In November 2021, the UK and Italy will jointly host COP26, the 26th Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). This conference on climate change is held every year and attended by 196 signatory countries.

The UK is hosting COP26 in Glasgow. Alok Sharma, UK president designate, will lead the negotiations. The main aim of the conference is to agree measures that will keep global temperature increases to below 1.5C.

In February 2021, a study published in Nature revealed that the probability of global temperatures staying below 2 °C of warming was just 5% based on current trends. However, this could rise to 26% if all countries meet their nationally determined contributions and continue to reduce emissions at the same rate after 2030.

Countries attending are being asked to set ambitions targets for 2030 and deliver in four key areas:

  • accelerate the phase-out of coal
  • curtail deforestation
  • speed up the switch to electric vehicles
  • encourage investment in renewables.

This Commons Library series looks at how the conference will work, the issues that will be discussed, such as climate finance to developing countries and emissions trends, and progress in different areas in the run up to Glasgow. It also includes briefings giving background to areas including the negotiations and progress in reducing emissions.

COP26: The international climate change conference

What are the priorities set out for the conference and the progress to date?

Background to COP26 and climate change

Other Library series on climate change

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