THE United Nations’ COP 26 climate change summit due to take place in the Scottish city of Glasgow in November has been postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic, the British government said on yesterday.

“In light of the ongoing, worldwide effects of Covid-19, holding an ambitious, inclusive COP26 in November 2020 is no longer possible,” the government said in a statement, adding that dates for a rescheduled conference in 2021 would be announced later.

Some 30,000 people, including 200 world leaders, were due to attend the 10-day conference for crucial talks to halt rising global temperatures.

A UN panel in 2018 concluded that avoiding global climate chaos needed a major shift in society and the world economy.

Global CO2 emissions need to drop 45% by 2030 and reach “net zero” by 2050, to limit temperature rises at 1.5 degrees Celsius – the safe cap set as a goal in the Paris accord.

UN Climate Change executive secretary Patricia Espinosa said postponement was unavoidable but that the pandemic should not divert the world from the climate change challenge.

“Covid-19 is the most urgent threat facing humanity today, but we cannot forget that climate change is the biggest threat facing humanity over the long term,” she said.

Climate activists recognised the need to delay the conference because of the global health crisis but urged governments not to forget their climate commitments.

“While events can be postponed, climate change won’t pause even for a pandemic of epic proportions,” said Alden Meyer, a climate negotiations specialist. – AFP, April 2, 2020.