COP26 + COVID19 – Media factsheet

The document examines the uncertainty surrounding the hosting of COP26 in Glasgow due to COVID-19, noting that while the UK government initially aimed to proceed, the decision involves the UNFCCC. It highlights the impracticality of virtual summits and emphasizes that Paris Agreement obligations for 2020 NDC submissions remain. The author argues that post-pandemic economic recovery packages must avoid high-carbon industries and instead invest in low-carbon infrastructure to avoid repeating the missed opportunities of the 2008 financial crisis.

• As of March 2020, the UK government stated it was continuing to work toward hosting COP26 in Glasgow in November, though the situation remained under review in coordination with the UN and Chile.
• While the UK could decide it lacks the capacity to host, the final authority to move or cancel a COP rests with the UNFCCC in Bonn, representing nearly 200 countries.
• Holding COP26 via video link is considered impractical due to the high number of participating countries and observer organizations, as well as global variations in internet quality, which would eliminate the 'impromptu diplomacy' and civil society scrutiny typical of UN conferences.
• The postponement of COP26 does not exempt countries from their Paris Agreement commitment to review and enhance their climate plans (NDCs) in 2020.
• The document warns that economic stimulus packages used to reboot economies after the COVID-19 recession could compound the climate crisis if funding is directed toward high-carbon industries.
• The author advocates for investing in low-carbon infrastructure—including renewable energy, storage, electrification, public transport, and energy efficiency—to create jobs and build resilience, noting that governments failed to apply these sustainable principles after the 2008 financial crash.
• Specific examples of climate-compatible recovery efforts include a 'Green New Deal' announced by South Korea's ruling party and similar planned interventions by the EU.

APA

King, E. (2020). COP26 + COVID19 – Media factsheet. Carbon Market Watch. https://carbonmarketwatch.org/2020/03/31/cop26-in-the-year-of-health-emergency-2/

Chicago

King, Ed. COP26 + COVID19 – Media factsheet. Carbon Market Watch, 2020. https://carbonmarketwatch.org/2020/03/31/cop26-in-the-year-of-health-emergency-2/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=King |first1=Ed |title=COP26 + COVID19 – Media factsheet |publisher=Carbon Market Watch |date=31 March 2020 |url=https://carbonmarketwatch.org/2020/03/31/cop26-in-the-year-of-health-emergency-2/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{king2020cop26, author = {King, Ed}, title = {{COP26 + COVID19 – Media factsheet}}, institution = {Carbon Market Watch}, year = {2020}, month = mar, url = {https://carbonmarketwatch.org/2020/03/31/cop26-in-the-year-of-health-emergency-2/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }