow, could be postponed.

The UK Government has denied claims that the UN Climate Change Conference (Cop26), expected to take place at Glasgow's SEC, could be postponed. Picture: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty

Media reports on Wednesday suggested that the Glasgow summit in November this year may be pushed back or scaled down.

A Government spokesman said: "We are working on the basis of Cop26 being held in person this November, while closely monitoring the Covid situation.

"The summit team is working closely with all partners and exploring what different scenarios might mean for Cop26 and how we plan for that, whilst putting the health of the participants and the local community first. We are not looking to postpone the summit."

During the two-week summit, representatives from more than 200 countries are expected to descend on Glasgow’s Scottish Event Campus (SEC) to discuss the climate crisis and plans to tackle it on a global level.

Asked whether Cop26 would be postponed or scaled down, a No 10 source said: "I've seen nothing at all to suggest that."

The news comes as TED announced they will host a climate summit in Edinburgh ahead of Cop26.

The Countdown Summit will take place at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC) from October 12-15 this year.

It aims to build a better future by cutting greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030 and work towards reaching net-zero by 2050.

Marshall Dallas, EICC chief executive, said: "This is such an important initiative for the world, including for Scotland. In a year when Cop26 is also being hosted in Glasgow, the world's attention will be on our country.”

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