COP26 programme announced

THE COP26 Presidency Programme has been announced and will focus on different themes each day, ranging from zero-emissions transport to gender equality in climate action.

The four key goals of the COP26 summit are for countries to set ambitious 2030 emissions reductions targets; adapt to the damage that climate change is already causing; ensure developed countries provide sufficient climate finance; and work together to accelerate action.

The programme for the two-week summit will help to achieve these goals. It will run alongside the formal climate negotiations between the Paris Agreement signatories. The climate negotiations will include finalising Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, which aims to set out rules for a global carbon market.

The COP26 programme will start with a World Leaders Summit on 1 and 2 November. Following this, each day of the summit will have a different theme. These include accelerating the clean energy transition, ensuring sustainable land use, gender equality, and addressing loss and damage caused by climate change.

The topics of science, innovation, and inclusivity will be incorporated throughout the entire programme. Exhibitions and events in the UK-run zones will showcase climate progress from governments and businesses.

Separately, the UK Government also announced that Covid-19 vaccines would be available to registered delegations, observers, and media who cannot otherwise access vaccines prior to the summit.

COP26 President Alok Sharma said: “The COP26 summit in Glasgow is our best hope of safeguarding the planet for everyone, building a brighter future and keeping the 1.5^oC target alive.

“I have been pleased to see progress and momentum on the four key goals I have been taking to governments across the world and the presidency programme will continue this throughout the two weeks of the summit.

“From finance to energy and gender to adaptation these are vital issues that need to be addressed to make COP26 inclusive and successful.”

The programme can be viewed here and a more detailed programme will be published within a few months.