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NEWS | INTERNATIONAL

UNITED NATIONS
UK bids to host 2020 UN

climate change summit

BRITAIN IS BIDDING to
host the UN climate change
conference in 2020, the
biggest since the Paris
agreement was signed
in 2015, as part of the
government’s aim to be
seen as a green leader.
The conference will
mark a vital deadline for
countries to comply with
their commitments on
reducing greenhouse gas
emissions and move on
to tougher targets for the
decade to 2030, and so it
is likely to be a fractious
affair according to The
Independent.
If successful, the move
would be a strong signal
of the UK government’s
determination to retain its
role on the world stage
after Brexit.
Claire Perry, Climate
Change Minister, told
journalists: “We have to
make sure we can deliver a COP26 could be eventful
good COP [Conference of
the Parties], as 2020 will be unit of GDP than any other flexible. Next year’s host need for action has never
a really vital COP, and we country in the past decade, was supposed to be been starker.”
absolutely want to be part and created 400,000 jobs Brazil, but new President The 2020 conference,
of that process [of making in the low carbon economy. Jair Bolsonaro is hostile COP26, will also be notable
it a success].” “We have a really good track to the Paris agreement for the role of the US.
She pointed to the record in the UK,” she said. and has withdrawn the Under Donald Trump’s
UK’s efforts in cutting At COP24 in Poland, the offer. Chile and Costa presidency, the country
greenhouse gas emissions UK joined with other EU Rica are understood to be has begun the process of
and investing in green member states and scores considering alternative bids. withdrawal from the Paris
jobs, saying Britain had of developing countries Some campaigners at the agreement, but that could
decarbonised faster per in committing to scale up current climate change talks be halted if he is replaced in
their ambition on climate in Poland, which stalled over the 2020 election.
change, with a focus on continuing disagreements Bolsonaro has indicated
preventing global warming on how to implement the he may take Brazil out of
from breaching 1.5°C above Paris agreement, praised the Paris agreement, and the
pre-industrial levels, in line the UK’s move. divisions between developed
with scientific warnings. Gareth Redmond-King, and developing countries
The UN awards the Head of Climate Change that have characterised the
hosting of the COP, as the at WWF UK, said: “This current talks are likely to
annual meeting is known, is great news and we remain in the intervening
usually by alternating welcome the bid to host years, giving the UK a
Claire Perry MP, Minister among developed and the 2020 [conference]. It’s diplomatic mountain to NORD STREAM 2
of State for Energy and developing countries, and an opportunity for the UK climb to make a success of
Clean Growth different continents, though to lead the way on climate the talks if awarded host-
the rules can be somewhat change at a time when the country status. ■

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News.indd 7 17/01/2019 12:34