Ministers urged to remember Climate Crisis commitments

8th April 2020

With COP26 postponed until 2021, the extra time gives the UK an opportunity to deliver greater success in the talks, says the Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) Chair Philip Dunne. However, they warn that it is vital the delay does not lead to the climate crisis slipping down the list of priorities.

The new chair of the EAC has written to COP26 President Alok Sharma this week, calling on him to make sure core objectives can still be delivered despite postponement of COP26 which was due to take place in Glasgow in November 2020.

A number of commitments under the Paris Agreement are due to be delivered this year. These include the enhancement of Governments’ nationally determined contributions, the invitation to provide long-term strategies, the pathways to decarbonisation to net zero in 2050, and the promise of $100 billion a year to help the poorest countries green their economies. The Committee is asking what progress has been made on delivering these core objectives for COP26, and they have requested a response from the COP26 President by 30^th April.

The full letter from the EAC Chair to Alok Sharma MP regarding COP26 can be found here.

Chair of the Environmental Audit Committee, Philip Dunne MP, said:
“The decision to postpone COP26 is a sad unfortunate necessity, due to the global impact of Coronavirus. There were a host of challenges ahead to have made COP26 the success it needs to be, given widespread restrictions imposed around the world.

“By delaying the summit, it must not lead to the climate crisis slipping down the agenda for governments around the world. The UK must continue to show global leadership in raising the pace and ambition towards achieving our net-zero ambitions and encourage other countries to do the same.

“The extra time can put us in a stronger position to make a lasting success of COP, building stronger alliances with other economies around the world and urge them to do as much as they possibly can to forge a low-carbon future. Taking on the climate emergency is not just a domestic task – we must all come together as a global community to protect the environment.” 

EAUC will certainly continue to work with members to ensure that education’s voice is loud and clear when COP26 goes ahead next year. You can find out COP26 plans here.